How To Fix When You Have No Sound on YouTube

The no sound on YouTube problem can be quite a hassle. Most, if not all YouTube videos are made with sound in mind. If you can’t hear the videos you watch, there’s a high risk of missing out on a considerable amount of content. This is an issue especially if the video doesn’t include closed captions.

However, you can easily fix this error by following our methods below. There are several possible causes for this issue, starting with the site’s built-in audio controls, your browser, all the way to system settings. We’re here to help you resolve this issue as quickly as possible. Get back to enjoying your YouTube videos in no time!

Solution contents 

• Method 1. Check the YouTube audio controls
• Method 2. Ensure your system audio is fine
• Method 3. Run the Audio troubleshooter
• Method 4. Update your browser
• Method 5. Clear your browser cache
• Method 6. Update your sound card driver
• Method 7. Set the correct playback device

Solved: No sound on YouTube videos

There are multiple ways to fix the issue of YouTube videos playing without sound. First of all, the approach you should take depends on the cause of the error: is it an issue with your browser, your system, or your audio itself? Try to identify or narrow down the possibilities with the steps below, and apply the fitting troubleshooting method.

• Check if your peripherals are working. First, you should test if your speaker, earbuds, or headphones are working properly. Plug them out and plug them back in, or test them on a different device. If they work elsewhere, they shouldn’t be the culprit.
  
  
• Check audio controls. Ensure every necessary audio control is unmuted. Even if your system audio and YouTube video are unmuted, the browser’s volume may be muted on a deeper level.
  
  
• Check your drivers. Missing or damaged audio drivers can cause YouTube (and other) sources to stop producing sound. Ensure that your drivers are installed and up-to-date. Not sure how? Continue reading.

After performing these simple checks, you might know why your YouTube videos have no sound. Use the solutions below to fix this issue once and for all potentially.

Method 1. Check the YouTube audio controls

Before jumping into more complex troubleshooting methods, you should check the source: the YouTube player. You may have accidentally muted the video with a misclick or by pressing the M key on your keyboard.

1. Hover your mouse cursor over the video, or tap on the video once if you have a touch-enabled device. The video controls should show up in this state.
2. Look in the bottom-left corner of the player. If the icon displays a crossed-out volume icon as seen on the image below, it means that your video is currently muted:
   
   
3. To unmute the video, click on the crossed-out icon once, or press the M key on your keyboard.
   
   
4. If you keep the video playing in the background, you should immediately hear whether or not the sound is fixed. You can use the slider to adjust the volume and increase or decrease it after unmuting.

Method 2. Ensure your system audio is fine

After directly checking the video player, you should direct your attention to your system audio and the Sound Manager. Here are the steps to ensure your system audio is in check.

1. Look in the bottom-right corner of your screen and check the Volume icon. Similarly to the icon on YouTube, if it is crossed out, your volume is currently muted.
   
   
2. To unmute the system sound, simply click on the Volume icon and drag the slider to the right. This will increase the volume and unmute your computer.
3. Next, right-click on the Volume icon and choose Open Volume mixer from the context menu.
   
   
4. Check the volume level of the browser you’re viewing YouTube from. If the icon beneath the volume slider shows that it’s muted, click on it once. Afterward, make sure to slide the volume up to ensure it’s above 0%.
   
   
5. Close the Volume mixer and check if your YouTube video has sound. If not, continue with the methods below.

Method 3. Run the Audio troubleshooter

Windows 10 comes with built-in troubleshooters to help you quickly identify and fix errors. It’s possible that by running the Audio troubleshooter, your problem with Youtube will be automatically fixed.

1. Click on the Windows icon in the bottom left of your screen to bring up the Start menu. Choose Settings, or alternatively use the Windows + I shortcut.
   
   
2. Click on the Update & Security tile.
   
   
3. Switch to the Troubleshoot tab using the left-side pane. Here, you should be able to see a troubleshooter titled Playing Audio.
   
   
4. If you don’t share full diagnostic data to Microsoft, click on the Additional troubleshooters link and locate the Playing Audio troubleshooter there.
   
   
5. Click on the Run the troubleshooter button.
6. Wait for the troubleshooter to identify the issue and apply any possible fixes. Please note that your device may shut down and restart during this process. When it’s finished, see if you’re able to use the Windows Media Player.

Method 4. Update your browser

Sometimes browsers release updates with bugs still in them. This is a common mishap that’s almost required in order for software to develop and improve. If you're on an outdated build of the browser, it’s possible that you’re experiencing an audio bug that was already patched in a more recent update.

