At the moment, Windows 11 is one of the newest and most advanced operating systems, but it’s still not without various problems and bugs. Users encounter all kinds of bugs in all kinds of activities. For example, some people complain about audio problems when connecting devices via HDMI.

Most of the time, sound problems are related to software bugs, but from time to time users encounter hardware problems. You shouldn’t rush and run to change your device if you encounter a lack of sound through the HDMI. First of all, you need to figure out the reasons for such an error and perform the first most simple troubleshooting.

Why your Windows 11 can’t play sound with HDMI

First of all, you need to understand that audio problems in the transmission of the signal through the HDMI can be divided into two categories: software and hardware. You should start with software solutions and try them one by one and then move on to hardware solutions.

In the case of software failure, it may be a simple bug that turned off the sound or directed it to another sound output. In this case, a simple adjustment of the audio output of Windows 11 can help you. In addition, the problem can often be solved by installing the latest updates on Windows. Usually, if serious problems arise, Microsoft is very quick to fix such bugs.

However, if software solutions failed to help you, you should pay attention to the state of your hardware. The problem could be a bad cable, a bad HDMI port, or even a bad speaker of the device you connect your computer to. In such cases, you will most likely have to replace the cable or go to a repair shop to have your device diagnosed and repaired.

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How to troubleshoot software problems with HDMI in Windows 11

Usually, software problems are due to the fact that some settings simply didn’t work because of a bug in the system. There are several ways to quickly fix it if the problem is in the settings. You should try everything from the first method onwards until you find a method that works for you.

Check if the sound is enabled

Firstly you should check if you have the sound turned on, it often happens that users can accidentally turn it off or when connecting to a new device the sound is turned off. If this is the case, just click on the speaker icon in the bottom right corner of the screen and move the slider to the right.

Select the desired device

Another problem may be that your device is simply not selected for audio output. To change the output device you need to click on the speaker icon in the right-hand corner again. However, this time you need to click on the right arrow to go to the device selection menu. Here you just need to click on the appropriate device and you’re done.

Allow Windows access to the device

Sometimes users find that Windows doesn’t allow their device to work with Windows. In order to allow the device to work with Windows, you need to:

• Using the instructions above go to the list of devices and click on the More volume setting button.

• Then in the audio device selection menu, scroll down to All Audio Devices.

• Here in the list, select the device you’re using for audio playback and click on it.

• In the next menu, under the Audio tab, click the Allow button.

This allows your device to play sound. Then it will appear in the list of possible devices and you can simply switch to it.

How to fix hardware problems with HDMI in Windows 11

If you have made sure that everything is OK from the software point of view, it’s worth paying attention to the condition of your devices and cables. If these failures occur, you will most likely need to contact a repair specialist to fix the problem.

Check your cable

You’ll need to inspect your cable and see if it’s damaged. Also try to take it out and put it back in again, making sure that it’s seated tightly in the port. If you have an extra cable, you can try connecting with that. If the situation repeats with the other cable then the problem is definitely not with that cable.

Check the functionality of the audio device

If you’re connecting to a TV set, try the other functions of the TV set and check if the speakers in your TV set work. Also, try to connect another device with HDMI if you have the possibility. The speakers should start to work with them. You might also want to turn the volume on your TV up to maximum and see if the sound is muted.

Try another audio device

If there is nothing wrong with your TV or speakers, then it makes sense to try connecting another device to your PC. This way you can see if the problem is with your HDMI port. You can try another port or use an adapter to another port such as a display port to HDMI.

How to update HDMI driver in Windows 11

If you have problems with the sound after the last Windows update, the problem may lie in the drivers for your device. Usually, Windows automatically updates all drivers, but after a Windows update or an upgrade from Windows 10, drivers can sometimes fly off and need to be updated manually. In this case, you need to update the driver for your graphics card, as it’s responsible for the HDMI. To do this, you need to:

• Right-click on the Start button.
• After that, select Device Manager in the pop-up menu.

• Here you need to find your device in the list and using the right mouse button select Update Driver from the pop-up menu. After that, you can simply follow the instructions to automatically update the drivers.

As you can see it’s pretty easy to do. Alternatively, you can try to reinstall the driver by following the instructions in this list but choosing to uninstall the device instead of Update. After that restart, your PC and Windows will reinstall the driver for your video card.

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What port you can use with your PC instead of HDMI

When you find that there is a problem with the HDMI port or the cable, you have the choice of buying a new cable or looking for an alternative. There are several different ports that you can find on most monitors, TVs, and computers. Some of them can transfer data even faster than HDMI.

The best alternative cable you should consider is the Display Port. It’s essentially an improved form of HDMI. This standard has a higher bit rate and can provide you with more picture quality and smoother pictures. You can find this port on almost any modern monitor, especially if it has a high screen refresh rate.

If you have an older monitor then you might want to consider a VGA cable. This was the most popular and standard connector for video and audio streaming before HDMI. Of course, it isn’t found on more modern devices but if your device is 5 or more years old then it will most likely be there.

Another good option is to use an external audio system for your TV or monitor. This can be a good alternative to standard speakers with better sound quality and detail.