A video is playing in Chrome, but you can't hear a thing. Start with the player's mute button, then check Chrome's permissions and where your device is sending the sound. These checks take you from the simplest controls to browser troubleshooting if Chrome stays silent.
Unmute the player and the website
Click or tap the website's Play control. Chrome's autoplay rules restrict automatic playback with sound, so start the media yourself.
Unmute the website's player using its speaker control. The label varies by website. Raise the player's volume slider. This is separate from your device's volume, and Chrome has no universal player-volume menu.
On a computer, right-click the affected tab and select Unmute site if offered. This also changes the mute state of other tabs from the same website. Still silent? Check Chrome's sound permissions next.
Let Chrome play sound
On desktop Chrome, check the default sound setting and the affected website's permission.
- 1.Open More > Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Additional content settings > Sound.
- 2.Select Sites can play sound.
- 3.Open the affected website's View site information > Site settings menu beside its address.
- 4.Set Sound to Allow.
- 5.Reload the page to test playback.
Check the volume and output device
A muted app or sound routed to the wrong device leaves Chrome silent even while media is playing.
On Windows 11, start media playing in Chrome, then open Start > Settings > System > Sound > Volume mixer. Under Apps, unmute Google Chrome and raise Chrome's volume slider. Expand Google Chrome, then set Output device to the speakers or headphones you want to use. Check this after switching between Bluetooth, USB, or HDMI devices.
On a Mac, open Apple menu > System Settings > Sound > Output. Select your intended output device. Raise Output volume. Clear Mute if selected.
On a Chromebook, select the time. Raise the volume slider. Select the volume icon to undo mute if necessary. Choose the intended output in Audio settings.
On Ubuntu GNOME, search for Sound in Activities, then open Sound. Under Volume Levels, unmute Chrome while media is playing. Raise Chrome's volume slider. Under Output, choose the correct Output Device.
Other Linux desktops use different controls. For wired speakers or headphones, check the audio cable at both ends. Power on external speakers, turn off their hardware mute, and raise their own volume control, too.
Restore sound on a phone or tablet
Use these checks when Chrome is silent on Android, iPhone, or iPad. Start with media volume and the device receiving the audio.
On Android, press a volume button, then open the volume panel's Menu control. Raise Media volume. Manufacturer layouts differ. With multiple Bluetooth outputs paired, select the intended device through Play media to under Media volume.
In Android Chrome, open More > Settings > Site settings > Sound. Enable Sound.
For a restriction affecting just one website, open that site, then open View site information > Permissions. Allow the site's Sound permission. This Android sound menu does not apply to Chrome on iPhone or iPad.
On iPhone or iPad, start playback in Chrome. Press the hardware volume-up button while the media is playing. Changing ringer volume without media playing does not reliably adjust playback volume.
To correct Bluetooth or AirPlay routing, open Control Center while audio is playing. Tap Playback Destination. Select the device you want to hear.
Restart Chrome and test without extensions
Reload the affected page. If reloading doesn't help, quit Chrome completely. On a Mac, press Command+Q to quit the application. Reopen Chrome and test the same media.
Restart your device if the problem persists. On Windows or macOS, open More > Help > About Google Chrome to check for updates. Select Relaunch when prompted after an update. On Linux, update Chrome through your distribution's package manager.
For a desktop playback test, open More > New Incognito Window. Open the affected website. Test its player. Sound working here is a useful clue, but it does not prove an extension is responsible.
To test desktop extensions, open More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Turn off your extensions using their toggles. Test playback in a regular Chrome window.
If sound returns, re-enable one extension. Test playback again, repeating this cycle with each extension until the sound fails. Select Remove for the extension that causes the problem. Tip: These extension controls apply to desktop Chrome, not standard mobile Chrome.
Clear the affected website's stored data
For a stubborn problem on one website, open desktop Chrome's More > Settings > Privacy and security > Third-party cookies > See all site data and permissions. Deleting cookies removes stored sign-in information and site preferences.
Search for the affected website. Delete its entry using the Delete icon followed by Delete in the confirmation. Reopen the website to test playback. Be ready to sign in again if the site requires an account.
Reset Chrome if sound still won't return
A desktop Chrome reset restores content settings and disables extensions. Your bookmarks and saved passwords remain.
Open More > Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults. Select Reset settings to confirm. Test the affected website again before turning extensions back on. This reset path applies to desktop Chrome.
If the reset fails and other Windows apps are also silent, run Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Audio > Run. For Mac speakers that remain silent across applications after correcting the output and disconnecting unused audio devices, contact Apple for service. If only one website still fails, contact its publisher for help with the player.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Chrome go silent on my computer when I cast a tab?
A cast tab sends its sound to the receiver. To hear it on your computer again, select Chrome's Cast icon, then Stop casting. To hear sound on the receiver, check that device's volume and mute controls.
What if I can hear a call, but other people can't hear me?
Check microphone access. On desktop Chrome, open More > Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Microphone. Choose the correct microphone. Allow the calling website. Unmute yourself in the call. If Chrome prompts for operating-system access, select Open settings and grant microphone access.
Why can't I change sound settings on a work or school device?
Administrator-enforced restrictions prevent permission changes. On managed Chromebooks, the AudioOutputAllowed policy also controls audio output. Ask your administrator to check the restrictions and restore the required access.
Can enabling Flash bring back audio on an old website?
No. Flash audio and video no longer play in Chrome. The website's publisher must provide a supported replacement.