How do I Install an Audio Device on Windows 10?

Install an Audio Device on Windows 10

Bought a new computer and found there is no sound coming from it? This situation is frustrating, and it usually happens when the audio device driver is not installed on your system. You might also see the error message "No Audio Output Device Installed" in the system tray.

In this guide, we will explain how to install an audio device on Windows 10 and fix the missing audio driver problem.

Why Does the "No Audio Output Device Installed" Error Appear?

Outdated audio device driver
Corrupt audio device driver
The audio device hardware is damaged
Missing sound drivers after a Windows update

Method 1: Automatically Update the Audio Device Driver

This is the easiest method to resolve the audio driver problem. Download a driver support tool that will automatically scan your computer and identify the missing or outdated audio driver. The tool will then download and install the correct driver for your system.

You can also use Windows Update to find the latest audio driver:

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update
Click Check for updates
Windows will automatically find and install any missing audio drivers

Method 2: Uninstall and Reinstall the Audio Driver Manually

This method does not require any technical expertise and works for most users:

Go to Windows and open Device Manager
Scroll down and expand the Sound, video and game controllers category
Right-click on your audio device and select Uninstall device
Confirm the uninstall when prompted
Restart your computer - Windows will automatically reinstall the audio driver with the latest version

Method 3: Add Legacy Hardware Manually

If you do not see the Sound, video and game controllers category in Device Manager at all, you need to add the hardware manually:

Open Device Manager
Click on Action menu at the top and select Add legacy hardware
Click Next to start the Add Hardware Wizard
Select Search for and install hardware automatically and click Next
If nothing is found, select Sound, video and game controllers from the hardware types list
Choose the manufacturer and model of your sound card
Click Next and then Finish to install the audio device

Method 4: Re-Enable the Audio Device via Intel SST

Some Windows 10 PCs use Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST) which can sometimes conflict with the audio driver:

Open Device Manager and expand System devices
Find the Intel SST device (Intel Smart Sound Technology)
Right-click on it and select Update driver
Choose Browse my computer for driver software
Select High Definition Audio from the list
Click Next - the Intel SST device will be replaced with the standard audio driver
Your audio should now work

Method 5: Try a Different Audio Format

If the audio device is installed but you still hear no sound, the audio format might be incompatible:

Open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound
Go to the Playback tab and select your default audio device
Click Properties
Go to the Advanced tab
Change the Default Format to a different sample rate (try 16 bit, 44100 Hz first)
Click OK and test the audio

Install Audio Device Windows 10 FAQ

Q.1 What causes the No Audio Output Device Installed error on Windows 10? Ans The most common cause is a missing, corrupted, or outdated audio driver. This often happens after a Windows update that replaces your working audio driver with an incompatible one. It can also occur if you recently reinstalled Windows without installing the motherboard drivers, or if a system file got corrupted during an improper shutdown.

Q.2 Can a Windows update remove my audio driver? Ans Yes, Windows updates can sometimes replace your working audio driver with a generic or incompatible version, causing the no audio device error. If your audio stopped working right after a Windows update, go to Device Manager, right-click your audio device, select Properties, go to the Driver tab, and click Roll Back Driver to restore the previous working version.

Q.3 How do I check if my audio hardware is physically working? Ans Connect your headphones or speakers to a different device like a phone to confirm they work. Then check Device Manager on your PC - if the audio device shows a yellow warning triangle, it is a driver issue. If there is no audio device listed at all, the sound card might be disabled in BIOS or physically disconnected. Restart your PC, enter BIOS settings, and make sure onboard audio is enabled.

Q.4 Does Windows 10 have a built-in audio troubleshooter? Ans Yes, Windows 10 has a built-in audio troubleshooter. Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and select Troubleshoot Sound Problems. The troubleshooter will scan for issues with your audio device, check driver status, and attempt automatic fixes. It can detect disabled audio services, wrong default playback devices, and driver conflicts. If the troubleshooter finds a problem, follow its on-screen suggestions to apply the fix.