PC connected to TV via HDMI but no sound? Here’s the fix!

You’ve hooked up your PC to your TV with an HDMI cable, the video looks perfect, but the audio is still coming out of your tiny laptop speakers or is completely silent. This usually happens because Windows 11 doesn’t automatically switch your output device to the HDMI connection.

Before you start uninstalling drivers or buying new cables, try these four solutions. They fix the issue for the vast majority of users in less than two minutes.

Solution 1: Manually change the output device

Windows often keeps your internal speakers as the default even when an HDMI cable is plugged in. Let's force it to switch.

  1. Click the speaker icon in the Windows system tray (bottom-right corner of your taskbar).
  2. Click the small volume mixer icon next to your current volume slider.
  3. Select your TV model or "HDMI Output" from the Output device list.
Changing audio output device in Windows 11 taskbar

Solution 2: Set HDMI as the "Default" Device

If your TV isn't showing up in that quick-switch menu, we need to go to the More Sound Settings panel to enable it.

  1. Press the Windows ⊞ + R keys on your keyboard.
  2. Type mmsys.cpl into the 'Run' dialog.
  3. Press Enter or click OK.
  4. In the Playback tab, look for your TV/HDMI device. (If you don't see it, right-click anywhere in the list and ensure Show Disabled Devices is checked).
  5. Right-click your HDMI device and select Set as Default Device.
  6. Click OK.
Setting HDMI device as default in Windows 11 sound control panel

Solution 3: Run the Windows Audio Troubleshooter

If manually selecting the device didn't work, let Windows scan the HDMI connection for common configuration errors automatically.

  1. Open Settings (Windows ⊞ + I).
  2. Go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
  3. Click Run next to Audio.
  4. Follow the on-screen prompts.
Running the audio output devices troubleshooter in Windows 11 settings

Windows will automatically restart your audio services and reset the connection. If it finds a driver conflict, it will attempt to fix it for you.

Solution 4: The "Quick Restart" ritual

If you've done the above and it still isn't working, the HDMI handshake—the signal the PC and TV send to each other—might have failed. This happens surprisingly often.

  1. Turn off both your TV and your PC.
  2. Unplug the HDMI cable from both ends.
  3. Plug it back in, ensuring it clicks firmly into the rear port of your PC.
  4. Turn on the TV first, wait for it to fully load, then turn on your PC.

Still no sound?