no audio after update windows 11

Follow these steps in order on Windows 11 after the update:

1. Run the Windows audio troubleshooter
   • Open the Get Help app using the "Run the troubleshooter in Get Help" link from the audio article, or search for Get Help and run the audio troubleshooter.
   • Let it detect and fix common sound problems.
2. Check the output device
   • Select the Speakers icon on the taskbar.
   • Select the arrow to the right of the volume slider (tooltip: Select a sound output).
   • Choose the correct device (e.g., speakers, headphones) and test audio again.
3. Restart to apply pending updates
   • Save work and close apps.
   • Select Start > Power.
   • If shown, choose Update and restart (or Update and shut down) to complete any audio‑related updates.
4. Update the Realtek audio driver
   • In the taskbar search box, type device manager and open it.
   • Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
   • Right‑click the Realtek (or other) audio device > Update driver > Search automatically for drivers and complete the wizard.
   • If no newer driver is found, download and install the latest audio driver from the PC or motherboard manufacturer’s support site.
5. Reinstall the audio driver
   • In Device Manager > Sound, video and game controllers, right‑click the Realtek (or current) audio device.
   • Select Uninstall device.
   • Check Attempt to remove the driver for this device.
   • Select Uninstall.
   • Restart the PC (this will reinstall an audio driver automatically).
6. Try the generic Windows audio driver
   • In Device Manager, right‑click the audio device > Update driver.
   • Select Browse my computer for drivers > Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
   • Select the generic High Definition Audio device (or similar), click Next, and complete installation.
7. If audio broke right after the update, roll back the driver
   • In Device Manager > Sound, video and game controllers, right‑click the Realtek (or affected) device > Properties.
   • Go to the Driver tab and select Roll Back Driver.
   • Follow the prompts and confirm.

If none of these steps restore sound, use a system restore point created before the update (see "Restore from a system restore point" in the Recovery options article linked from the audio troubleshooting page).

References:

• Fix sound or audio problems in Windows
• Audio issues after win11 25h2 update - Microsoft Q&A
• How to fix this. no audio device is installed - Microsoft Q&A
• I have no sound on an new LG Gram laptop - Microsoft Q&A
• My audio inputs and outputs suddenly disappeared, how do i fix this? - Microsoft Q&A
• cannot increase volume even if trouble shooter updates it - Microsoft Q&A