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How to Fix Missing Sound in Zoom on a New Laptop

WPS Editor Sep 29, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to hear any audio during Zoom meetings on a new laptop, even though the system volume is turned up and default settings appear correct.

How to Fix Missing Sound in Zoom on a New Laptop

Product: Zoom
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Attempting to participate in a Zoom meeting on a newly purchased laptop but experiencing complete audio failure.
Observed behavior: Zoom produces no sound, despite the application and system volume not being muted and the correct sound output settings seemingly selected.

Before you start

Before altering system configurations, play a video or audio file on your laptop outside of Zoom to verify whether the issue is isolated to the Zoom application or affects the entire operating system.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify System Sound and Zoom Audio Settings

Ensure the correct output device is explicitly selected in both your Windows sound settings and the Zoom application.

New laptops often have multiple audio routing options, including hidden virtual devices or external monitor outputs. Manually assigning the correct speakers usually resolves playback issues.

Check Windows Output

Navigate to Settings > System > Sound. Under the Output section, click the dropdown menu and confirm your laptop's built-in speakers or connected headset is selected.

Open Zoom Settings

Launch the Zoom desktop client, click your profile picture in the top-right corner, and select Settings from the dropdown menu.

Test Zoom Speaker

Click the Audio tab on the left pane. Under the Speaker section, click the 'Test Speaker' button to see if you can hear the test ringtone.

Change Zoom Output Device

If no sound plays, click the dropdown menu next to the Test Speaker button and select a different output device until the audio successfully plays.

Verify System Sound and Zoom Audio Settings

Hardware Volume Checks: Ensure that your laptop's physical volume keys, keyboard shortcuts, or headset volume wheels are turned up and not accidentally hardware-muted.

Solution 2

Run Audio Troubleshooter and Update Drivers

Resolve underlying driver conflicts or missing updates that commonly prevent audio hardware from functioning correctly on brand-new laptops.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can I hear other sounds on my laptop but not Zoom?

This typically occurs when Zoom's specific output device is configured incorrectly inside the application. Open Zoom Settings, navigate to the Audio tab, and manually select your active speakers from the dropdown menu instead of leaving it on 'Same as System'.

How do I reinstall my audio drivers if updating them doesn't work?

Open Device Manager, right-click your audio device, and select 'Uninstall device'. Do not check the box to permanently delete the driver software unless you have a backup downloaded from the manufacturer's website. Restart your laptop, and Windows will automatically reinstall a fresh driver.

Can missing Windows updates cause audio failure in Zoom?

Yes, newly purchased laptops often require initial system updates to install the latest, stable hardware drivers. Go to Settings > Windows Update and install all pending updates to ensure maximum compatibility with your audio hardware.

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