Windows Media Player Has No Sound: 5 Solutions

Windows Media Player with no sound is a problem you can run into eventually. In this article, we will look into the most common reasons for this issue and find out how to fix it.

Windows Media Player won't play any sound because of various reasons, but you should be in a position to fix it if and when it occurs. However, it is reasonable to make sure the problem is with the software, and not with your media.

Try opening your file on other devices. If there is no sound coming from any of them, then the file likely has the audio track missing or corrupted. This can be especially tricky if there is no sound when playing a DVD or other disk – damaged physical media is way harder to restore.

If you are sure your media are intact, here is how you can fix Windows Media Player with the sound not working.

You might have silenced the sound in Windows Media Player or on your system. Follow the guidelines below to ensure that the volume is audible.

For Windows Media Player:

1. Run the program.

2. Check the volume icon. If there is a red mark on the icon, click it to remove the mark and make sure that the audio slider is not at zero.

For the system sound:

3. Click the speaker icon on your taskbar.

4. If the speaker icon has a cross near it, then click on the icon and make sure that the audio slider is not at zero.

For the Volume mixer:

5. Right-click the speaker icon on your taskbar.

6. Choose Open Volume mixer from the pop-up menu.

7. Here you can configure the volume for individual apps. Make sure that the Windows Media Player slider is not at zero.

Now both system and player sounds should be unmuted. If this does not help, then there has to be another reason for the volume not working.

No sound on Windows Media Player could be a result of improper audio settings on the computer. To solve the issue, you can follow these steps:

1. Go to the taskbar and right-click the speaker icon.

2. Select Sounds from the options, then go to the Playback tab.

3. A green check icon must be on Speakers. It means your system sound is on.

4. If Speakers have no green check icon, then select it and click the Set Default button.

5. While the device is selected, click the Properties button and go to the Advanced tab.

6. Select a different sample rate and bit depth.

7. Click the Test button, then check if the sound is coming from the speakers.

8. Click OK to save the changes.

If adjusting the audio settings does not solve the problem, there might be no sound in Windows Media Player itself.

Sometimes you can see this error message across the screen: “Windows Media Player missing codec.” This error may occur when you try to play some MKV files on your PC without the requisite software infrastructure. At other times, you run into Windows Media Player with no audio for MP4, MPEG, or other video files.

To solve this problem, all you should do is download and install K-Lite Codec Pack:

1. Download K-Lite Codec Pack from the link below.
   Download the codec pack

2. Run the installation file.

3. In the window opened, click Next.

4. Choose Windows Media Player from two drop-down lists on the left and click Next.

5. On the next pages, leave all settings at default and click Next.

6. Click Install.

7. Click Finish and try playing your file in Windows Media Player.

Now you have the codecs installed, but there is still no sound from the sound system. Your media player itself may have developed complications. Whether from viruses or faulty drivers, you have no choice but to uninstall it from the system and install the latest version.

To reinstall the app, do as follows:

1. Click the Start button, type Turn Windows features on or off, and press Enter.

2. Then, scroll down and expand the Media Features.

3. Clear the Windows Media Player check box and click OK.

4. Reboot your device. Windows Media Player would be uninstalled.

5. Go back to step 1. Open Media Features, select the Windows Media Player check box, then click OK.

6. Restart the device again. Windows Media Player would now be reinstalled.

The problem of the audio not working on your computer could be a result of outdated sound drivers. So, if all other remedies fail, you will have to update your audio drivers. To do this, follow the steps below:

1. Click the Start button, type Device Manager, and press Enter.

2. Expand the Sound, video and game controllers list.

3. Double-click your audio device name.

4. Open the Driver tab and click Update Driver.

5. Follow the on-screen instructions.

If you have exhausted all software solutions to no effect, then you might have a hardware problem. Try plugging in different headphones or speakers. If the audio is not working with any of these devices, there is a chance your audio port needs repairs.