An HDMI cable normally carries video and audio through the same connection. If the picture works but there is no sound through HDMI, the cable itself may not be the problem.
The most common cause is that your computer is still sending audio to its built-in speakers, headphones, or another output instead of the connected TV or monitor.
Start here:
Windows: Settings → System → Sound → Output → Select your TV or HDMI device.
Mac: Apple menu → System Settings → Sound → Output → Select the connected HDMI display.
Microsoft specifically recommends checking the selected output device when Windows has video but no sound. Apple gives the same basic recommendation for HDMI-connected Macs.
Table of Contents
Why Does HDMI Have Picture but No Sound?
HDMI audio problems usually come down to one of these issues:
| Cause | What Happens | First Fix to Try |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong audio output | Video works, laptop speakers still play | Select HDMI/TV as output |
| HDMI device muted | Picture works but TV is silent | Check TV and computer volume |
| Audio driver issue | HDMI audio device is missing | Update/reinstall display audio driver |
| Bad HDMI handshake | Audio disappears after connecting | Disconnect and reconnect HDMI |
| Cable problem | Video/audio cuts out | Try another HDMI cable |
| Adapter limitation | Video works through USB-C adapter, audio does not | Check adapter audio support |
| App-specific output | Only one app has no HDMI sound | Check Volume Mixer |
| Unsupported audio format | Some content has sound problems | Switch to stereo/PCM |
| Monitor has no speakers | HDMI audio is sent but cannot be heard | Use external speakers |
The right fix depends on whether the problem is happening on Windows, Mac, a TV, or a monitor.
1. Select HDMI as the Audio Output
This is the first setting to check.
When you connect an HDMI cable, your computer may recognize the display but continue using its internal speakers.
Windows 11
Go to:
Settings → System → Sound → Output
Choose the device that represents your television, monitor, receiver, or HDMI connection.
It may appear under a name such as:
Digital Audio (HDMI), HDMI Output, your TV’s brand name, Intel Display Audio, or an NVIDIA/AMD audio device.
Microsoft recommends checking both the selected output and its volume when sound is missing.
Mac
Go to:
Apple menu → System Settings → Sound → Output
Select the HDMI-connected television, monitor, or receiver.
Apple specifically advises selecting the HDMI device under Sound Output when an HDMI display is not receiving audio.
2. Set the HDMI Device as the Default Playback Device
If Windows keeps switching audio back to your laptop speakers, set the HDMI display as the default device.
Open:
Settings → System → Sound → More sound settings
Under Playback, select your HDMI device and choose Set Default.
Intel also recommends setting HDMI audio as the default playback device when a TV receives video but not audio.
After changing the setting, play a video or use the Test option to confirm the TV or monitor is receiving audio.
3. Check the TV or Monitor Speakers
Before changing drivers, confirm the display can actually play sound.
Some computer monitors have HDMI ports but do not have built-in speakers.
In that situation, Windows can successfully send HDMI audio even though you hear nothing.
Check this:
| Display Type | What to Check |
|---|---|
| TV | Make sure volume is up and mute is off |
| Monitor with speakers | Select the correct audio source |
| Monitor without speakers | Connect external speakers/headphones |
| AV receiver | Select the correct HDMI input |
| Soundbar | Confirm ARC/eARC/input settings |
Also check whether headphones are plugged into the display. Some TVs and monitors automatically disable their built-in speakers when headphones are connected.
4. Disconnect and Reconnect the HDMI Cable
HDMI devices perform a digital connection process when they are plugged in. Occasionally, video is detected correctly while the audio device is not.
Try this sequence:
- Turn off the TV or monitor.
- Disconnect HDMI from both devices.
- Restart your computer.
- Turn on the TV or monitor.
- Reconnect the HDMI cable.
- Wait a few seconds.
- Check the Sound Output menu again.
If the HDMI audio device suddenly appears, the issue was likely a temporary detection or handshake problem.
5. Update the HDMI Audio Driver
On Windows, HDMI sound may depend on your graphics hardware as well as the regular sound driver.
For example, Device Manager may show entries such as:
Intel Display Audio, NVIDIA High Definition Audio, AMD High Definition Audio Device, or another display-audio controller.
Microsoft notes that missing, disabled, outdated, or corrupted audio drivers can cause an output device to disappear entirely.
Open:
Device Manager → Sound, video and game controllers
Check whether your HDMI/display audio device appears.
If there is an error symbol, install the current graphics and audio drivers from your laptop, motherboard, or GPU manufacturer’s support site.
Intel also recommends checking the HDMI audio device in Device Manager when HDMI sound stops working.
6. Check the HDMI Cable and Port
A cable can sometimes pass video while producing unreliable audio or intermittent connection problems.
Try another known-good HDMI cable.
