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6 Easy Ways to Fix Windows Couldn’t Find Your Audio Device
Check expert recommended solutions that worked for all
6 min. read
Updated onJuly 23, 2024
updated onJuly 23, 2024
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Key notes
To fix various driver issues on your PC, you will need a dedicated tool to find the freshest and the original drivers. You can use PC HelpSoft Driver Updater to do it in 3 easy steps:
TheNoaudiooutput device is installederroroccurs when Windows can’t find the audio device. You can see this notification above the system tray when hovering the cursor over the sound icon.
Consequently, no sound plays when Windows can’t find audio device hardware. Unfortunately, the issue often arises after system upgrades.
There are, however, a few potential resolutions for the Windows can’t find audio device problem, and we’ll discuss them here.
Why is my audio device not detected in Windows 10?
One of the most common reasons behind theWe can’t find an audio deviceerror in Windows 10 is improper connections, be it wired or wireless.
For wired audio devices, check that it is plugged in properly to the PC and that the cable or the port is not damaged. For wireless ones, check for issues with Bluetooth, run the dedicated troubleshooter, and other relevant ones.
Also, drivers have often been found to lead situations where your computer doesn’t recognize the audio device. In addition to that, the third-party apps installed on the computer may create conflicts.
These types of errors are somewhat common, and many reportedMusic/Video error 0xc00d36c4. If this issue occurs, check your audio drivers, and update them if needed.
Another common reason is running unsupported video formats, which can be fixed byinstalling the required codecs.
Apart from that, there are many problems with sound, but you can alwaysfix issues with audio devices in Windows.
How do I fixNo audio output device is installederror?
1. Reinstall the sound card’s driver
Alternatively, you can replace corruptedaudio adapterdrivers with adedicated third-party tool.
These tools will recommend compatible updates not just for youraudio driver but for any outdated software it will findso that you can choose the preferred ones.
2. Run the Playing Audio troubleshooter
The built-in troubleshooter is an effective way of dealing with things when Windows can’t find the audio device and should eliminate the issue. Though it only works for problems reported to Microsoft and a patch introduced for it.
3. Re-enable the sound adapter
If it’s a minor bug or trivial issues with the audio device, simply reinstalling it should fix things if you come acrossI couldn’t find your audio device. Then, make sure it’s connected and try again.
4. Check the Windows Audio Services are Enabled
Keep in mind thatWindows Audio andWindows Audio Endpoint Builderare two services that need to be enabled for audio devices. And if the two are not running, you may encounter a bunch of issues, includingWe can’t find an audio device: 0x8889000f.
5. Perform a system restore
System Restore is an effective tool to fix many issues with Windows. It simply reverts the system to a state where the error didn’t exist by modifying the configured settings and installed apps, though it doesn’t affect the files stored on the PC.
Choosing a restore point created before you first encountered theWindows can’t find audio deviceerror is critical. And that’s why it’s recommended that you manuallycreate restore pointsevery once in a while to be able to revert things to normal in case of issues.
6. Factory reset Windows
If nothing else worked, you are left with no option but tofactory reset Windows. And we recommend you clear everything from the PC when given the option since there’s a higher possibility of the error being eliminated in this case.
You may create a backup for the files using reliable cloud storage services to recover things after the reset, but that’s a personal preference.
Once the reset process is complete, things should be up and running, withWindows can’t find audio deviceerror fixed.
How do I reinstall an audio device in Windows 10?
That’s it! These are some resolutions that should fix theNo audio outputerrorwhen Windows can’t find audio device hardware.
If the above solutions don’t work, you may need to install aneffective and reliable sound card.
This issue is related toNo output devices found in Windows 11message, so you might want to check that guide for more solutions.
We hope that this article was helpful. Please tell us what solutions worked for you using the comments section.
More about the topics:Audio,windows 10 fix
Matthew Adams
Windows Hardware Expert
Matthew is a freelancer who has produced a variety of articles on various topics related to technology. His main focus is the Windows OS and all the things surrounding it.
He is passionate about the tech world, always staying up-to-date with the latest and greatest. With an analytical view, he likes problem-solving, focusing on errors and their causes.
In his free time, he likes to read and write about history and tries to always develop new skills.
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Matthew Adams
Windows Hardware Expert
He is passionate about everything surrounding Microsoft’s OS, focusing on troubleshooting guides & tips for everyday problems.
