If you’re experiencing problems with your Windows sound not working, you’re not alone. Countless users have had to deal with this problem at some point or another. Not being able to hear sound from your computer can be incredibly frustrating, especially if you’re trying to watch a video, listen to music, or participate in a video call.

Fortunately, fixing sound problems on Windows is usually a fairly simple process. Below are some troubleshooting steps you can take to get your sound back up and running.

1. Check Your Volume Level

The first, and most obvious, step is to check your volume level. Make sure your computer’s volume is turned up and not muted. You can check this by clicking on the speaker icon in your taskbar and adjusting the volume level accordingly.

2. Check Your Playback Devices

If your volume is turned up and you still can’t hear anything, the next step is to check your playback devices. To do this, right-click on the speaker icon in your taskbar and select “Playback devices.” Make sure your computer’s default playback device is selected and that it’s set to the correct format.

3. Restart Your Computer

It’s a tried-and-true troubleshooting step, but restarting your computer can often resolve sound problems. This can help clear any glitches or temporary bugs that may be causing your sound to stop working.

4. Update Your Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers can also cause sound problems on Windows. You can check if your drivers are up to date by right-clicking on “This PC” and selecting “Manage.” From there, click on “Device Manager” and select your sound card. If there’s a yellow exclamation mark next to it, that means your driver needs to be updated.

You can update your driver by right-clicking on your sound card and selecting “Properties.” From there, click on the “Driver” tab and select “Update Driver.” Windows will search for the latest driver and install it for you.

5. Check Your Audio Services

If none of the above steps work, you may need to check your audio services. To do this, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type “services.msc” and press Enter. From there, scroll down until you see “Windows Audio” and “Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.” Make sure both services are running and set to Automatic.