If you’re struggling with the no sound on YouTube issue, here are the steps to update Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. If you’re curious about what web browser is the best, check out our Which Web Browser Should You Be Using in 2021? article.

How to update Google Chrome

1. Close Google Chrome entirely by right-clicking on it in your taskbar and using the Close option from the context menu.
2. Relaunch Google Chrome and look in the top-right corner. If there’s an available update, the More icon (displayed by three dots arranged vertically) will have a colored bulb next to it:
1. Green: An update was released less than 2 days ago.
2. Orange: An update was released about 4 days ago.
3. Red: An update was released at least a week ago.
3. Click on the Update Google Chrome option. If you can't find this button, you're currently on the latest publicly available version.
   
   
4. Click on the Relaunch button. You should be on the latest version of Google Chrome now. Test if the same problem appears when using the most up-to-date release.

How to update Firefox

1. Click on the menu button, and then hover on Help in the context-menu. Click on the About Firefox option.
2. Firefox will check for updates, and if a new update is found, it will download them automatically. Click on the Update to (version) button.
   
   
3. Once the process is complete, simply click on the Restart to update Firefox button.
   
   

How to update Microsoft Edge

1. Click on the menu button, and then hover on Help and feedback in the context-menu. Click on the About Microsoft Edge option.
2. Edge will start to check for updates, and if a new update is found, it will download them automatically.
   
   
3. After the download process is completed, click on the Restart button. Edge will launch with the new update applied.
   
   

Method 5. Clear your browser cache

Some users have reported that after clearing browser cache and cookies, then no sound on YouTube problem was solved. You can find the steps required to do this below.

How to clear browser cache in Google Chrome

1. Click on the More icon (displayed by three dots arranged vertically) and hover over More tools. Click on Clear browsing data.
   
   
2. Make sure the time range is set to All time.
   
   
3. Enable the following options: 
   • Browsing history 
   • Cookies and other site data 
   • Cached images and files 
     
     
4. Click on the Clear data button. After the process is over, restart Google Chrome.

How to clear browser cache in Firefox

1. Type about: preferences#privacy into the address bar and press the Enter key on your keyboard. You’ll be redirected to a settings page.
   
   
2. Scroll down to the Cookies and Site Data section. Here, click on the Clear Data button.
   
   
3. Select both Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content, and then click on the Clear button to proceed. Wait for Firefox to process your request and delete the data.
   
   
4. Restart your browser.

How to clear browser cache in Microsoft Edge

1. Click on the menu button, and then click on Settings from the available options.
2. Switch to the Privacy, search, and services tab using the pane on the left side. Here, scroll down until you see the Choose what to clear button, and then click on it.
   
   
3. Make sure to set the Time range to All time.
   
   
4. Select Browsing history, Download history, Cookies, and other site data, and Cached images and files then press the Clear now button.

Method 6. Update your sound card driver

Ensure all your audio drivers are up to date and intact by updating them using the following steps.

1. Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard. This is going to bring up the Run utility.
2. Type in “devmgmt.msc” without the quotation marks and press the Enter key on your keyboard. This will launch the Registry Editor application.
   
   
3. Expand the Sound, video, and game controllers section by clicking on the arrow icon. Right-click on your audio driver and select Update Driver.
   
   
4. Click on Search automatically for updated driver software.
   
   
5. If Windows can find an updated driver, it will automatically download and install the update to your computer.

Method 7. Set the correct playback device

In some cases, it’s possible that the headset, speakers, or earbuds you’re trying to use is not selected as the playback device. Fix this by performing the steps below and setting the default device for audio playback on your device.

1. Right-click on the Sound icon in the bottom-right of your taskbar. If you don’t see it, try clicking on the arrow pointing upwards to show hidden tray items.
2. Select Sounds from the context menu. A new window should appear.
   
   
3. Switch to the Playback tab. Select the device you want to make your default for audio playback, then click on the Set Default button.
   
   
4. Click OK to apply your changes and test if YouTube videos are playing with sound after making this change.

Final thoughts

Our Help Center offers hundreds of guides to assist you if you’re in need of further help. Return to us for more informative articles, or get in touch with our experts for immediate assistance.

One more thing

Would you like to receive promotions, deals, and discounts to get our products for the best price? Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter by entering your email address below! Be the first to receive the latest news in your inbox.

You may also like

» How to fix Audio and Video out of Sync in Windows 10
» How to Watch YouTube Together With Your Friends
» How to Fix the “No Audio Output Device Is Installed” Error on Windows 10