This guide is designed for non-technical users.
At each step:

1. Do the action.
2. Check what you see/hear.
3. Test sound by playing a YouTube video.

👉 To open YouTube:

• Double-click Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.
• Type youtube.com at the top.
• Press Enter.
• Click a video and press ▶ Play.

• Look at your speakers/headphones.

  • If wired: plug firmly into the green audio socket or USB.
  • If Bluetooth: make sure they’re turned on (blue light usually shows).

• Look at the speaker icon 🔊 in the bottom-right (near clock).

  • If it has a red ❌, click it once (unmutes).
  • A volume slider pops up — drag it up.

👉 What to see:

• The slider fills with white as it goes up.
  👉 Check: Play YouTube.

✅ If you hear sound → stop.
❌ If no sound → go to Step 2.

• Close the app you’re using.
  • Click the X in the top-right corner of the app window.
• Open it again from the desktop or Start menu.

👉 Check: Play YouTube.

❌ Still no sound? Restart the computer:

• Click Windows logo (bottom-left) → Power button (circle with line) → Restart.

👉 What to see: Screen goes black → Windows reloads.
👉 Check: Play YouTube.

✅ If you hear sound → stop.
❌ If no sound → go to Step 3.

• Right-click the speaker icon 🔊 → click Open volume mixer.
• Find your app (e.g. Chrome if using YouTube).

👉 What to see:

• Sliders for “System” and each open app.
• Each app has a slider and a small speaker icon.

👉 Check:

• Is the slider up (blue/white bar visible)?
• If muted (🚫 symbol), click it once to unmute.
• Below the app name: does it say the correct device (Headphones/Speakers)? If wrong, click and choose the right one.

👉 Check: Play YouTube.

✅ If you hear sound → stop.
❌ If no sound → go to Step 4.

• Press Windows key + R → type mmsys.cpl → press Enter.
• A “Sound” window opens.
• Click the Communications tab.
• Select Do nothing → click OK.

👉 What to see: Options for “When Windows detects communications activity”.
👉 Check: Play YouTube.

✅ If you hear sound → stop.
❌ If no sound → go to Step 5.

• Press Windows key + I (opens Settings).
• On the left, click Bluetooth & devices.
• Click your headset’s name.

👉 What to see: Options for Stereo and Hands-Free.
👉 Check: Select Stereo (it becomes highlighted).

👉 Check: Play YouTube.

✅ If you hear sound → stop.
❌ If no sound → turn the headset off/on, or Remove device → reconnect.

👉 Check: Play YouTube.

❌ Still no sound? → go to Step 6.

• Restart the computer.
• If still no sound:
  • Press Windows key + I → Settings.
  • On the left, click Windows Update.
  • Click Check for updates.

👉 What to see: A spinning wheel, then updates listed.
👉 Check: Let it finish, restart if asked.
👉 Check: Play YouTube.

✅ If you hear sound → stop.
❌ If no sound → go to Step 7.

• Press Windows key + X → click Device Manager.
• A window opens with a long list.
• Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
• Right-click your audio device (e.g. “Realtek” / “Intel” / “High Definition Audio”).
• Click Uninstall device.
• Restart the computer.

👉 What to see: Windows reinstalls the driver automatically.
👉 Check: Play YouTube.

✅ If you hear sound → done.
❌ If no sound → likely hardware fault (broken speakers/headset).

• Press Windows key + I → Settings.
• On the left, click System → then click Activation.

👉 What to see:

• ✅ If it says Windows is activated → nothing to do.
• ❌ If it says Windows is not activated:
  • Click Troubleshoot.
  • Sign in with your Microsoft account (the one used to set up Windows).

👉 Important:

• Windows 11 normally uses a digital licence tied to your account.
• You don’t usually have a “product key”.
• If activation still fails: contact Microsoft Support or your PC retailer.

• Always test sound by playing YouTube.
• After each fix, check if sound works.
• If it does → stop.
• If not → go to the next step.
• Most issues are solved by Steps 1–3.