Unmute sound icon

Hi Bev McMurtry

Thanks for posting in the Microsoft Q&A Forum!

I know how frustrating this is when sound suddenly disappears and Windows won’t even let you unmute it.

1. Enable hidden audio devices

• Win + R → mmsys.cpl → Playback tab
  • Right‑click → enable Show Disabled Devices and Show Disconnected Devices
  • Enable your HDMI / DisplayPort / Monitor device and set it as default

2. Check Device Manager

• Win + X → Device Manager
  • Expand Sound, video and game controllers
  • Enable NVIDIA / AMD / Intel Display Audio
  • If missing: View → Show hidden devices → Scan for hardware changes

3. Restart audio services

• Win + R → services.msc
  • Restart Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder

4. GPU driver check
   • Monitor speakers rely on the graphics driver, not motherboard audio
   • Reinstall or repair your GPU driver if display audio is missing
5. Monitor check

• Open the monitor’s on‑screen menu
• Volume up, Audio Source = HDMI / DP
• Power‑cycle the monitor (unplug for 30 seconds)

If this started after an update or sleep, reinstalling the GPU driver usually restores the audio device immediately.

Hope this helps get your sound back, feel free to reply if it’s still not showing and we can narrow it down further.

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Hello

Is this All-In-One device, or how do you connect the monitor, which port do you use on the monitor, and which port do you use on the computer?

Have you tried restarting the computer since then? If not, please do that first.

If it still doesn't allow you to unmute after that, does the monitor itself has a physical mute button for the speaker?

Can you share with me two screenshots please?

1. Go to Device Manager > Display Adapters, I would like to see what's listed.
2. Please type msinfo32.exe in the search on the taskbar and hit enter, then share a screenshot of the pop up.

Thanks!