Problem with Windows 10 ver. 21H1 -- all audio input/output devices missing in Sound settings, red X on volume icon

Anonymous

For 2-3 days, I am getting no sound at all from my several audio devices/Windows computer here - I have TWO monitors with HDMI audio, plus headphones jack connected to motherboard audio card. I was able to fix it one time by doing lots of tinkering in Device Manager, but I am unable to replicate the fix a 2nd time.

So, asking here.

System is a desktop PC, running an Intel Core i3 Haswell CPU (2 cores, 4 threads), 16 GB of DDR3 RAM, on a ASUS H81M2 motherboard, GPU is AMD Radeon R9 390 (8 GB). Audio card is the built-in Realtek. 1 Crucial SSD, plus 2 HDDs -- WD and Seagate. Logitech Full HD webcam , Logitech wireless mouse, wired Razer keyboard.

The volume icon in lower right (Notification area) shows with a red X. In Settings of Windows 10 OS, Sounds, NO input or output devices show at all.

No sounds possible in any software, i.e. browser, actual OS does not make the Start Windows sound like it used to/etc.

Also, no recording or voice chat possible with my Logitech webcam (which has a stereo microphone), so no Skype, Viber/etc voice calls.

In Device Manager, nothing shows wrong - all audio, system devices appear to be working fine. In AMD Radeon GPU settings, nothing wrong shows either.

I tried the Windows 10 Sound Troubleshooter, but it unfortunately says it cannot identify the issue.

What can I do to fix this?

(Please do not suggest a reinstall Windows OS or Reset OS, I cannot do those.)

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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144 answers

Anonymous

2021-07-10T10:57:21+00:00

Same issue after updating - no audio devices installed!

Spent ages trying to fix it, using the troubleshooter, playing around with drivers, rolling back, updating - but nothing worked til I stumbled on this!

A quick fiddle with the ease of access options and my onboard Realtek sound and Nvidia HDMI audio is restored. It doesn't seem to work if I leave Windows running for a bit then decide I'd like my audio back, but just after boot each time, it's fine.

Microsoft - please fix this.

Known issue, easy fix! NO need to restart the PC again.

I gave the fix a bit back in the thread.

IF you tinker with Ease of Access but sound devices do not come back, try this:

Open the Windows 10 OS Services console. Now locate Windows Audio service, right-click it, click Restart - confirm all prompts.

Then go back to Sounds, Ease of Access and now sounds should come back.

Please tell me if that works, or not. Please tell me if something is not clear.
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Anonymous

2021-07-09T18:46:19+00:00

Same issue after updating - no audio devices installed!

Spent ages trying to fix it, using the troubleshooter, playing around with drivers, rolling back, updating - but nothing worked til I stumbled on this!

A quick fiddle with the ease of access options and my onboard Realtek sound and Nvidia HDMI audio is restored. It doesn't seem to work if I leave Windows running for a bit then decide I'd like my audio back, but just after boot each time, it's fine.

Microsoft - please fix this.
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Anonymous

2021-07-09T01:03:04+00:00

:) I understand your comment on Linux and respect that.

I think it will take Bill himself to have the same issue on his laptop so he can instruct them to repair it, unless of course if he is using MAC.

Oh Microsoft, I am so fed up of you and this situation!
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Anonymous

2021-07-08T11:00:36+00:00

Hi Nikolai,

I am seriously thinking about moving to Linux, perhaps have Windows on Virtualbox. I do not have the choice as I still need to have Windows to support some of my clients ...

This experience shows me that MS is just solving other issues to please other people and does not or chooses not to see this one. There are many people with the same issue, there are other threads around on other websites. I have been using MS products since MS-DOS if I can remember version 3. Also did my thesis using Windword 2.x using Windows 3.0 . Looking back at this mess, there is nothing much I can expect from MS and alternatives are now plenty.

Take care all !

p.s: Even those independent advisors who are here to help disappeared.

I don't like Linux, many of programs I use are Windows only, and to me Linux is inferior.

RE advisors, they disappeared because Microsoft must fix the bug.

There is nothing much any independent or dependent advisors can suggest here anymore. :)

It would be nice if somebody from Microsoft chimed in, saying -- "Yes, we did log this bug, bug number in our system is XYZ-437, expect a fix in XX months time/etc".

But I guess nobody important from Microsoft ever reads this forum at all .. :(

EDIT: Views 3595!? And no fix, not even any acknowledgement? This website is just a usеless pile of steaming сrаp!

Do we need 100000 views to even get noticed, or what?
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Anonymous

2021-07-08T00:08:41+00:00

Hi Nikolai,

I am seriously thinking about moving to Linux, perhaps have Windows on Virtualbox. I do not have the choice as I still need to have Windows to support some of my clients ...

This experience shows me that MS is just solving other issues to please other people and does not or chooses not to see this one. There are many people with the same issue, there are other threads around on other websites. I have been using MS products since MS-DOS if I can remember version 3. Also did my thesis using Windword 2.x using Windows 3.0 . Looking back at this mess, there is nothing much I can expect from MS and alternatives are now plenty.

Take care all !

p.s: Even those independent advisors who are here to help disappeared.
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