Computer monitor speakers stop working while the display keeps working normally. The sound is usually routed to the wrong device, muted at the monitor, blocked in an app, or traveling through a connection that does not carry audio.
Start with the hardware checks, then set the monitor as the output device on your computer. These fixes use current Windows 11, macOS, ChromeOS, browser, and meeting-app controls.
1. Confirm the monitor has speakers
First confirm the display can produce sound on its own.
- Check the monitor specs or manual for Built-in speakers.
- Remember that some monitors appear as an HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C audio device on the computer but do not contain speaker hardware.
- Do not treat a monitor Headphone or Earphone jack as proof of built-in speakers. That port sends sound out to headphones or external speakers.
2. Use a cable that carries sound
- Use HDMI to HDMI, DisplayPort to DisplayPort, or USB-C with display and audio support.
- For VGA and DVI, use a separate audio cable for monitor-speaker sound.
- For a VGA or DVI setup, connect the computer's audio output to the monitor Audio-in port. Do not connect it to the monitor Headphone jack, because that jack is audio output.
After changing the cable, unplug and reconnect both ends of the video cable, USB cable, and audio cable. Turn the monitor off, unplug Power, wait briefly, reconnect power, and turn it back on.
3. Unmute the monitor itself
The monitor has its own audio controls separate from Windows, macOS, or ChromeOS.
- 1.Open the monitor on-screen display, then go to Sound or Audio.
- 2.Set Mute to Off, set Source to Line in, HDMI, or DisplayPort, and raise Volume.
- 3.Use the monitor's physical controls too. Press Mute, Volume Down, and Volume Up on the monitor to verify the display speakers are not muted at the hardware level.
On Dell S2422HZ and S2722DZ conferencing monitors, connect USB as well as HDMI or DisplayPort for the echo-canceling speakerphone path. In Windows or the meeting app, choose Echo Canceling Speakerphone for that monitor.
4. Select the monitor in Windows 11
Windows 11 sends sound to the selected output device. Select the Speakers or Volume icon on the taskbar, select the arrow beside the volume slider or device list, then choose the monitor or monitor speaker device.
When the taskbar list does not show the right device, use Start > Settings > System > Sound > Output > Choose where to play sound, then select the monitor. Raise Volume and make sure mute is off.
If Windows keeps switching away, set it as the default playback device from Start > Settings > System > Sound > More sound settings or Sound Control Panel > Playback, select the monitor audio device, then choose Set Default.
5. Fix one silent app or browser tab
- When system sounds work but one app stays silent, open Start > Settings > System > Sound > Volume mixer. Raise System and the affected app's volume, unmute the app, then set its Output device to the monitor.
- For web video or music, unmute the website player and raise its own volume slider first.
- On Chrome, open More > Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Content > Additional content settings > Sound, choose Sites can play sound, and remove the affected site from the muted or blocked list.
On Safari, open the muted page and click the Audio button in the Smart Search field. Then check the site's player volume again.
6. Switch output on Mac or Chromebook
On Mac, open Apple menu > System Settings > Sound > Output, select the display's speakers, raise Output volume, and clear Mute. Unplug headphones or external speakers before selecting the display speakers.
- 1.If a USB, USB-C, or Thunderbolt display audio device is missing on Mac, hold Option, open Apple menu > System Information > Hardware > USB, and look for the display or speakers. If they are not listed, unplug and reconnect them.
- 2.For a display that appears in Audio MIDI Setup, open Applications > Utilities > Audio MIDI Setup, select the display, then choose Use This Device for Sound Output.
- 3.On Chromebook, select the time at the bottom right, drag the volume slider, select Audio settings, then choose the monitor under Output. The active output shows a green check. You can also open Settings > Device > Audio > Output > Device.
7. Restore a missing Windows audio device
Run the Windows audio troubleshooter first: Start > Settings > System > Sound > Advanced > Troubleshoot common sound problems > Output devices. Follow the prompts in Get Help.
- Open Device Manager, expand Sound, video and game controllers, right-click the monitor or audio device, and choose Enable device when that option appears.
- If the device is missing, select View > Show hidden devices, then Action > Scan for hardware changes.
- Install current drivers through Windows Update: Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. For optional drivers, open Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates > Driver updates, select relevant audio, display, HDMI audio, or monitor drivers, then choose Download & install.
- If driver updates do not fix it, open Device Manager > Sound, video and game controllers, right-click the audio device, then choose Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
- After a bad driver update, use Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver.
- For a corrupted audio device, choose Uninstall device, confirm the prompt, and restart the PC.
For HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C audio, install the matching graphics, audio, dock, monitor, or firmware driver from the official Intel, NVIDIA, AMD, Dell, HP, ASUS, PC-maker, sound-card, or GPU support page for your exact model and Windows version.
8. Reset stubborn Windows sound settings
- 1.When the monitor is selected but audio is quiet, distorted, or still silent, turn off enhancements. Open Start > Settings > System > Sound, select the monitor output device, open Audio enhancements, and turn enhancements off.
- 2.Change the output format next: Start > Settings > System > Sound, select the monitor output device, open Advanced > Default format, choose a different format, and test sound.
- 3.Restart the audio services when Windows still does not play through the selected monitor. Search for Services, then restart Windows Audio, Windows Audio Endpoint Builder, and Remote Procedure Call (RPC).
If the problem started right after a Windows update or driver change, restore Windows from a restore point created before the audio problem began.
9. Check calls, remote sessions, and work devices
Meeting apps have their own speaker choices.
- In Teams before a meeting, open Settings and more > Settings > Devices > Audio > Audio settings, choose the monitor from Speaker, then select Make a test call. During a Teams meeting, select the dropdown arrow next to Mic > More actions > Audio settings, then choose the monitor under Speaker.
- In Zoom, open Settings > Audio, choose the monitor from Speaker, select Test Speaker, and adjust Output Volume. During a Zoom meeting, click the upward arrow beside Mute, then select the monitor speaker or open Audio Settings.
- In Google Meet, open audio and video settings before or during the meeting, choose the monitor from Speaker, then select Test speakers.
- For Remote Desktop, open Remote Desktop Connection > Local Resources > Remote audio > Settings, set Remote audio playback to Play on this computer, then choose OK.
On a school or work computer, device installation policies and Chrome or ChromeOS policies can block audio devices or site sound. Contact IT when the monitor audio device is missing and the sound or browser settings are locked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my monitor show as an audio device but make no sound?
The monitor does not always have built-in speakers. Some displays expose HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C audio to the computer while offering only a headphone output or no speaker hardware.
Do monitor speakers work through VGA or DVI?
VGA and DVI setups need a separate analog audio cable. Connect the PC audio-out jack to the monitor Audio-in port, not the monitor headphone jack.
Why does YouTube have no sound when Windows sounds work?
The player, browser site sound setting, or app output is separate from system audio. Unmute the YouTube player, allow sound in Chrome or Safari, and check the app in Windows 11 Volume mixer.
Should I update the audio driver or graphics driver for monitor speakers?
Check both. HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C monitor audio depend on audio and display drivers, so use Windows Update first, then the official support page for your PC, GPU, dock, or monitor.
