Why is my laptop audio so bad?

There's nothing like cranking up some tunes to keep your momentum going during the workday. But if your laptop speakers aren't working, it can really kill your groove.

Here's how to troubleshoot your PC if you aren't getting any sound. While many of these suggestions referenceWindows 10, similar processes work no matter your operating system.

Check Your Volume

This seems obvious, but I can't tell you how many times I've accidentally muted my volume in Windows only to slap my forehead in exasperation later. Click the speaker icon in the bottom-right corner of the Windows taskbar, and make sure your volume is unmuted and turned up. [If you haveexternal speakersplugged in, make sure they're turned on and turned up, too.]

When you drag the Windows volume slider and let go, you should hear a "ding." If not, the problem lies elsewhere. If you do hear a ding, there's a chance the app you're trying to use is muted instead. Make sure the music player, video player, or any other app you're using is unmuted and turned up.

The same goes for YouTube and other in-browser playersit's easy to mute them accidentally, which can be frustrating to diagnose later. Chrome users, for instance, can click the music note icon in the browser's menu to control audio playing from any tab.

Try Some Headphones

If you're having trouble with your laptop's built-in speakers, try plugging in aset ofheadphonesorspeakers. If the sound works through them, you might have a hardware problem with the laptop's built-in speakers.

If you have a pair of USB headphones handy [like a USB gaming headset], try plugging those in too, since they can bypass the default audio driver and indicate where the problem might lie.

Change Your Audio Device

It's possible your speakers are working just fine, but Windows is directing sound to the wrong output devicethis is especially common if you've plugged in a USB audio device, or are plugged in to an external HDMI monitor that doesn't have speakers.

To fix this, right-click the speaker icon in the Windows taskbar and choose Sounds to enter the audio preferences. Select the Playback tab, then find the device you want to use. If you don't see it, try right-clicking and checkingShow Disabled Devices.

Select the output device you want and click theSet Defaultbutton. If you aren't sure which one you want to use, try each of the devices in the list until you hear audio.

Disable Audio Enhancements

If you're having audio troubles,Microsoft recommendsdisabling any audio enhancements that might be turned on. From that same Sound menu, select the audio device you're trying to use, click Properties, and poke around the options that appear.

Make sure the right supported formats are checked, any enhancements are disabled, and that Exclusive Mode is unchecked in the Advanced tab. You might even try turning off any Spatial Sound enhancements as well. Try playing audio again, and see if any of those options were the cause of your troubles.

Install or Update Your Drivers

When in doubt, if a piece of PC hardware isn't working, check the drivers. Click the Start Menu, type "device manager," and press Enter to open the Control Panel. Scroll down toSound, Video and Game Controllersand expand the menu to show all the possible audio output devices in your PC. If there's a yellow exclamation mark next to any of these, that's a sign you may need tofind and install its driverfrom the manufacturer's website. If not, installing the driver is worth a shot anyway.

You can also tryuninstallingthe driver: right-click the one you're trying to usein my case, my laptop uses Realtek Audioand choose Uninstall Device. Reboot Windows and it will attempt to re-install its generic drivers, which may bring the speakers back to life.

Update Your BIOS

In rare instances, a hardware incompatibility, software update, or Windows reinstallation can cause your sound to stop working, and you may need to tweak something in the BIOS. Reboot your computer and enter theBIOS/UEFI setup menu, usually by pressing Delete, F2, or some other key at startup.

First, make sure your sound card is enabled in the BIOS, as it could have gotten disabled at some point. If that doesn't help, check what BIOS or UEFI version you're using, and compare it to the latest version on your laptop manufacturer's website.

If your manufacturer has released a new version recently, it might be worth updating. Just be sure to read the instructions and proceed carefully, as a BIOS update can also break things if done improperly.

Repair the Speakers

If you can't seem to fix the problem in software, there's a chance the speakers themselves are broken, or a cable has come loose inside your PC. If you can find a repair manual for your PC, don't be afraid to crack it open and see what's what.

You can also call in the professionals. Either send it into the manufacturer for repairs if it's under warranty, or find a local shop that can diagnose the problem for you. With any luck, you'll be jamming again in no time.