🔊 No Audio Output Device Installed on Windows 11 24H2 — 10 Fixes That Work (2026)

You install the Windows 11 24H2 update. You restart your PC. Then — no sound. You open Device Manager and see “No Audio Output Device is Installed” or a yellow exclamation mark next to your audio device . The speaker icon in the taskbar has a red X. You’re not alone — Dell officially confirmed this issue affects thousands of users after the 24H2 update .

🔍 What’s Actually Happening — The 24H2 Audio Disaster

The Windows 11 24H2 update has caused multiple audio failure scenarios. Dell officially confirmed this as a known issue .

Why this happens: The audio driver encounters a one-time installation error on Windows 11 24H2, occurring only if updating the audio driver for the first time since November 2023 . Windows Update may have replaced your manufacturer’s audio driver (Dell Realtek, Cirrus, etc.) with a generic Microsoft version that doesn’t work properly . Additionally, Intel Smart Sound Technology (Intel SST) driver versions 10.29.0.5152 or 10.30.0.5152 cause compatibility issues; you need version 10.30.00.5714 or later .

Step A: Press Win + I (Settings)
Step B: System → Sound → Advanced (or scroll down)
Step C: Click "Output devices" or "Troubleshoot common sound problems"
Step D: Select your audio device and follow the prompts

Alternative: Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters → Audio → Run

Step A: Press Win + R → type "services.msc" → Enter
Step B: Scroll to "Windows Audio"
Step C: Right-click → Restart
Step D: Also restart "Windows Audio Endpoint Builder"
Step E: If services are stopped, right-click → Start
Step F: Restart your PC after restarting services

Step A: Press Win + X → Device Manager
Step B: Expand "Sound, video and game controllers"
Step C: Right-click your audio device (Realtek, Cirrus, Intel SST, etc.) → Uninstall device
Step D: ✅ CHECK "Delete the driver software for this device"
Step E: Click Uninstall
Step F: Restart your PC immediately (do not scan for hardware changes)
Step G: Windows will automatically reinstall the audio driver

💡 For Dell users only: After restart, you may also need to uninstall the audio driver from Control Panel:
Control Panel → Uninstall a program → Find Cirrus Logic or Realtek driver → Uninstall → Restart

Step A: Press Win + X → Device Manager
Step B: Expand "System devices"
Step C: Find "Intel(R) Smart Sound Technology (Intel(R) SST) Audio Controller"
Step D: Right-click → Properties → Driver tab
Step E: Check your current driver version

If you have 10.29.0.5152 or 10.30.0.5152:
Step F: Visit your PC manufacturer's support site (Dell/HP/Lenovo)
Step G: Download the latest audio driver package (usually contains Intel SST driver)
Step H: Install and restart

Alternative: Right-click Intel SST device → Update driver → Search automatically for drivers

Step A: Press Win + X → Device Manager
Step B: Expand "Sound, video and game controllers"
Step C: Right-click your audio device → Properties → Driver tab
Step D: Click "Roll Back Driver" (if available)
Step E: Select a reason (e.g., "Previous driver worked better")
Step F: Click Yes → Restart your PC

🖥️ Dell Users:
- Visit Dell Support website
- Enter your Service Tag or model number
- Download the latest Realtek or Cirrus audio driver for Windows 11 24H2

🖥️ HP Users:
- Visit HP Support website
- Enter your model number
- Download audio driver from "Driver - Audio"

🖥️ Lenovo Users:
- Open Lenovo Vantage app
- Check for driver updates
- Or visit Lenovo Support website

After downloading:
Run the installer as Administrator → Restart your PC

Step A: Press Win + R → type "msinfo32" → Enter
Step B: Note your BIOS Version/Date and BaseBoard Manufacturer

Step C: Visit your PC manufacturer's support site
Step D: Download the latest BIOS update for your exact model
Step E: Download the latest Chipset drivers

Step F: Install chipset drivers first → Restart
Step G: Install BIOS update (follow instructions carefully) → Restart

Step A: Press Win + I → System → Sound
Step B: Scroll to "Advanced" → More sound settings (or "Properties" for your output device)
Step C: Select your playback device → Properties
Step D: Click the "Enhancements" tab (or "Spatial sound" tab)
Step E: CHECK "Disable all enhancements" (or "Disable")
Step F: For Spatial sound, select "Off"
Step G: Click Apply → OK → Restart your PC

Step A: Press Win + I → System → Sound
Step B: Under "Output," make sure the correct device is selected
Step C: If your device isn't listed, click "Add device" → "Add as default"

Alternative via Control Panel:
Step A: Press Win + R → type "control panel" → Enter
Step B: Hardware and Sound → Sound
Step C: Playback tab
Step D: Right-click your speakers/headphones → "Set as Default Device"
Step E: Also set as "Default Communication Device"

Method A: Uninstall recent update
Step A: Settings → Windows Update → Update history
Step B: Scroll to "Uninstall updates"
Step C: Find the KB update installed around when audio stopped working
Step D: Select it → Uninstall → Restart

Method B: System Restore (if you have a restore point)
Step A: Press Win + R → type "rstrui" → Enter
Step B: Select a restore point from BEFORE the audio issue started
Step C: Follow the prompts → Restart

🏭 Manufacturer-Specific Fixes for 24H2

🛡️ Preventing Future Audio Issues

• Delay automatic driver updates — Set Windows Update to not update drivers automatically (Group Policy or Registry)
• Keep OEM drivers as backups — Download and save your audio driver installer before major Windows updates
• Create restore points regularly — Before any major update, manually create a system restore point
• Check Intel SST driver version — If you have an Intel system, verify your Intel SST driver is version 10.30.00.5714 or later