How to Fix HDMI Connected But No Audio on TV/Monitor on Windows
HDMI cable connected but audio only plays through laptop/PC speakers instead of the TV or monitor? Fix HDMI audio output and playback device issues.
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Main Troubleshooting Guide
How to Fix No Audio or Sound →Complete symptoms, causes, and step-by-step solutions
Symptoms
You might be experiencing this problem if you notice:
- •Video works on TV/monitor but audio stays on laptop/PC speakers
- •HDMI audio device not showing in Sound settings
- •HDMI audio device shows "Not plugged in"
- •Audio switches to HDMI but no sound comes from TV
- •HDMI audio worked before but stopped after driver update
- •"NVIDIA/AMD/Intel display audio" not appearing in playback devices
Common Causes
- ⚠HDMI audio not set as default playback device
- ⚠HDMI audio driver not installed (GPU audio component)
- ⚠TV/monitor speaker volume muted or low
- ⚠HDMI cable not supporting audio (rare with modern cables)
- ⚠GPU audio driver disabled in Device Manager
- ⚠DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter not passing audio
Solutions
Solution 1: Set HDMI as Default Audio Device
- 1Right-click the speaker icon in taskbar > Sound settings
- 2Under "Output" — look for your TV/monitor name or "HDMI Audio"
- 3Select it as the output device
- 4If not visible: right-click speaker > "Sound settings" > scroll to "More sound settings"
- 5In the Playback tab: right-click > "Show Disabled Devices"
- 6If HDMI appears as disabled: right-click > Enable > Set as Default
Solution 2: Install GPU Audio Driver
- 1HDMI audio requires the GPU's audio component driver
- 2Open Device Manager > expand "Sound, video and game controllers"
- 3Look for "NVIDIA High Definition Audio", "AMD High Definition Audio", or "Intel Display Audio"
- 4If missing or has yellow exclamation: right-click > Update driver
- 5If not listed at all: download the full GPU driver from NVIDIA/AMD/Intel website
- 6During GPU driver installation: ensure "HD Audio" or "Audio Driver" component is checked
Solution 3: Troubleshoot TV/Monitor Audio
- 1Check TV volume — ensure it's not muted and set to the correct input
- 2Some TVs need audio output set to "HDMI" or "External speakers" in TV settings
- 3Try a different HDMI port on the TV
- 4Try a different HDMI cable (though audio issues are rarely cable-related)
- 5If using an adapter (DisplayPort to HDMI): ensure it supports audio passthrough
- 6DVI-to-HDMI adapters do NOT carry audio — you'll need a separate audio cable
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