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

Anonymous
2021-05-19T09:59:57+00:00

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.)

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

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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  1. Anonymous
    2021-10-14T08:36:58+00:00

    OMG! You are my life saver Thank you very much I've tried to fix it whole night but it's not work until I found your suggestion

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-10-17T13:43:22+00:00

    Same problem. W10 21H1 installed just recently. My 2018 Logitech webcam has never been problematic but now its speakers aren't recognised so I can't use it for conference sessions. I've ensured all the drivers are up to date but all that happens is distorted sound comes through the regular speakers or not at all. PC is a Lenovo Legion desktop. My laptop, which also has the latest Windows version, is unaffected so presumably this is about plug-in webcams, not integrated ones. Or the different soundcards and the like.

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-10-29T06:15:33+00:00

    I've observed situation like all audio devices on USB like Plantronics, Jabra, Logitech etc.... no matter what kind headsets, conference mic/speakers all of those devices freeze applications which are using them like Teams, Zoom, Youtube... even Sound control panel. Anybody met with such issue? Any solution?

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-12-18T16:57:45+00:00

    Hi Benedict

    I just wanted to thank you, your advice was point on helpful.

    For Nikolai Filipov and other people who have this problem, perhaps the following might be helpful...

    So, what worked for me was to following the following steps provided by Benedict P.:

    "Please try updating manually the audio driver in Device Manager > Sound, video and game controllers > Realtek(R) Audio

    • Locate the said driver in Device Manager
    • Right click on the driver and select "Update Driver".
    • Next select "Browse my computer for drivers"
    • Click on "Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer".
    • Make sure the option "Show compatible hardware" is checked.
    • Select High Definition Audio Device and click Next."

    Then your computer will ask you to restart.

    Restart.

    Once restarted, I right-clicked on the sound icon.

    Clicked on sound settings

    Tested both Audio and Mic and they worked.

    Exact same situation for me too. The sound on my laptop was disabled following a Windows Update for W10 21H1. I tried several things to fix it, including reinstalling the drivers, and nothing seemed to help. Then I came across this thread and reinstalled the audio drivers manually, per the instructions above. It worked! I did have to go through the process twice, as it didn't take the first time, but the second time it did, and my sound is functioning again. Thank you!

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  5. Anonymous
    2021-12-18T18:55:40+00:00

    I know this might sound stupid, but try clicking on the red x and see if it was just muted.

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