How to Fix the "No Audio Output Device is Installed" Issue on Windows 11

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Linda 

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Linda 

Last updated on April 22, 2024

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Many Windows users encounter an error that reads, “No audio output device is installed.” This means you're unable to play music, join video calls, or perform any other sound-related functions on your laptop or computer.

This error is typically indicated by a red cross displayed on the audio control in the system tray, along with the message "No audio output device is installed." The "No audio output device is installed" error can be triggered by several factors, such as:

• You recently upgraded to Windows 11, which might have altered some system settings.
• Your audio drivers are either corrupted or haven't been updated in a while.
• The 'Try playing through this device' option is enabled.
• Your playback device isn't correctly connected to the right port.
• A wireless audio device isn't properly paired with your Windows 11 computer.

The "No audio output device is installed" error can stem from several causes. Fortunately, fixing it on Windows 11 is straightforward.

In today's article, you will learn all the correct ways to fix the 'No Audio Output Device is installed' error on Windows 11. So, let's get started!

If this article was helpful in fixing the "No audio output device is installed" error on your Windows 11, feel free to share the article below with those who need it!

Solution 1: Update the audio driver

If you've installed Windows 11 on an older computer, chances are that your sound card driver is outdated. Naturally, an outdated or old sound card driver won't work properly with the resource-demanding Windows 11, causing audio issues.

Hence, the simplest way to fix the "No Audio Output Device is Installed" error is to update your audio driver. To do this, visit the website of your sound card manufacturer and search for a driver that's compatible with Windows 11.

Moreover, you can update the audio driver on Windows 11 by following these steps:

Step 1: Press the Windows + X keys and click on Device Manager from the menu.

Step 2: Expand the "Sound, video and game controllers" menu.

Step 3: Right-click on your audio device and select “Update Driver.”

Step 4: You will be presented with two options: Search automatically for updated driver software and Browse my computer for driver software.

If you click the first option, Windows will search for and help you update the driver. If you click the second option, you'll need to download the driver file from the manufacturer's website. Once you have the latest driver file for your device downloaded on your system, you can browse to that file to update the audio driver.

Solution 2: Uninstall and reinstall the audio driver

If updating the driver didn't fix the “No audio output device is installed” error, you can try the uninstall and reinstall method. This can be very helpful when your audio driver is corrupted or has issues in any way.

Uninstalling and reinstalling your audio drivers can fix any corrupted sound items on your computer. Just follow these steps:

Step 1: Press the Windows + X keys simultaneously on your keyboard, and then open Device Manager.

Step 2: Click the arrow next to "Sound, video and game controllers" to expand the menu.

Step 3: Right-click on the audio device you want to fix, and select the "Uninstall device" option.

Step 4: Now, simply restart your computer, and it should automatically download the latest version of the audio driver for you. If the automatic download doesn't start, you can go to the manufacturer's website and install the correct audio driver version yourself.

Solution 3: Fix the issue with Device Manager

If the driver update or uninstallation method doesn't work for you, you can run Device Manager to fix the 'No audio output device is installed' error. Here's how this solution works:

Step 1: Search for "Device Manager" in the taskbar search box and select it. Alternatively, you can press Windows + X and choose "Device Manager" from the menu.

Step 2: Look for the "Sound, video and game controllers" menu.

Step 3: Click the Action menu in the upper-left corner and select “Add Legacy Hardware.”

Select the "Add Legacy Hardware" option.

Step 4: Click "Next" in the wizard that pops up. Select the "Search for the best driver for your hardware" option, and then click "Next."

Step 5: Click on "Sound, video and game controllers" and then click "Next."

Click the Next button.

Step 6: Select the exact sound card and click on the “Next” button. Download the appropriate driver for it and then click “Finish”.

Step 7: Go back to Device Manager, right-click on your audio device and select Enable.

Right-click on the sound device:

Solution 4: Restart your computer

The “No audio output device is installed” error usually occurs when there's a change in the hardware configuration during Windows startup. To prevent this, you shouldn't remove or connect any devices or peripherals while your computer is booting up.

Sometimes, you can resolve this error by simply restarting your computer. You can restart your Windows 11 device by following these steps:

Step 1: Hold down the power button for 5 seconds, or until your computer turns off.

Step 2: Wait a few seconds, and then turn on your system.

Step 3: Press the power button to start the computer and watch for any error messages that might appear during startup.

Step 4: After the manual reboot, wait for the system to fully load, then restart again and check if the audio issue is resolved.

Solution 5: Undo the System Changes

System Restore or Rollback is a great feature in Windows that lets you undo system changes. If the “No audio output device is installed” error came after some system changes, then here, a rollback will restore your previous settings.

