How To Fix The “Firefox Not Playing Sound” Issue

If you have chosen Firefox over Google Chrome, then you are one among 178 million users across the globe who prefer Firefox. However, some Firefox users when trying to enjoy videos or music are encountering the “Firefox not playing sound” issue. This can arise due to various reasons, such as incorrect audio settings, muted tabs, or conflicting extensions. If you are among those users follow these troubleshooting steps and restore audio functionality in Firefox. Let’s dive in and get the sound working again!

Why Does No Audio in Firefox

There are several reasons why Firefox may not play sound:

1. Muted Tabs: The specific tab may be muted, preventing audio from playing.
2. Audio Settings: Incorrect system audio settings or default audio device configuration can affect sound playback.
3. Firefox Settings: There must be misconfigured Audio settings within Firefox.
4. Extensions and Add-ons: Certain browser extensions, especially ad blockers or privacy tools, can interfere with audio playback.
5. Outdated Firefox Version: Using an outdated version of Firefox may lead to compatibility issues with audio playback.
6. Windows Audio Service: If the Windows Audio service is not running or set to manual, it can prevent sound from playing.
7. Corrupted Cache or Cookies: Accumulated browser data might interfere with audio playback, causing issues.

Also Read: 5 Ways to Fix Find in Page Not Working in Firefox

How To Fix The “Firefox Not Playing Sound” Issue

Method 1: Verify The Volume Mixer

Step 1: Launch the Firefox browser first, then minimize it to view your desktop.
Step 2: Click on the Volume icon in the bottom right corner of the taskbar.
Step 3: Next, locate the Volume Slider and click on the arrow next to it.

Step 4: The Volume Mixer box will open, and you will find a list of apps. Locate Firefox and make sure the volume slider next to It is full and not muted.

Step 5: Finally, click on the dropdown arrow next to the Firefox volume bar and ensure that the Output is set to Default.

Method 2: Verify Default Speaker On Windows

Step 1: Press Win + R to open the RUN box and type “Control” followed by the Enter key.
Step 2: The Control Panel box will now open. Ensure the “View by” button is set to Category in the top right corner.

Step 3: Click on Hardware And Sound.
Step 4: Next, click on Sound.
Step 5: Navigate to the Playback tab in the Sound properties window.
Step 6: Right-click on the device you want to use and choose “Set as Default Device.”
Step 7: Then click OK to confirm.

Method 3: Modify The Windows Audio Service To Automatic

Setting the Windows Audio service to automatic ensures that audio functionality is enabled every time you start your computer. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Press `Windows + R` on your keyboard.
Step 2: Type `services.msc` and hit Enter. This will open the Services window.
Step 3: Scroll down and find “Windows Audio” in the list of services.
Step 4: Right-click on “Windows Audio” and select “Properties.”
Step 5: In the Properties window, find the “Startup type” dropdown menu. Select “Automatic” from the list.

Step 6: Click “Apply” then “OK” to save the changes.
Step 7: Restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.

Method 4: Verify The Tab’s Mute Status

Step 1: Launch Firefox and open the video you wish to watch with sound.
Step 2: Hover over the tab where the video is playing to check the volume icon; make sure it isn’t muted.
Step 3: You can also use the shortcut Ctrl + M to mute or unmute the tab.

Method 5: Alter Firefox Settings

Step 1: Open Firefox and click on the Hamburger menu in the top-right corner.
Step 2: Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
Step 3: Click the Privacy and Security tab in the left panel.
Step 4: In the right section, locate Cookies and Site Data.
Step 5: Ensure all cookies are enabled by clicking the “Manage Exceptions” button.

Step 6: Check the Exceptions list to ensure the site isn’t blocked. After making any necessary changes, click “Save Changes.”

Step 7: Next, navigate to the History section and confirm that Firefox is set to “Remember History.”
Step 8: Scroll down to the Permissions section, find “Block pop-up windows,” and click on “Exceptions.” Ensure that the website is allowed as an exception for the Block pop-up windows setting.

Method 6: Clear Cache And Cookies

Step 1: Double-click the Firefox shortcut to launch the browser, then click on the three horizontal lines.
Step 2: Open a new tab by selecting the Settings tab. In the left pane, click on the Privacy & Security option.
Step 3: Scroll down in the right section to find Cookies and Site Data. Click the Clear Data button, then confirm by clicking the Clear button again.

Also Read: How to Clear Cache and Cookies From Firefox Browser

Editor’s Tip: Clear Junk and Temporary Files from Your PC Just as cookies and cache can lead to issues while browsing, the buildup of junk, temporary, and unwanted files on your PC can impair its performance and prevent it from operating at its best. To maintain your computer in optimal condition and ensure peak performance, consider using Advanced System Optimizer—a robust PC optimization tool. Here’s how to get started: Step 1: Download Advanced System Optimizer. Step 2: Launch the software and click the “Start Smart PC Care” button. Step 3: Wait for the scan to complete and find issues on your system. Step 4: Click on the Optimize button. Step 5: Sit back and relax, and the Advanced System Optimizer will optimize your PC.

