A laptop’s display-audio driver helps the operating system send sound over a supported connection such as HDMI or DisplayPort. It is separate from the laptop’s built-in speaker driver, though both may appear in sound settings. If a monitor has speakers, the correct output device must be selected and the cable, adapter and monitor must support audio.
How to identify the issue
Open the system sound settings and check the selected output. Confirm that the monitor is powered on, its volume is up, and the laptop is connected with an audio-capable cable or adapter. Test the laptop speakers or headphones to see whether audio works through another output. This helps separate a display-audio issue from a broader sound problem.
Update drivers carefully
Use Windows Update, Device Manager, or the laptop manufacturer’s support page for the exact model. Microsoft recommends using Windows Update or the device manufacturer for driver updates; avoid unofficial driver-download sites and generic packages that may not match the hardware. If sound stopped immediately after a driver update, use the supported rollback option or contact the manufacturer before removing other audio components.
Menu names vary by Windows release and hardware. Keep a restore point or backup before making major system changes. Reinstalling a driver is not a first step when the issue may be a muted monitor, unsupported adapter, or incorrect output selection.