To undo system changes in Windows 11, follow these steps:

Step 1: Restart your Windows 11 PC into Advanced Startup and click on Troubleshoot.

Step 2: Select [Advanced options] > [System Restore].

Step 3: Click on “Turn On Parental Controls,” enter your password, and click “Continue.”

Step 4: In the System Restore wizard, choose a restore point where your audio system was working fine. Click on “Undo” under the “Type” column, and then click on “Next.”

Select a restore point and undo system changes:

5. Click “Finish,” then select “Yes” to reboot and restore your system. Just click “Reboot” and the audio problem should be fixed.

Solution 6: Buy a new sound card

If the 'No audio output device is installed' error persists after rolling back system changes, it's likely that your sound card is damaged.

Whether due to a power issue or simple wear and tear, sound cards can stop working for a number of reasons. In this case, your only option is to purchase a new sound card.

Today, you can easily order online a sound card for a price that fits your budget, from well under $50 to over $200.

Additional Tip: Optimize Your Windows 11 Hard Drive In Windows 11, you can take steps to optimize your hard drive's performance and ensure smoother system operation. Here are some recommendations: 1. **Disk Cleanup**: Regularly use the built-in "Disk Cleanup" tool to delete unnecessary files and temporary data. Simply search for "Disk Cleanup" and follow the wizard's instructions. 2. **Disk Defragmentation**: While modern SSDs generally don't require defragmentation, if you're using an HDD, consider using the "Defragment and Optimize Drives" tool to improve file layout. 3. **Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs**: In Task Manager (right-click the taskbar and select "Task Manager"), go to the "Startup" tab to disable unused or non-essential apps that launch at startup, reducing disk activity during boot. 4. **Update Drivers**: Keeping your hardware drivers up-to-date contributes to overall performance. Check and update drivers through Device Manager. 5. **Adjust Power Settings**: In "Settings" > "System" > "Power & Sleep", choose "Balanced" or "High Performance" mode to enhance hard drive performance. 6. **Create Restore Points**: Regularly create System Restore points so you can easily revert to a previous state in case of issues, without needing to reinstall the operating system. 7. **Use Defraggler or Similar Tools**: Although Windows 11's defragmentation tool is sufficient, third-party software like Defraggler might offer advanced options and controls. By implementing these optimization steps, you can ensure your Windows 11 system's hard drive operates more efficiently.

If you never want to deal with the “No audio output device is installed” error or any other disk issues, you can use a partition manager tool to optimize the Windows 11 hard drive.

This free Windows partition manager reduces the need for you to restart your computer. The software easily manages your disks and partitions. In addition, it lets you:

• Migrate the Windows OS to a new SSD
• Increase C drive space
• Clone hard disk for system restoration
• Resize partitions with a simple slider
• Convert MBR system disk to GPT without data loss
• Automatically update hard disks
• Merge or delete partitions
• Erase all data on the hard drive, etc.

Using the Partition Master tool in Windows 11 is straightforward:

[1] Resize/Move allows you to adjust the space of the selected disk partition as needed. Right-click on Resize/Move, and you can shrink the volume, extend another volume, or create unallocated space for special purposes.

[2] The “Clone” feature is intended to create an exact copy of a hard drive or partition, including its layout and content. You can use the “Clone” feature to upgrade your hard drive, replace a failing one, back up drive data, and more.

[3] "Delete" is the common way to remove unnecessary disk partitions, converting them into unallocated space.

[4] Formatting can be useful in a number of situations. Formatting a drive or partition allows you to change the file system, fix certain types of damage, and sometimes remove viruses and malware.

The “Resize/Move” feature is very useful when you have too much space on one partition and not enough on another.

[6] The Migrate OS feature lets you easily move your Windows installation to another drive without having to reinstall.

[7] Conversions from GPT to MBR, NTFS to FAT32, and Basic Disk to Dynamic Disk are increasingly popular among Partition Master clients. Apart from all the above advantages, there are many more practical features waiting for you to explore.

Conclusions

In the Windows 11 operating system, you might frequently encounter the "No audio output device is installed" error. This issue can arise due to outdated drivers, system alterations, or damage to your sound card, and audio device errors can occur at any time.

Although, as mentioned above, the “No audio output device is installed” error is easy to fix, it can be quite time-consuming.

Thus, the optimal solution is to optimize the Windows 11 hard drive with Partition Master, eliminating the need to worry about disk errors. This software handles all your disk operations, allowing you to focus on your work rather than fixing Windows 11 errors.