Also test a different HDMI port on the television.
For example:
Laptop → HDMI 1
may behave differently from:
Laptop → HDMI 2
especially when a TV, receiver, soundbar, or HDMI switch has separate audio settings for individual ports.
If another cable immediately restores sound, replace the original cable rather than repeatedly changing software settings.
7. Check Your HDMI Adapter or Dock
If you are connecting through:
USB-C to HDMI, DisplayPort to HDMI, a docking station, or an HDMI hub, the adapter becomes another possible failure point.
Not every adapter handles the same audio formats or capabilities.
Apple, for example, recommends checking an adapter’s specifications when connecting a Mac to HDMI because supported video and audio features depend on the adapter.
Test the computer with a direct HDMI connection if possible.
If direct HDMI has sound but the adapter does not, the adapter or dock is likely the problem.
8. HDMI Sound Works Everywhere Except One App
If YouTube has sound but a game, browser, media player, or another application does not, the HDMI connection itself is probably working.
On Windows, open:
Settings → System → Sound → Volume Mixer
Check the application’s volume and output device.
Windows allows individual apps to use different audio outputs. An app can therefore keep sending sound to laptop speakers while the rest of Windows uses the TV.
Microsoft recommends checking both per-app volume and per-app output settings for this exact type of problem.
9. Change the Audio Format
Audio-format compatibility can cause problems when a computer is connected to an older TV, monitor, receiver, or HDMI adapter.
If surround sound does not work, try stereo or PCM first.
A basic stereo signal is widely compatible and can help determine whether the problem is the HDMI connection or the selected surround-sound format.
This is especially worth testing when regular system sounds work but certain movies or multichannel content remain silent.
HDMI No Sound: Quick Troubleshooting Table
| Problem | Best Fix |
|---|---|
| Laptop has picture but no TV sound | Select TV under Sound Output |
| HDMI not listed in Windows | Check/update display audio driver |
| Mac HDMI has no audio | Select HDMI device in Sound settings |
| Monitor has no sound | Confirm it has built-in speakers |
| Sound disappeared after reconnecting | Restart devices and reconnect HDMI |
| Only one program is silent | Check Windows Volume Mixer |
| USB-C HDMI has video only | Check adapter audio compatibility |
| Audio cuts in and out | Replace HDMI cable |
| Surround sound does not work | Try stereo/PCM |
| HDMI device stays unavailable | Reinstall/update graphics and audio drivers |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my HDMI have video but no sound?
Your computer may be sending audio to the wrong output device. Select your TV, monitor, receiver, or HDMI device under the computer’s Sound Output settings.
Does HDMI carry both video and audio?
Yes. HDMI is designed to carry digital video and audio through the same connection. If video works without sound, check the output device, display speakers, drivers, cable, adapter, and audio format.
Why is my TV not playing sound from my laptop through HDMI?
The laptop may still be using its internal speakers. On Windows, go to Settings → System → Sound → Output and select the TV or HDMI device.
Why does HDMI not appear under my sound devices?
The HDMI audio driver may be missing, disabled, or not detected. Check Device Manager → Sound, video and game controllers and update your graphics/display audio driver. Microsoft confirms driver problems can cause audio output devices to disappear.
Why is there no sound through HDMI on Windows 11?
The most common causes are the wrong playback device, muted HDMI output, a driver problem, an app using another audio output, or an HDMI detection issue.
How do I get sound through HDMI on a Mac?
Open System Settings → Sound → Output and select your HDMI-connected device. Apple recommends this when an HDMI television or display is not receiving Mac audio.
Can an HDMI cable be bad if the picture still works?
Yes. A damaged or unreliable cable can cause intermittent HDMI behavior. Testing another HDMI cable is an easy way to rule it out.
Why is my monitor not playing HDMI sound?
First confirm that the monitor actually has built-in speakers. Many monitors accept HDMI audio but have no speakers to reproduce it.
Why does Netflix or another app have no HDMI sound?
Check that application’s volume and output device. Windows can assign a different audio output to individual apps.
What should I check first when HDMI has no sound?
Check the audio output device first. If the correct HDMI device is already selected, check volume, the TV or monitor speakers, HDMI cable, drivers, and any adapter or dock.
Final Answer
If your HDMI has no sound but the picture works, start with the audio output setting. Your computer is often still sending sound to its internal speakers instead of the connected TV or monitor.
For Windows:
Settings → System → Sound → Output → Select HDMI/TV
For Mac:
System Settings → Sound → Output → Select HDMI device
If that does not fix the problem, test another HDMI cable, verify that the display has speakers, reconnect the devices, check any HDMI adapter, and update the display-audio or graphics driver. Those steps solve the most common HDMI audio not working problems without unnecessary changes to your system.