How-To

Chrome Sound Not Working: 8 Fixes

By Brian Burgess

Updated April 15, 2024

If audio stops while using Chrome, you can take different troubleshooting steps. Here are eight fixes for Chrome sound not working.

With more and more audio, video, and other media online, have you run into a situation when Chrome’s sound isn’t working?

If you have an issue with Chrome sound not working, you’ll want to fix the problem. There are several troubleshooting steps you can take to get sound working. Sometimes, the sound works on one tab but not another one.

If you’re having a problem with Chrome sound not working, here are eight fixes to try and fix it.

1. Check Sound Card Hardware Issues

Note: On this test system, we’re using EarTrumpet because it makes audio management easier. The menus will vary slightly, but the steps are virtually the same.

When Chrome stops playing audio, it’s an excellent first step to turn it off. After that, open a different browser and try playing the audio. If it doesn’t play in the other browser, it’s not a Chrome-specific issue. Instead, it’s most likely an issue with your sound card.

You can resolve the issue by unplugging the sound device and plugging it back in – especially if you have an external card. You can also replace the output sound device or update the sound card driver.

It’s also worth noting that if you have multiple sound output devices, disable them one at a time and see if the volume works. That can help narrow down defective hardware.

2. Unmute Website in Chrome

Another simple thing you can do is check if the Chrome tab is set to Mute. Each tab can be muted, but you must check the one with zero sound output.

Right-click the site you’re trying to get audio and select Unmute from the menu. If it’s not muted, click Mute Site and then Unmute in case the audio is stuck on the page.

Another step you can take is simply reloading the page and see if the sound starts working on Chrome.

3. Check Computer Volume Levels

You might not get sound from Chrome because your computer’s volume is too low.

To check your PC’s volume, do the following:

1. Right-click the speaker icon on the lower-right corner of the taskbar.
2. Open Volume Mixer.
3. Ensure the volume is coming through the Chrome slider and turn it up for optimum volume.

4. Change Output Devices

For example, if you have more than one output device like headphones and the system audio, they might be conflicting. So, switching output devices can help fix Chrome sound not working.

To change audio output devices, use these steps:

1. Right-click the speaker icon at the bottom-right corner of the taskbar and select Sound Settings.
2. In the Sound Settings screen, choose the correct output device from the Choose your output device dropdown menu.
3. Ensure the Master volume slider is set to 100 percent.

5. Check Google Chrome Sound Settings

If you’re still not getting audio from Chrome, another thing to check is its sound settings.

Check Google sound settings using the following steps:

1. Launch Chrome, click the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner, and choose Settings.
2. Click Privacy and security from the panel on the left.
3. Next, click the Site Settings option from the menu.
4. Scroll down and click the Microphone option from the list.
5. Set your default microphone from the dropdown menu, and under the Default behavior section, ensure Sites can ask to use your microphone is selected.

6. Update Google Chrome

Google updates Chrome regularly, bringing new features, security, and other patches. It generally updates automatically, but if you’re having an issue with Chrome sound not working, you can manually update Chrome.

To update Chrome manually, use these steps:

1. Launch the browser and click the three-dot button on the top-right corner.
2. Choose Help > About Google Chrome from the menu.
3. When the About Chrome page opens, it will automatically download an update if one is available. After that, you must restart the browser to complete the update process.

7. Disable Chrome Extensions

One of your Chrome extensions could be causing Chrome sound not to work – especially if you’ve installed a lot. Unfortunately, too many extensions can cause them to conflict with one another.

To disable extensions, use the following steps:

1. Click the extension button on the top-right corner – it looks like a puzzle piece, and click Manage extensions.
2. For best results, disable all extensions and turn them on one by one until you find the troublesome extension causing the sound not to work.

8. Reset the Chrome Browser

If you still have an issue with Chrome sound not working, you can reset your browser.

Use these steps to reset Chrome:

1. Click the three-dot menu and open Settings.
2. Select Advanced from the left pane and choose Reset and clean up.
3. Click the Restore settings to their original defaults option from the right side.
4. When the reset verification message appears, click the Reset settings button.

Resetting Chrome restores your browser setting to their defaults and should sole Chrome sound not working. It will also improve the overall performance of the browser. However, all your customizations are gone, and you’ll need to start over.

Fix Chrome Sound Not Working

If you’re not getting sound from Google Chrome, one of the troubleshooting steps above should get it working again. Whether or not it’s inside the browser or an issue with the computer, fixing it is straightforward.