Categories: Driver Guide

How to Fix Chrome Not Playing Sound Error on Windows

Trying to run a media file online but can’t figure out if it has proper sound or not. That may be due to Chrome not playing sound issues on Windows. The problem is frustrating, considering a user tries to run multiple websites to get audio feedback from the browser but in the end, gets nothing.

Chrome doesn’t play sound error has always existed on the browser. There have been several renditions of the issue. You may find multiple discussion threads and user opinions about the same.

All in all, it can be said that the issue is real and is bothering users. If you have also encountered a situation where your Chrome won’t play sound, do not worry; we have the fixes ready for you!

Keep reading to learn more on the same…

Ways to Resolve Chrome Not Playing Sound Issue Effectively

The issue with the audio playing capabilities of Chrome usually appears when there’s either faulty hardware or the file/website responsible for audio is corrupt. However, Chrome won’t play sound if it does not support the format.

A quick restart of the application usually fixes the error. However, there are multiple fixes that one may use if the issue persists. These fixes include –

1. Check for hardware issues on your device

The first thing to do when Chrome cannot play sounds is to check that the connected devices are working properly. Here’s what you can do –

Try using the audio hardware connected to the PC with another device. This will ensure that the connected devices are working.
Try using another application to play audio, as it will help you categorize the issue, whether it is only with Chrome or not.
You can also check for basic connectivity issues with the device, as that is also the case, especially if you are using wired hardware.

Once you establish no issues with the hardware, move on to other fixes. If the issue lies in the hardware, you might have to visit the service center, as playing around with hardware is not advised.

2. Try Switching Output Devices on your PC

If you use multiple devices to route audio, try switching between the devices on your PC. Here’s how you can do it –

In the Task Bar, spot the speaker icon in the bottom right corner
The selected icon will open volume controls.
You may find a speaker icon near the volume controls. Click on it.
You may find all the connected output devices listed in the opened menus. Click on them to choose the output source.
If you are using only the internal device, the option may appear like this.
In such a scenario, try connecting another source and switch the device accordingly

It is important to check other sources as well, as it allows you to zero in on the error that may be causing the issue.

3. Mute and Unmute the Tab in Question

If Chrome audio is not working from a specific tab on your PC, you can try to mute and unmute it to see if it makes a difference. Usually, when you open a website that offers media, it is unmuted by default. However, some websites have a preset setting of staying on mute.

Here’s how this can be done –

Open Chrome and select the tab that is unable to play audio.
Right-click on the tab to see the site status.
If the option says unmute, click on it, as the sound was not playing because the tab was on mute.
If it says mute, mute and unmute it again.

After you have made the changes, reload (press F5) to refresh the tab. This should now fix the issue with the tab, and Chrome should be able to play the sound.

4. Look for Updates in Chrome

Another factor that may help you resolve the Chrome not playing sound error on Windows is ensuring that you are using the latest version of the browser. There have been several incidents where users experienced audio and video glitches due to older versions of the browser.

To update Chrome –

Open Chrome and navigate to About settings of Chrome by simply putting the following address in the URL bar – chrome://settings/help
Chrome will automatically start looking for the latest updates as you open the page.
If there appears to be a pending update, install the same instantly, as it might be causing the audio issue on Chrome.

If you have recently started using the latest version of the application, try restarting it, as it may help you rectify the error.

5. Update Audio Drivers on PC

Another reason why Chrome may be unable to play audio on your PC can be the outdated sound card driver that your PC may be using. Updating the audio driver on your PC can greatly help resolve the error.

When it comes to updating drivers, we highly recommend you use Advanced Driver Updater as it does the job for you in three easy steps –

Install the application on your computer.
Scan for outdated drivers on PC.
Click on Update All to finish the process.

Three steps, and you are good to go! If you wonder how to update audio drivers and want to know other ways to do it, follow this link to find a detailed post on the same.

6. Disable Extensions that May be Causing the Issue

In case updating the driver did not work for you, it is clear that the issue lies in Chrome itself. If you use multiple extensions on your Chrome, there is a strong chance that these extensions are causing the error. Hence, disabling them might help resolve the Chrome not playing sound issue.

To disable the extension,

Follow the given path (copy and paste in the address bar) to find all the extensions on your Chrome browser – chrome://extensions/
This will take you straight to the page where you can find all the connected extensions.
Start disabling the unused ones and reload the tab to check if it plays the sound.
Close the application and rerun it to refresh its configuration.

If the issues had risen out of nowhere, disabling extensions might help.

7. Clear Chrome Data (Cookies, Cache, Browser History)

Another way to handle the Chrome not playing audio issue is to clear its overall data. Faulty cookies and cache often cause similar errors with the browser. Hence clearing Chrome data can be a good option for you.

Here’s how you can do it –

Go to the quick access menu for Chrome using the three-dot button in the top right corner of the window
From the menu, click on settings.
In Settings, you may find Privacy and Security settings in the left pane.
You may find the option to clear data in the Privacy and Security settings.
Click on the option to find custom settings to clear data.
After that, you can click on Clear Data to finish the process.

8. Reset Chrome to Factory defaults

If nothing out of the above fixes worked so far, maybe you should try resetting Chrome to its default settings to make it as good as new. To reset the default settings, follow these steps –

Go to the following path using the address bar to find the option that allows you to reset settings.
chrome://settings/reset
In the opened tab, you may find an option that appears like this –
Click on it, and you may find a pop-up asking you to confirm the action. Click on Reset Settings, and the process will finish!

Other than these fixes, you always have the option to uninstall and reinstall the application. You must ensure that audio is working properly in other applications of your PC. Mostly when an application like Chrome malfunctions, it can be easily fixed.

Chrome Not Playing Sound Error – FIXED!

If you are confused about which method to try first, we recommend you try all of them individually. This is a complete list of things you can do to fix Chrome not playing sound error on Windows. It is not necessary that you will require them, Simply follow the fixes one after the other and stop when the audio is recovered!

If you feel trying all of them is a lengthy process, you must try restarting Chrome, checking the volume mixer on Windows, and updating the sound card driver.

Hope the fixes listed above help you resolve the Chrome no sound error on your Windows PC. Please let us know which troubleshooting method did the trick via the comments section.

Thanks for reading. Good luck!

Dishank Sharma

A creative tech-writer who loves to explore latest tech-trends & convey them to his readers in the simplest way possible. He loves to blend the crispness of technology with a pinch of creativity while curating best practices for the readers. In his free time, he likes to scribble poetry, listen to rap & travel.