Audio in my Surface 7 / Snapdragon stopped working

Since the audio troubleshooter and Windows Update were already tried, focus on the remaining Windows and Surface checks that are supported here:

1. Verify the correct output device is selected.
   • Select the Speakers icon on the taskbar.
   • If needed, select Show hidden icons.
   • Select the arrow to view available audio devices.
   • Confirm audio is being sent to the intended device, such as the built-in speakers or headphones.
2. Turn off audio enhancements.
   • Open Control Panel.
   • Go to Hardware and Sound > Sound.
   • On the Playback tab, right-click the Default Device and select Properties.
   • Open the Enhancements tab.
   • Select Disable all enhancements or Disable all sound effects, then select OK.
   • Test audio again.
   • If there is more than one default playback device, repeat this for each one.
3. Restart the Surface.
   • Select Start > Power > Restart.
   • After restart, check whether the audio device appears and whether sound works again.
4. If the Surface is connected to an external display, check the connection type.
   • VGA adapters and cables do not transmit audio.
   • In that case, audio will play from the Surface speakers unless external USB or Bluetooth speakers are connected.
5. If the issue is only with certain sounds, verify Windows sound event settings.
   • Go to Start > Settings > System > Sound.
   • Select More sound settings or Sound control panel.
   • Open the Sounds tab.
   • Under Program Events, select an event and use Test to confirm the selected sound plays.
6. If audio quality is poor rather than completely missing, test the same recording on another device.
   • That helps determine whether the issue is the recording itself instead of the Surface audio hardware.

• Fix sound or audio problems in Windows
• Surface sound, volume, and audio accessories
• Fix missing or undetected audio output device in Windows