Chances are, as the system got updated, your drivers are no longer compatible. It’s important to understand that Windows 10 is a dynamically changing system.

While you’re at it, double-check the sound volume and ensure it’s not set to zero. Go to ‘Open Sound Settings’ – ‘Choose your output device’. Use the drop-down menu to navigate between devices. It never hurts to double-check the output device – on top of it, it’s not too challenging. Make Sure the Output Device is set up Properlyįinally, it’s possible (though not too likely) that you’re not hearing the audio because the Windows tries to send it to the wrong device. When monitoring the ‘Levels’ tab, make sure all the bars are set up to 50 and up. To do that, choose the tab in the right bottom corner of the screen, select Open Sound Settings – Input – Device Properties – Levels. In case your issues are not limited to Cortana, double-check the microphone settings. Make sure to check the buttons for the features of the voice assistant – if the command ‘Hey, Cortana’ is on, test your microphone to ensure that your voice is captured by the tool well enough. In case you struggle to use Cortana – a built-in voice assistant introduced in Windows 10 that, by the way, has been getting shade lately – check the settings of the assistant itself. If you have already fixed the system settings but didn’t manage to deal with sound issues, the problem can lie in the microphone. In case the issue has not been resolved, test all the available modes until you find the right fit. In order to access the playback tab, take the following path: Start – Sound – Playback – Advanced.Īs you’ll be given the range of available formats, change a default format to another one and hit the ‘Test’ button. Testing Audio Playback SettingsĪnother hack that PC users might consider using to improve the sound quality is to change the audio playback format. To change the default driver, go to: ‘Browse through my computer for driver software’ – ‘Let me pick from available drivers on my computer’, and choose Realtek HD Audio. In case you want to change a driver, Realtek HD Audio Manager download client is available online. A PC will automatically connect to the Internet and update the driver for a newer version. Choose the sound card out of the list of devices and open the ‘Driver’ tab.Īs soon as the tab is open, click the ‘Update Driver’ button. In order to check the state of audio drivers, enter the Device Manager. The good news is that it’s easy to take care of. Update Audio DriversĪnother common reason why you might be experiencing audio issues is due to missing a driver update. You’ll be guided along the way and instructed regarding how an issue can be fixed. A troubleshooter tab will open and run a system check. Choose a path: Windows 10 Settings – Update and Security – Troubleshoot – Playing Audio.

Sound muffled windows 10