Glitches often occur with wired connections, especially HDMI. When you link your computer or TV via an HDMI cable, there are possibilities that an error might occur. The most common HDMI connection error is no sound.
Don’t Fret; you are not alone. There are a couple of reasons why your HDMI connection is not producing sound, and this article will be recommending ways to fix it.
What is HDMI?
High-definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is one of the most frequently used HD signals. It is designed for transferring both high-definition audio and video over a single cable. In addition, you can use an HDMI in a commercial AV sector.
Most AV devices are connected using an HDMI cable. An HDMI cable is likely to be found in all homes as it eases connecting devices such as digital TV, DVD player, BluRay player, Xbox, Playstation, AppleTV, etc., to a TV. Also, most laptops and PCs feature an HDMI port, making it a standard for both corporate and commercial markets.
You can use an HDMI port/cable to transmit high-quality audio/video signals from one device to another. In addition, you can use HDMI to transmit uncompressed video data or compressed or uncompressed digital audio data from compatible HDMI devices to a compatible system.
For instance, you can link a display controller to a PC monitor, video projector, digital TV, etc., for enhanced audio and video quality.
HDMI Sound Not Working – Common Problems
There is a lot you can achieve with HDMI. You can stream video content, 4k content and simultaneously transmit digital video and audio from a TV or computer to a projector or TV.
Some users complain that the sound does not sometimes accompany the video content displayed on the projected screen via HDMI. Most times, this error occurs when there is no output from the HDMI connection.
There are a couple of reasons that might be hindering sound transmission via HDMI. Some of them include:
- HDMI cable issue
- Incorrect graphic card configuration
- Audio issues with the PC or monitor
- Incompatible or wrong device driver
- Selection of the wrong playback device
We will be troubleshooting and providing solutions to fix HDMI no sound issues.
10 Ways to Troubleshoot and Fix HDMI No Sound Error
While there are tons of reasons behind HDMI no sound error, there are several solutions available. Below are seven ways to fix no sound error through HDMI:
1. Check Hardware Devices
Checking your system hardware devices is a quick fix to resolve no sound error via HDMI. Ensure that all the connected devices are working appropriately. To do that:
- Check the speaker volume on the PC – ensure it is not muted or turned down
- Connect the HDMI cable to a different HDMI port to check if there is an issue with the previous port
- Check if the HDMI is in good condition. If not, try connecting another cable to the HDMI port
- Try connecting the monitor to another computer to ensure it is working
If the above solutions do not work, continue reading to discover other solutions.
2. Set HDMI as Default Device
If there are more than two PC or sound cards installed on your device, there might be a glitch where the installed device should get a signal. This happens when you do not establish a default playback device. It is recommended that you set HDMI as the default playback device to resolve this error. Below is a guide on how to go about it:
- Search for Control Panel on your Windows search box
- Click on the Sound menu and select View By as Large icons
- The Sound setting icon will appear on the screen with the Playback tab
- Proceed to Plug in the HDMI cable
- Once the cable is connected correctly, a display with the name of the device will come on the screen
- Proceed to right-click on the audio device and check if it is enabled
- If it is not, click on Enable.
- Then select your HDMI device and click on Set Default
- Click Apply, then press OK to save the changes.
Once this is done, exit the window and check if the issue is fixed.
3. Updated Installed Drivers
If your system is running on an outdated driver, you might encounter issues with connectivity and transmission. Also, it can cause HDMI sound issues when connected to the TV.
You can fix this issue by updating your system drivers to their latest versions. There are two ways to update install drivers on your system – manually and through the device manager. To update installed drivers manually;
- Go to your PC Manufacturer’s website
- Search and download the drivers that match the Windows version on your PC
- Download the drivers
- Then double click on the downloaded file
- Follow the on-screen instructions to install the driver
- Then follow the same steps for all device drivers such as audio, video, network, etc
To update installed drivers through Device Manager;
- Press the Windows Key + R button
- Input devmgmt.msc and click on Ok
- To expand the Sound, Video, and Game Controllers menu, double-click on it
- Then proceed to right-click on the HDMI audio device
- Click on Update driver
- Then search automatically for drivers
Once you initiate a search, Windows will search for the best available drivers and install them on your computer.
