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  1. loftwah revised this gist Oct 6, 2025. 1 changed file with 99 additions and 97 deletions.
    196 changes: 99 additions & 97 deletions windows11.md
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    # 🎧 Windows 11 Sound Troubleshooting – Foolproof Step-by-Step
    # 🎧 Windows 11 Sound Troubleshooting – Foolproof Guide

    This guide is written for people who are **not technical**.
    This guide is designed for **non-technical users**.
    At each step:

    - You will **do something**.
    - You will **check what happens**.
    - Based on the result, you will either **stop** (if fixed) or **go to the next step**.
    1. **Do the action**.
    2. **Check what you see/hear**.
    3. **Test sound by playing a YouTube video**.

    We will always test sound using **YouTube in a web browser** (because every computer has it).
    👉 To open YouTube:

    - To open YouTube: double-click Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Firefox → type `youtube.com` in the bar at the top → press Enter.
    - Double-click Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.
    - Type `youtube.com` at the top.
    - Press Enter.
    - Click a video and press ▶ Play.

    ---

    ## Step 1. Test if any sound plays
    ## Step 1. Check the basics

    1. Open YouTube.
    2. Play any video (click the big ▶ Play button).
    - [ ] Look at your speakers/headphones.

    👉 **Check:**
    - 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.

    - Do you hear sound from your speakers/headphones?
    - Do you see the **speaker icon 🔊** in the bottom-right corner of the screen (near the clock)?
    👉 **What to see:**

    - If the icon has a **red ❌**, it means muted. Click it once to unmute.
    - When you click it, a small slider pops up. Drag the slider up and down.
    - **What you should see:** a white bar moves left and right.
    - The slider fills with white as it goes up.
    👉 **Check:** Play YouTube.

    ✅ If you now hear sound → stop.
    ❌ If you still hear nothing → go to Step 2.
    ✅ If you hear sound → stop.
    ❌ If no sound → go to Step 2.

    ---

    ## Step 2. Check speakers/headphones are connected properly
    ## Step 2. Restart the app and computer

    **If you use wired speakers/headphones:**
    - [ ] 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.

    1. Unplug the cable and plug it back in.
    - Headphones should go into the **green round socket**.
    - USB speakers/headphones go into a **USB port**.
    👉 **Check:** Play YouTube.

    **If you use Bluetooth:**
    ❌ Still no sound? Restart the computer:

    1. Make sure they are turned on (usually a blue light shows when active).
    2. Look at the bottom-right of Windows → click the **Bluetooth icon** (looks like a funny B shape).
    - If you see your device name and “Connected”, that’s correct.
    - If not, click it and connect.
    - Click **Windows logo (bottom-left)** → **Power button (circle with line)** → **Restart**.

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

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

    ---

    ## Step 3. Check the app’s volume in Volume Mixer
    ## Step 3. Check per-app volume (Volume Mixer)

    1. Right-click the **speaker icon 🔊** (bottom-right, near clock).
    2. Click **Open volume mixer**.
    3. A window opens with a list:
    - “System sounds”
    - Each open program (Chrome, Zoom, Spotify, etc).
    - [ ] 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:**

    - Find your program (e.g. Chrome if you’re testing YouTube).
    - Make sure the slider is not at zero (you should see a blue bar inside the slider).
    - If there is a small muted symbol (🚫) next to the program, click it to unmute.
    - Look under the program name. It should say the device you are using, e.g. **Headphones** or **Speakers**.
    - If it says the wrong thing (like “Monitor”), click it and change it to the correct one.
    - 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.

    Play YouTube again.
    👉 **Check:** Play YouTube.

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

    ---

    ## Step 4. Stop Windows from lowering sounds automatically
    ## Step 4. Stop Windows lowering volume automatically

    1. Press **Windows key + R** on your keyboard.
    - A small “Run” box appears.
    2. Type `mmsys.cpl` → press Enter.
    - A window called **Sound** opens.
    3. Click the **Communications** tab.
    4. Select **Do nothing**.
    5. Click **OK**.
    - [ ] Press **Windows key + R** → type `mmsys.cpl` → press Enter.
    - [ ] A “Sound” window opens.
    - [ ] Click the **Communications tab**.
    - [ ] Select **Do nothing** → click **OK**.

    👉 **Check:** Play YouTube again.
    👉 **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.