Method 7: Disable Extensions

Step 1: Double-click the Firefox shortcut to open the browser, then click on the three horizontal lines.
Step 2: Next, click on the Jigsaw Puzzle Piece icon in the top right corner and select “Manage Extensions“.
Step 3: Slide the toggle button to the left to disable the extensions.

Method 8: Update Firefox

Step 1: Double-click the Firefox shortcut to launch the browser, then click on the three horizontal lines.
Step 2: From the dropdown menu, select the Help option and choose “About Firefox.”
Step 3: Click the “Restart to Update” option, and Firefox will close to initiate the update process.

Also Read: How To Export And Delete Saved Passwords From All Browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Opera)

Method 9: Reset Browser

Step 1: Double-click the Firefox shortcut to launch the browser, then click on the three horizontal lines.
Step 2: From the dropdown menu, select the Help option and then choose “More Troubleshooting Information.”
Step 3: A new tab will open, where you should click the “Refresh Firefox” button in the top-right corner.

Method 10: Reinstall Firefox

Note: Ensure you have an alternate browser installed on your system before following the steps below. This allows you to download the installation file again using the alternate browser if you uninstall your preferred one.

Step 1: Press the Win key and type “Add or remove programs.”
Step 2: Click on the appropriate search result to open the Settings box.
Step 3: A list of programs will appear on your screen. Scroll down to find the browser you want to uninstall.
Step 4: Click the three dots next to your browser and select “Uninstall.”
Step 5: Adhere to the on-screen instructions to uninstall the browser from your PC.
Step 6: Restart your computer and use the alternate browser to reinstall the Firefox browser.

Method 11: Reinstall Sound Drivers

Step 1: Press Win + X to open the Power menu and click on Device Manager.
Step 2: A new box with a list of all your PC drivers will open. Click on Sound, Video, and Game Controllers to expand this option.
Step 3: Right-click on each item under Sound and choose Uninstall from the context menu. Follow the onscreen steps to complete the uninstallation process.
Step 4: After uninstalling all items under Sound, restart your PC, and Windows will automatically install the sound drivers.

Editor’s Tip. Use Advanced Driver Updater To Update Sound Drivers Windows has a limitation when it comes to updating drivers. It only updates the drivers from Microsoft Servers, which takes time to process and analyze drivers sent by third-party hardware manufacturers. So, if you are looking for updated drivers, you can either update them from the OEM websites or use Advanced Driver Updater software.  The hardware manufacturers maintain a website where you can find the latest drivers, but this process is tedious and time-consuming. It also requires vast technical knowledge of identifying your hardware, searching for the appropriate drivers, downloading, decompressing, and installing the drivers on your PC. Instead, you can opt for Advanced Driver Updater, which can update your drivers with a few mouse clicks.

Method 12: Alternate Browser

If you are not able to play sound on your Firefox browser, then you could try using an alternate browser like Google Chrome, Edge, or Opera. For Apple users, you can switch back to your default Safari browser.

Method 13: Try Disabling Graphics Hardware Acceleration In Firefox

Another method suggested on tech forums is to disable the Graphics Hardware Acceleration in Firefox. Here is what you need to do.

Step 1: Open the Firefox browser and click on the three horizontal lines in the upper right corner.
Step 2: Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
Step 3: A new tab will open where you have to click on the General option in the left section.
Step 4: Scroll down in the right pane until you locate the Performance section.
Step 5: Uncheck the box before the Use recommended performance settings option.
Step 6: Next, uncheck the box before the Use hardware acceleration when available.
Step 7: Exit Firefox and reboot your PC.

Method 14: Update Windows

Microsoft Provides regular updates to all genuine Windows 11 users. You can check for new updates by following these steps:

Step 1: Press the Win key, type “Check For Updates,” and click on the relevant result.
Step 2: Click the “Check For Updates” button in the settings window.
Step 3: After the updates have been completed, reboot the PC.

Method 15: Reset Windows

If the previous solutions haven’t worked, resetting Windows may be the final step to fix this issue Here’s how to reset Windows PC:

Step 1. Open the Start menu and search for ‘Reset this PC.’ Then, select the appropriate option from the search results.
Step 2. Click on “Reset PC.”

Step 3. Select “Keep my files.”
Step 4: Follow the on-screen instructions to start the reset process for your Windows computer.

Note: Although Windows provides an option to keep your data during the reset, it is recommended to manually back up your files externally to prevent any potential data loss.

Conclusion

If you’ve followed the troubleshooting steps outlined in this guide, Firefox no sound issue should be fixed by now. Whether it involves adjusting audio settings, managing extensions, or refreshing your browser, these solutions are designed to restore audio functionality and enhance your browsing experience. Do write to us in the comments section below about which method solved your problem.