For Windows users to receive important notifications from their applications, the Windows Notifications feature does the job. Unfortunately, customers have complained that the Windows notification sound stopped functioning correctly after updating their OS to the newest version. You can miss important notifications when the Windows notification sound stops working. While you may always check your notification center for new emails and updates, doing so takes time and is not the best option. Instead, follow the tips below to fix Windows 11/10 missing notification sound.
Common Causes of Windows Notification Sound Issues
- Audio settings misconfiguration: It is possible that the settings are off and the notification sound isn’t working. For instance, you cannot hear any sounds if the volume level is completely turned down.
- Sound driver problems: An outdated or damaged audio driver is one of the most frequent causes of audio issues. Your audio driver likely has to be updated if you recently updated your Windows operating system.
- Corrupted system files: The files responsible for playing the notification sound may occasionally get corrupted. This may occur for several reasons, but it typically means the audio driver is malfunctioning.
- Third-party software conflicts: The Windows Firewall may occasionally prevent the notification sound from playing. This is frequently the case because the program making the notification sound is not authorized to access the internet.
Fix Windows Notification Sound Issues
Now that you have read and understood the reasons behind the Windows notification sound not working, given below are the six solutions to solve this issue:
- Checking Audio Settings
- Restart Audio Services & Run Audio Troubleshooter
- Check App Notification Audio
- Disabling Conflicting Third-party Software
- Updating Sound Drivers
- Running System File Checker
Some of these methods will need an administrator account. Also, create a system restore that can help if you accidentally cause an issue.
1] Checking Audio Settings
In the first method, you need to check the audio settings on your PC and check whether they were altered accidentally.
Verify that the sound is not muted or turned down:
You might have muted your Windows PC and forgot to unmute it after an important meeting or during working hours. If your PC is muted, switch the sound profile to normal to resume receiving notification notifications.
You must locate the laptop’s mute button on the keyboard and deactivate it. You can accomplish the same from the Windows taskbar as well. Here is how you unmute sound on the taskbar:
- Click on the speaker icon at the bottom-right corner of your PC’s screen.
- It will open up a pop-up window. Click on the speaker icon to unmute the speaker if muted. You also have the option to increase the volume.
Ensure that the correct playback device is selected
If your Windows sound output settings are incorrect, the PC will not play notifications through the internal speakers. Here is how to verify your Windows PC’s sound output.
- Click on the taskbar’s sound icon and the Manage audio devices icon next to the sound icon.
- Choose the preferred playback device to ensure the notification sound plays through the suitable device.
Adjust volume levels and test notification sounds
As mentioned above, you can adjust the volume level on your PC by sliding the volume bar up and down. You can increase the volume and check whether the notification sound works.
2] Restart Audio Services & Run Audio Troubleshooter
To resolve the sound notification issue not working, you can restart Windows audio services and run the audio troubleshooter.
The Windows Audio service controls audio for applications that run on Windows. Audio effects and devices will not work correctly if this service is disabled. Any services that specifically rely on it will not start if this service is disabled. So, you can try restarting the Windows Audio service to see whether the notification sound works. This is how you do it:
- Type services into the Windows search bar and choose the Services option from the search results.
- Once the Service window opens, scroll down and locate the Windows Audio option. Next, right-click on it and choose the Restart option from the context menu.
This will restart the Windows Audio services. After it has finished running, check whether the notification sounds work.
Next, we will move on to running the audio troubleshooter. You can automatically repair audio issues with the audio troubleshooter. This is how you run the audio troubleshooter via Windows Settings:
- Open Settings and click on the System option from the left pane. Next, choose the Troubleshoot option on the right.
- On the next page, choose the Other troubleshooters option. From the list of troubleshooters, locate the Playing Audio troubleshoot and click the Run button next to it.
If you have multiple audio devices connected to your PC, select the audio device not playing the notification sound and run the troubleshooter. If there are any underlying issues with the speaker, it will automatically fix it, or you can follow the on-screen instructions.
3] Check App Notification Audio
Do you only have problems with a particular app’s notification sound? If so, check the affected applications’ notification settings in the Settings menu.
- Open Settings and click on System. Choose the Notifications option on the right.
- When you scroll down, you will find a list of applications installed on your PC. Next, choose the application that is not playing the notification sound.
- On the next page, scroll down and make sure that the Play a sound when a notification arrives option is toggled on. Do the same for the other applications not playing the notification sounds on your Windows PC.
4] Disabling Conflicting Third-party Software
In this method, you must identify recently installed software or updates that might prevent applications from playing notification sounds. If so, you must disable or uninstall any suspicious programs on your PC to solve this issue. This is how you uninstall an application on your Windows PC:
- Open Settings and choose the Apps option on the left pane. Next, choose Installed Apps on the right.
- Under Apps list, click on the three dots menu next to the application you want to uninstall and choose the Uninstall option from the context menu.
Restart the computer and check if notification sounds are restored
5] Updating Sound Drivers
The most frequent causes of sound issues on Windows are obsolete, damaged, or absent drivers. You should download and install the most recent driver to resolve this problem. You have the option of doing this manually or automatically. Follow our detailed guide on how to update drivers on Windows PC.
In this case, you can download the driver from the sound card manufacturer and search for the appropriate driver download to download and update the most recent driver manually. You must first gather details on the operating system version, the make and model of your motherboard, or the sound card. Only after that can you download the appropriate driver.
6] Run System File Checker
Running the System File Checker (SFC) will scan all protected system files on your Windows PC and replace any corrupted files with a cached copy kept in a zipped folder. This is how you run a System File Checker:
- Open Windows Terminal as an administrator.
- Type the sfc /scannow command into the Windows Terminal window and press Enter to scan and repair system files.
- Restart the computer and check if the notification sounds are working.
Additional Tips and Considerations to Fix Windows Notification Sound Not Working
- Check Windows updates and install any pending updates: You can check for any pending Windows updates via Windows Settings > Windows Update and click on the Check for updates button.
- Perform a system restore to a previous working state: If your audio issues persist, you can try restoring Windows to a previous version. This might assist in resolving issues that a recent shift might have brought on. You can select the restoration point when your System is in a functional state and restore your System to your preferred state.
- Consult the manufacturer’s support website or forums for specific troubleshooting steps: Checking your audio device manufacturer’s support website or forums is another great way to search and find customized solutions for the audio problems you might be facing on your PC.
- Consider seeking professional help if the issue persists: If nothing works, seek professional help.
Conclusion
So, these are the few solutions you can attempt if the Windows Notification Sound is not functioning. You can try running the audio troubleshooter, updating your audio driver, or restarting the audio services. Additionally, you might try running an SFC scan or removing a specific Windows update. You can try restarting Windows Explorer or restoring Windows earlier if the issue still exists. Remember that it is essential to maintain and update your PC to prevent future issues regularly.
I hope that this information was helpful to you and that you resolved the issue Windows Notification Sound Not Working.
How Do I Mute Notifications on My Laptop?
You can follow a few straightforward steps to mute notifications on your Windows PC. First, locate the notification icon on the right side of the taskbar, which resembles a speech bubble. Right-click on the icon to reveal a menu of options. Next, click on the “Turn on quiet hours” or a similar option to prevent notifications from appearing temporarily.
How Do I Manage Windows Notifications?
You can manage Windows notifications on your PC by following these steps. Right-click on the notification icon, which looks like a speech bubble, on the right side of the taskbar to open a menu. To access notification settings, select “Open Action Center”. Choose “Notifications & actions” from the left-hand menu in the Settings app by clicking the Start button, selecting the gear-shaped icon, and selecting “System.” From here, you can customize notifications.