    ---

    ## Step 5. Bluetooth headphones mode
    ## Step 5. Bluetooth headset mode (skip if not using Bluetooth)

    1. Press **Windows key + I** to open Settings.
    - You should see a grey window with a menu on the left.
    2. Click **Bluetooth & devices**.
    3. Find your headset and click it.
    - [ ] Press **Windows key + I** (opens Settings).
    - [ ] On the left, click **Bluetooth & devices**.
    - [ ] Click your headset’s name.

    👉 **Check:**
    👉 **What to see:** Options for _Stereo_ and _Hands-Free_.
    👉 **Check:** Select **Stereo** (it becomes highlighted).

    - If you see two options, one called **Stereo** and one called **Hands-Free**:
    - Choose **Stereo**.
    - **What you should see:** Stereo becomes highlighted.

    Play YouTube again.
    👉 **Check:** Play YouTube.

    ✅ If you hear sound → stop.
    ❌ If no sound → go to Step 6.
    ❌ If no sound → turn the headset off/on, or **Remove device** → reconnect.

    ---
    👉 **Check:** Play YouTube.

    ## Step 6. Restart and update
    ❌ Still no sound? → go to Step 6.

    1. Restart your computer.
    - Click the **Windows logo** → Power icon → Restart.
    - Wait for Windows to reload.
    2. Test YouTube again.
    ---

    If still no sound:
    ## Step 6. Restart and update Windows

    1. Press **Windows key + I** → Settings opens.
    2. Click **Windows Update** (bottom-left).
    3. Click **Check for updates**.
    - [ ] Restart the computer.
    - [ ] If still no sound:
    - Press **Windows key + I** → Settings.
    - On the left, click **Windows Update**.
    - Click **Check for updates**.

    👉 **Check:** If updates install, restart and play YouTube again.
    👉 **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.

    ---

    ## Step 7. Last resort – reinstall the sound driver
    ## Step 7. Reinstall the sound driver (advanced but last resort)

    1. Press **Windows key + X** → choose **Device Manager**.
    - A window opens with a long list.
    2. Click the arrow next to **Sound, video and game controllers**.
    3. Right-click your audio device (usually “Realtek” or “Intel” or “High Definition Audio”).
    4. Click **Uninstall device**.
    5. Restart the computer.
    - Windows will reinstall the driver automatically.
    - [ ] 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.

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

    ✅ If you hear sound → done.
    ❌ If no sound → there is likely a hardware problem (faulty speakers/headphones).
    ❌ If no sound → likely hardware fault (broken speakers/headset).

    ---

    ## ⚠️ Extra: Windows says “Not a valid copy”
    ## ⚠️ If Windows says “Not a valid copy”

    1. Press **Windows key + I** → Settings.
    2. Click **System** on the left.
    3. Scroll down and click **Activation**.
    - [ ] Press **Windows key + I** → Settings.
    - [ ] On the left, click **System** → then click **Activation**.

    👉 **Check:**
    👉 **What to see:**

    - If it says **Windows is activated** ✅, ignore this.
    - If it says **Windows is not activated** ❌:
    - ✅ If it says **Windows is activated** → nothing to do.
    - ❌ If it says **Windows is not activated**:
    - Click **Troubleshoot**.
    - Sign in with your Microsoft account if asked.
    - Sign in with your Microsoft account (the one used to set up Windows).

    👉 **Important:**

    If it still doesn’t activate → you’ll need the Windows product key (on a sticker, receipt, or from Microsoft support).
    - 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.

    ---

    # ✅ Quick Recap
    # ✅ Recap

    - Each step: **play YouTube to test**.
    - If sound works → stop.
    - If not → keep going.
    - Steps 1–3 fix most problems.
    - 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.
  2. loftwah revised this gist Oct 6, 2025. 1 changed file with 176 additions and 1 deletion.
    177 changes: 176 additions & 1 deletion windows11.md
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    ‎‎​
    # 🎧 Windows 11 Sound Troubleshooting – Foolproof Step-by-Step

    This guide is written for people who are **not technical**.
    At each step:

    - You will **do something**.
    - You will **check what happens**.
    - Based on the result, you will either **stop** (if fixed) or **go to the next step**.

    We will always test sound using **YouTube in a web browser** (because every computer has it).

    - To open YouTube: double-click Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Firefox → type `youtube.com` in the bar at the top → press Enter.

    ---

    ## Step 1. Test if any sound plays

    1. Open YouTube.
    2. Play any video (click the big ▶ Play button).

    👉 **Check:**

    - Do you hear sound from your speakers/headphones?
    - Do you see the **speaker icon 🔊** in the bottom-right corner of the screen (near the clock)?

