11 Easy Fixes for HDMI Audio Not Working in Windows 11

HDMI should carry both video and audio to your monitor, TV, or receiver, but in Windows 11 the sound can sometimes stay on the wrong device or disappear completely. The problem is usually caused by a settings issue, a driver problem, or the wrong playback device being selected.

This guide walks through 11 practical fixes, starting with the simplest checks and moving to deeper troubleshooting if Windows 11 still will not send sound over HDMI.

1. Make Sure the HDMI Cable and Display Are Working

Before changing Windows settings, confirm that the HDMI connection itself is good. A loose cable, bad port, or display input problem can make it look like an audio issue when the connection is actually failing at the hardware level.

• Unplug and firmly reconnect both ends of the HDMI cable.
• Try a different HDMI port on the monitor, TV, or receiver.
• If possible, test with another HDMI cable.
• Make sure the display is set to the correct HDMI input.

2. Select the HDMI Device as the Default Playback Output

Windows 11 may still be sending audio to your laptop speakers, headset, or another sound device. If the HDMI device is not selected as the default output, you will not hear anything from the external display or TV.

1. Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar.
2. Select Sound settings.
3. Under Output, choose your HDMI device from the list.
4. If the HDMI device is not listed, continue with the next fixes.
5. Play a video or test sound to confirm it is working.

3. Check the Volume Mixer and App Output

Even if the main system output is correct, an individual app can still be muted or routed to a different device. This happens often with browsers, games, and media apps.

1. Open Settings and go to System > Sound > Volume mixer.
2. Check whether the app you are using is muted or set too low.
3. If the app has its own output device option, set it to the HDMI device.
4. Restart the app after changing the audio output if needed.

4. Run the Windows Audio Troubleshooter

Windows 11 includes a built-in troubleshooter that can detect common sound configuration issues and sometimes fix them automatically.

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to System > Sound.
3. Scroll down and select All sound devices or Sound troubleshooter, depending on what you see.
4. Choose the HDMI output device if prompted.
5. Follow the on-screen steps and apply any recommended fixes.

5. Set the HDMI Device as Both Default and Default Communications Device

Some systems behave better when the HDMI output is set as both the standard playback device and the communications device, especially if Windows is mixing it with a headset or virtual audio device.

1. Press Windows + R, type mmsys.cpl, and press Enter.
2. Open the Playback tab.
3. Right-click your HDMI device and choose Set as Default Device.
4. Right-click it again and choose Set as Default Communication Device if that option is available.
5. Click OK.

6. Restart the Windows Audio Services

If Windows audio services are stuck, audio devices may stop responding correctly. Restarting the audio services can clear a temporary service issue without changing your settings.

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Find Windows Audio.
3. Right-click it and choose Restart.
4. Also restart Windows Audio Endpoint Builder if it is available.
5. Close the window and test HDMI audio again.

7. Update or Reinstall Your Audio Driver

The HDMI audio output often depends on your graphics driver, your audio driver, or both. If either driver is outdated or damaged, Windows may fail to expose HDMI audio properly.

1. Right-click the Start button and open Device Manager.
2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
3. Also check Display adapters.
4. Look for your graphics device and any audio-related device marked with a warning icon.
5. Right-click the device and select Update driver, or choose Uninstall device and restart if the driver appears broken.

If Windows does not find a better driver, download the latest graphics driver directly from the GPU manufacturer or your PC maker. This is often more reliable than relying on Windows Update alone.

8. Install the Latest Windows 11 Updates

A Windows update can fix known audio bugs, improve device compatibility, or replace a problematic driver package. If HDMI audio stopped working after an update, the latest patch may still contain the fix.

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Windows Update.
3. Select Check for updates.
4. Install all important updates.
5. Restart if Windows asks you to do so, then test HDMI audio again.

9. Check the Display’s Built-In Audio Settings

Some monitors, TVs, and AV receivers have their own audio controls. If the display is muted, set to a different input mode, or configured to ignore HDMI audio, Windows can be sending sound correctly without you hearing anything.

• Check the TV or monitor volume.
• Make sure the display is not muted.
• Inspect the menu for audio output or speaker settings.
• If using a receiver or soundbar, confirm the correct input mode is selected.
• Try the display with another device to rule out its internal audio settings.

10. Disable Exclusive Mode for the HDMI Device

Some apps can take exclusive control of an audio device. In certain cases, this prevents other sound from playing correctly over HDMI.

1. Open the classic Sound control panel with mmsys.cpl.
2. On the Playback tab, right-click the HDMI device and choose Properties.
3. Open the Advanced tab.
4. Uncheck the options that allow applications to take exclusive control.
5. Click Apply and OK, then test the audio again.

11. Test with Another Device, Profile, or Boot State

If none of the above works, use a simple test to narrow down whether the problem is with Windows, the cable, or the display hardware.

1. Connect your PC to a different HDMI display if you can.
2. Test the original display with another laptop, console, or streaming device.
3. If your system uses docking hardware, bypass the dock and connect directly.
4. Try a clean boot or Safe Mode test if you suspect software conflicts.

When HDMI Audio Still Will Not Work

If HDMI video works but audio never appears in Windows 11, the most likely causes are a bad driver, the wrong playback device, or a display that does not support audio over that HDMI connection. Some older monitors have HDMI ports for video only, while others require their internal speakers to be enabled manually.

• Update the graphics driver from the manufacturer, not just from Device Manager.
• Check whether the display actually supports HDMI audio.
• Remove conflicting virtual audio devices if you use recording software, docks, or remote-access tools.
• Try a different HDMI output source if you are connected through a dock, adapter, or AV receiver.

What to Try First

If you want the fastest path to a fix, start with these in order: choose the HDMI device as the default output, check the cable and display input, run the audio troubleshooter, and update the graphics driver. Those four steps solve a large share of HDMI audio problems in Windows 11 without making unnecessary changes.