No sound at all, Windows 11, NVIDIA High Definition Audio

Resolving No Audio Output in Windows 11 with NVIDIA High Definition Audio

Experiencing audio issues can be incredibly frustrating, especially when your hardware setup is otherwise functioning correctly. If you’re encountering a situation where your Windows 11 system, equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU, is not producing sound through HDMI connected monitors, this guide offers some troubleshooting insights and potential solutions to resolve the problem.

Understanding Your System Configuration

Before diving into troubleshooting, it’s helpful to understand the typical setup:

• Operating System: Windows 11 Home
• Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
• Audio Driver: NVIDIA High Definition Audio (version 1.4.5.0)
• Connection: HDMI from GPU to monitor
• Output Devices: Speakers connected via monitor (HDMI) or Bluetooth headphones

Common Issue Description

In many cases, users find that no sound is transmitted from their PC over HDMI, even though the visual display is functioning correctly. Sound may only be audible when connected through alternative methods, such as a wired headset via the audio jack or Bluetooth headphones.

Troubleshooting Steps Undertaken

Standard troubleshooting steps often include:

• Restarting the system to refresh drivers and hardware recognition.
• Rolling back or updating audio drivers to resolve compatibility issues.
• Uninstalling and reinstalling NVIDIA sound drivers to ensure proper installation.

Despite these efforts, the issue persists in many cases, indicating the need for more targeted solutions.

Recommended Solutions

Here are several strategies to diagnose and potentially resolve the issue:

1. Ensure HDMI is Set as the Default Playback Device
2. Right-click the speaker icon in the system tray and select ‘Sound settings’.
3. Under ‘Output’, ensure your HDMI device (often labeled with your monitor’s name) is set as the default.

4. If not listed, right-click inside the sound device list and enable ‘Show Disabled Devices’, then enable and set your HDMI device as default.

5. Update or Roll Back Graphics and Audio Drivers

6. Use Windows Device Manager or NVIDIA GeForce Experience to check for driver updates.

7. If issues began after a recent driver update, consider rolling back to a previous stable version.

8. Check for Windows Updates

9. Sometimes, Windows updates include important fixes for audio and display drivers.

10. Navigate to Settings > Windows Update and install any pending updates.

11. Verify HDMI Connection and Monitor Settings