4. Rollback the Graphics Drivers
You can check the Graphic driver if the HDMI stops working abruptly after an update. Rolling back the graphic drivers will delete the current driver installed on the system and replace it with its previous version. Also, the process of recalling graphic drivers eliminates any bugs on the driver and fixes minor issues. To recall graphic drivers:
- Search and open Device Manager in the Windows Search Bar
- To expand Display Adapters from the panel on the left, double-click on it
- Right-click on your graphics card’s name
- Click on Properties
- Then switch to the Driver tab
- Select Roll Back Driver
- Click on OK to apply changes
- Then click on Yes to confirm
- Restart your system to initialize and save the rollback
Once the process is done, a previous version of your graphic driver will come on. However, if the option to Roll Back Driver is not available on your system, it means that your system does not have pre-installed driver files. Alternatively, it means that the original driver files are missing.
5. Enable Audio Controllers
To enable audio controllers: if your device’s audio controllers, such as High-Definition Audio Control, are not enabled, you might have HDMI audio transmission issues. To resolve this issue, ensure that all audio controllers on your device are enabled, especially if you have more than one audio driver installed on your PC.
- Search and open Device Manager in the Windows Search Bar
- Click on View, then Show Hidden Devices
- Double-click on System Devices to expand it
- Then search for the Audio Controller you want to enable and right-click on it
- Proceed to click on Properties
- Then switch to the Driver tab
- Finally, click on Enable Device
Restart your system to save changes.
6. Reinstall Audio Drivers
If you are still having audio issues with your HDMI after trying the solution above, it is advisable to reinstall the audio drivers. To do that;
- Search and open Device Manager in the Windows Search Bar
- Navigate down and search for Sound, Video and Game Controllers
- Double-click on it to expand
- Right-click on the High Definition Audio Device
- Then click on Uninstall device
- You will receive a warning prompt asking if you want to proceed with the uninstallation
- Click on Uninstall to proceed
- Finally, restart your system
Repeat the same steps as described above if you have more than one audio controller installed on your system. Once you restart your system, Windows will automatically install the latest drivers from its storage.
7. Use compatible HDMI Cable and Port
Once there is an issue with the HDMI cable/port, it is advisable to get another cable or port. Always ensure that you connect a compatible pair of ports to the HDMI cable. Alternatively, you can purchase adapters if there is a mismatch between the HDMI cable and computer cable.
8. Troubleshoot Windows
Windows Troubleshooter is an in-built tool that helps resolve different minor issues with PCs. If you are experiencing no sound issue via HDMI, you need to test the functionality of the hardware components.
Once you test the audio and video hardware component, the issue responsible for the error will be detected and resolved. To troubleshoot audio issues on Windows
- Log in as an Administrator on your OC
- Click on the Windows Key on the Keyboard
- Search for Troubleshoot
- Then click on it to open and launch the Troubleshoot Settings window
- Click the link for Additional Troubleshooters
- Then click on Playing Audio under the GetUp and Running Section
- Proceed to click on Run the Troubleshooter
- Follow the on-screen instructions to run the troubleshooter and apply the recommended fixes
- Finally, restart your system when prompted
9. Evaluate the TV/Monitor Sound Properties
Sound properties compatibility is essential when transmitting Audio via HDMI. To ensure that the TV/Monitor sound properties are compatible, check the seating of HDMI cable on its port, the HDMI cable condition, TV volume, etc. Below are steps on how to check the TV/Monitor sound properties:
- Go to the Menu bar of the Monitor or TV
- Select Settings
- Then click on Audio
- Enable Audio
- Set Audio coding to Automatic/HDMI
- Toggle Off Dolby Volume Mode
- Then set the Audio Range as either – Wide and Narrow, Stereo, Standard or Mono
10. Restart TV
If your TV might be laggy or freezing, the issue might lie with your TV, restarting the TV is one of the most significant fixes to solve minor TV issues. The process involved in restarting Tv depends on the TV manufacturer and device model. Nonetheless, below is common steps to restart your TV:
- Go to the Home button on the TV remote
- Navigate to Settings
- Then Device Preferences
- Click on About, then Restart
Alternatively;
- Press Quick Settings on the TV remote control
- Then navigate to Restart
- Click on it to initiate a TV restart
Conclusion
With our recommendations above, you can easily and effectively resolve the HDMI sound not working issue.