    - If the icon has a **red ❌**, it means muted. Click it once to unmute.
    - When you click it, a small slider pops up. Drag the slider up and down.
    - **What you should see:** a white bar moves left and right.

    ✅ If you now hear sound → stop.
    ❌ If you still hear nothing → go to Step 2.

    ---

    ## Step 2. Check speakers/headphones are connected properly

    **If you use wired speakers/headphones:**

    1. Unplug the cable and plug it back in.
    - Headphones should go into the **green round socket**.
    - USB speakers/headphones go into a **USB port**.

    **If you use Bluetooth:**

    1. Make sure they are turned on (usually a blue light shows when active).
    2. Look at the bottom-right of Windows → click the **Bluetooth icon** (looks like a funny B shape).
    - If you see your device name and “Connected”, that’s correct.
    - If not, click it and connect.

    👉 **Check:** Play YouTube again.

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

    ---

    ## Step 3. Check the app’s volume in Volume Mixer

    1. Right-click the **speaker icon 🔊** (bottom-right, near clock).
    2. Click **Open volume mixer**.
    3. A window opens with a list:
    - “System sounds”
    - Each open program (Chrome, Zoom, Spotify, etc).

    👉 **Check:**

    - Find your program (e.g. Chrome if you’re testing YouTube).
    - Make sure the slider is not at zero (you should see a blue bar inside the slider).
    - If there is a small muted symbol (🚫) next to the program, click it to unmute.
    - Look under the program name. It should say the device you are using, e.g. **Headphones** or **Speakers**.
    - If it says the wrong thing (like “Monitor”), click it and change it to the correct one.

    Play YouTube again.

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

    ---

    ## Step 4. Stop Windows from lowering sounds automatically

    1. Press **Windows key + R** on your keyboard.
    - A small “Run” box appears.
    2. Type `mmsys.cpl` → press Enter.
    - A window called **Sound** opens.
    3. Click the **Communications** tab.
    4. Select **Do nothing**.
    5. Click **OK**.

    👉 **Check:** Play YouTube again.

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

    ---

    ## Step 5. Bluetooth headphones mode

    1. Press **Windows key + I** to open Settings.
    - You should see a grey window with a menu on the left.
    2. Click **Bluetooth & devices**.
    3. Find your headset and click it.

    👉 **Check:**

    - If you see two options, one called **Stereo** and one called **Hands-Free**:
    - Choose **Stereo**.
    - **What you should see:** Stereo becomes highlighted.

    Play YouTube again.

    ✅ If you hear sound → stop.
    ❌ If no sound → go to Step 6.

    ---

    ## Step 6. Restart and update

    1. Restart your computer.
    - Click the **Windows logo** → Power icon → Restart.
    - Wait for Windows to reload.
    2. Test YouTube again.

    If still no sound:

    1. Press **Windows key + I** → Settings opens.
    2. Click **Windows Update** (bottom-left).
    3. Click **Check for updates**.

    👉 **Check:** If updates install, restart and play YouTube again.

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

    ---

    ## Step 7. Last resort – reinstall the sound driver

    1. Press **Windows key + X** → choose **Device Manager**.
    - A window opens with a long list.
    2. Click the arrow next to **Sound, video and game controllers**.
    3. Right-click your audio device (usually “Realtek” or “Intel” or “High Definition Audio”).
    4. Click **Uninstall device**.
    5. Restart the computer.
    - Windows will reinstall the driver automatically.

    👉 **Check:** Play YouTube again.

    ✅ If you hear sound → done.
    ❌ If no sound → there is likely a hardware problem (faulty speakers/headphones).

    ---

    ## ⚠️ Extra: Windows says “Not a valid copy”

    1. Press **Windows key + I** → Settings.
    2. Click **System** on the left.
    3. Scroll down and click **Activation**.

    👉 **Check:**

    - If it says **Windows is activated** ✅, ignore this.
    - If it says **Windows is not activated** ❌:
    - Click **Troubleshoot**.
    - Sign in with your Microsoft account if asked.

    If it still doesn’t activate → you’ll need the Windows product key (on a sticker, receipt, or from Microsoft support).

    ---

    # ✅ Quick Recap

    - Each step: **play YouTube to test**.
    - If sound works → stop.
    - If not → keep going.
    - Steps 1–3 fix most problems.
  3. loftwah created this gist Oct 6, 2025.
    1 change: 1 addition & 0 deletions windows11.md
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    ‎‎​