Alex Ruben
How To Resolve No Sound Issues on Spotify in Windows 11
If Spotify isn’t making a sound on a Windows 11 PC, it’s honestly pretty frustrating — especially when you’re just trying to chill or get some work done. Sometimes, it’s a quick fix like tweaking settings, but other times, drivers or app reinstallations are needed. Whatever the reason, this rundown covers the usual suspects that might be causing no audio from Spotify, and how to fix it so you can actually hear your favorite tunes again.
How to Fix No Sound in Spotify on Windows 11
Check Spotify’s Sound Settings
This one sounds obvious, but sometimes Spotify’s own volume gets muted or turned way down, especially if you use media keys a lot or have multiple audio sources. It’s worth verifying that Spotify’s volume slider is turned up and not muted:
- Open Spotify.
- Head down to the bottom right corner of the app window.
- Make sure the volume slider isn’t all the way to zero and that the mute icon isn’t active (look for the crossed-out speaker).
On some setups, this can be accidentally toggled, and it’s a quick fix—sometimes, that’s all it takes to get sound back.
Verify Windows Sound Settings
Next, it’s essential to check your system’s sound output. Sometimes Windows defaults to the wrong device, or volume gets muted without you noticing:
- Click the speaker icon in the bottom right corner of your taskbar.
- Select Open Sound settings.
- Under Output, make sure the correct device (like your headphones or speakers) is selected.
- Check that the volume isn’t muted and that the device isn’t disabled. Sometimes, Windows updates reset or mess with these defaults.
Tip: If you’ve got multiple outputs (like Bluetooth headphones and wired speakers), switch between them to see if one works better.
Use the Windows Built-in Sound Troubleshooter
This is kind of weird, but Windows 11 has a troubleshooting tool that can fix audio issues automatically:
- Press Windows + Q to bring up the search bar.
- Type Sound troubleshooter and hit Enter.
- Follow the step-by-step prompts. Usually, it detects common problems, like misconfigured output devices or driver hiccups, and recommends fixes.
Sometimes, this kicks in and solves the problem without all the manual tinkering. On some machines, it’s hit or miss, but worth a shot.
Check Application Volume Levels in Windows Mixer
OK, so Windows has a volume mixer — and yes, occasionally it mutes specific apps by accident. This tip helped out a buddy’s setup:
- Open the search bar and type Volume Mixer, then press Enter.
- In the mixer window, see if Spotify is muted or has its volume pretty much all the way down.
- If muted, click the mute button or drag the volume slider up. On some setups, Spotify’s volume was low even though system sounds seemed fine.
Pro tip: Sometimes, rebooting your PC after changing these settings can help anything chill out and apply correctly.
Update or Reinstall Audio Drivers
This is where things get a little more tech-heavy. Outdated or corrupted drivers for your sound card can cause no sound for any app, including Spotify:
- Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
- Find the section named Sound, video and game controllers and expand it.
- Right-click on your audio device (like Realtek High Definition Audio or similar) and choose Update driver.
- Select Search automatically for drivers. Windows will check for updates, which sometimes helps.
- If updating doesn’t work, right-click again, choose Uninstall device, then restart your PC. Windows tends to auto-reinstall the driver on reboot, which often resets things.
Note: If this doesn’t fix it, some people prefer going directly to the manufacturer’s site to download the latest driver version.
Reinstall Spotify
If everything else failed, maybe Spotify itself is acting up. Doing a clean reinstall might clear whatever got corrupted:
- Press Windows + Q and type Add or remove programs, hit Enter.
- Scroll down to find Spotify, click the three-dot menu, then select Uninstall.
- Once uninstalled, open the Microsoft Store or go directly to Spotify’s official site to grab the latest version.
- Install again — yes, that means logging back in and resetting your preferences, but it’s often the fix that actually works when nothing else does.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Here are some quick additional fixes you might want to check:
- Try playing sound in another app (like YouTube or VLC). If they’re silent too, it’s more of a system thing than Spotify itself.
- Ensure Windows 11 is fully updated — sometimes these issues are bugs fixed in the latest patches.
- If you’re using Bluetooth headphones or speakers, double-check they’re properly paired and selected as default output device.
Wrap-up
Most of the time, a combination of checking settings, updating drivers, or reinstalling Spotify will solve the no-sound issue. It can be super annoying when sound suddenly stops without warning, but these steps usually get the audio back in action. If you’re still stuck after all that, visiting Spotify’s support forums or even doing a Windows reset might be the last resorts.
Summary
- Check Spotify’s volume and mute status.
- Make sure Windows sound output is correct and not muted.
- Run the Windows sound troubleshooter.
- Verify app volume in Volume Mixer.
- Update or reinstall your sound drivers.
- Reinstall Spotify if needed.
- Test other apps and system updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I hear sound from other applications?
If everything’s silent, not just Spotify, the issue is probably with your system’s audio settings, drivers, or Windows configuration, not just the app.
What should I do if Spotify still won’t produce sound after reinstalling?
Check your audio drivers once more or try rolling back to a previous driver version if recent updates seem to cause it. Sometimes, a Windows update might fix underlying bugs as well.
Can I still listen on my phone if the PC sound is dead?
Absolutely. Spotify’s on pretty much all devices, so trying it on your smartphone or tablet is an easy workaround.