Test at a safe volume
Turn the device volume down before opening the speaker test. Play Center first, then Left and Right. If Center works but one side does not, inspect the cable, headset balance and speaker connection. If nothing plays, the problem may be output selection rather than a broken speaker.
Select the intended output
Open Windows Settings → System → Sound → Output and choose your speakers or headset. A monitor, capture card, controller or Bluetooth device can unexpectedly become the default output. Look at the Windows volume mixer as well: an individual browser can be muted while other applications still make sound. Check the tab’s mute control in the browser.
Separate browser from system trouble
Try a familiar audio file in a different app. If it also fails, reconnect the audio cable or Bluetooth headset and use Windows’ audio troubleshooter. If only the browser is quiet, check the browser’s per-app mixer level and restart its tab. If only one website is quiet, check that page’s player volume or mute button.
Understand what a channel test proves
A left/right tone checks basic routing, not audio fidelity, frequency response, delay or microphone monitoring. Stereo effects, virtual surround and some accessibility settings can change what each channel sounds like. Test with such processing disabled if you need a simple left/right check, then restore your preferred settings.
On a Mac
Open System Settings → Sound → Output and choose your speakers or headphones. Check the output volume and the mute checkbox there. Displays connected over HDMI or DisplayPort often appear as an output and can become the default when you plug them in. If a single app is silent, check its own output setting.
Quick checklist
- Correct output device selected in the system
- System, app and browser tab not muted
- Speakers powered on and their own volume turned up
- Cables fully inserted, or Bluetooth device actually connected
- No virtual audio software redirecting sound elsewhere
Further reference: Official device or browser documentation ↗
Where the sound can get lost
Sound passes through several volume controls before it reaches your ears, and any one of them can be at zero. Work through them in this order, because each check takes a few seconds:
| Layer | Windows 11 | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Output device | Settings → System → Sound → Output | System Settings → Sound → Output |
| System volume and mute | Speaker icon on the taskbar | Sound menu in the menu bar, or the volume keys |
| Per-app volume | Settings → System → Sound → Volume mixer | Set inside each app; macOS has no built-in mixer |
| Browser tab | Right-click the tab and choose Unmute site (Chrome, Edge) or Unmute tab (Firefox) | |
| Device itself | Volume wheel on a headset, power and volume knob on speakers, mute switch on a USB headset cable | |
If the speaker test plays but your call app is silent, the app has its own output setting. Open its audio settings and choose the same device you picked in the system.
Common questions
Sound works in other apps but not in my browser. Why?
Check the browser's slider in the Windows volume mixer and the tab's mute state. Restarting the browser also clears a stuck audio device after you plug in a new headset.
Sound stopped after I connected a monitor or TV.
HDMI and DisplayPort screens often become the default output when connected. Switch the output back to your speakers or headset.
Could a driver update fix it?
Sometimes, but rule out device selection and mute first. If every app is silent on every output, reinstall the audio driver from Device Manager or your PC maker's support page.
Reviewed October 2026 · How we write our guides · Suggest a correction