Laptop HDMI to TV: No Sound? Fix It

If your laptop shows the picture on the TV through HDMI but there is no sound, the fix is almost always a Windows or macOS audio output setting, not a hardware problem. You need to tell your computer to send audio to the TV (the HDMI display) instead of the built-in speakers, and this guide walks you through every step, plus the common pitfalls that keep the sound muted.

Why HDMI Carries Both Picture and Sound

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) was designed from the start to carry uncompressed video and up to 8 channels of digital audio over a single cable. Unlike older VGA or DVI connections, which only transmit video, HDMI includes an audio signal in the same stream. That means when you connect a laptop to a TV with HDMI, the TV should appear to your operating system as both a display and an audio output device.

The reason sound often fails is that the operating system keeps sending audio to the laptop’s internal speakers or to a previously selected output like Bluetooth headphones. The TV is a separate audio device, and the OS may not switch to it automatically. This is not a defect—it is a configuration issue that is easily corrected.

Step-by-Step Fix for Windows 10 and Windows 11

Connect the HDMI cable from your laptop to the TV and set the TV to the correct HDMI input. Wait a few seconds for Windows to detect the display.
Click the speaker icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner) and click the current device name above the volume slider.
In the list that appears, look for the TV’s name—it may be labeled like LG TV, Samsung, or simply HDMI or Digital Output. Select it. The volume slider should now control the TV’s volume.
If you do not see the TV in the list, right-click the speaker icon and choose Open Sound settings. Under Output, click the drop-down and select the TV. If it is still missing, scroll down to Advanced sound options and check that the app you are using (browser, media player) is set to the same default device.
If the TV still does not appear, right-click the speaker icon, choose Open Sound settings, then scroll to Related settings and click Sound Control Panel. On the Playback tab, look for the TV device. If it is there but grayed out, right-click it and choose Enable. If it is not there at all, right-click in the empty space and check Show Disabled Devices and Show Disconnected Devices.

After selecting the TV, test with a video or audio file. If you still hear nothing, check the TV’s own volume—many TVs have a separate volume level for each input, and it may be set to zero.

Step-by-Step Fix for macOS

Connect the HDMI cable from your Mac to the TV. The TV should appear as a display automatically.
Click the Apple menu (top-left) and choose System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS).
Click Sound (or Sound in System Preferences), then the Output tab.
In the list of devices, select the TV. It may appear as HDMI or the TV’s brand name. If it is not listed, try disconnecting and reconnecting the cable, or restart the Mac while the cable is connected.
Adjust the output volume slider in the Sound settings. Some TVs also have their own volume control that must be turned up.

On Macs with only USB-C/Thunderbolt ports, you may need a USB-C to HDMI adapter. If the adapter is not powered or is a cheap passive one, it might not carry audio correctly. Try a different adapter or a direct HDMI port if available.

Common Causes Beyond Settings

Faulty or low-quality cable: A damaged HDMI cable can carry video but drop audio. Try a different cable, preferably a high-speed HDMI cable that supports audio return.
Outdated graphics/audio drivers: On Windows, the HDMI audio device is tied to your graphics driver (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel). Update your GPU driver from the manufacturer’s website or via Windows Update.
TV input not selected: Make sure the TV is on the correct HDMI input. Some TVs have multiple HDMI ports, and the one you plugged into may not be the one you are viewing.
TV mute or volume: Press the volume up button on the TV remote, and check that it is not muted. Some TVs show a mute icon on screen.
App-specific audio settings: Some apps (like Zoom or VLC) have their own audio output settings. In VLC, go to Tools > Preferences > Audio and set the output device to the TV.
HDMI port on laptop is video-only: Rare, but some very old laptops or certain docking stations have HDMI ports that only output video. Try a different port (like DisplayPort or USB-C) if available.

Advanced Troubleshooting: When Nothing Works

If you have tried all the above and still get no sound, try these deeper checks:

Restart both devices: Turn off the laptop and TV, unplug the HDMI cable, wait 30 seconds, then reconnect and power on. This resets the HDMI handshake.
Use the Sound Control Panel on Windows: Right-click the speaker icon > Open Sound settings > Sound Control Panel > Playback tab. Right-click the TV device and choose Test. If you hear a tone, the connection is fine. If not, the device may be disabled or the driver is faulty.
Check Device Manager (Windows): Press Win+X and select Device Manager. Expand Sound, video and game controllers. Look for a device named like NVIDIA High Definition Audio or AMD High Definition Audio. If it has a yellow warning icon, right-click and select Update driver.
Try a different HDMI port on the TV: Some TVs have one port that supports ARC (Audio Return Channel) and others that do not. While ARC is not needed for laptop output, a faulty port is possible.
Test with another device: Connect a different laptop, phone, or game console to the same TV and HDMI cable. If that also has no sound, the problem is the TV or cable, not your laptop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my laptop show video but no sound on TV?

Almost always because the laptop’s audio output is still set to its internal speakers. You need to switch the default audio device to the TV (HDMI) in the sound settings of your operating system. The TV is treated as a separate audio device, and Windows or macOS does not always switch automatically.

How do I make my TV the default audio device on Windows?

Click the speaker icon in the system tray, then click the device name above the volume slider and select the TV from the list. If it is not there, go to Settings > System > Sound and choose the TV under Output. For more options, open the Sound Control Panel and set the TV as the default playback device.

Why is my HDMI cable not carrying audio?

HDMI cables carry audio by design, but a damaged or low-quality cable can drop the audio signal. Also, the laptop’s HDMI port may be connected to a graphics card that does not support audio over HDMI, or the driver is outdated. Try a different cable and update your graphics driver.

Can I get sound from both my laptop speakers and the TV at the same time?

Yes, on Windows you can use the Stereo Mix or third-party tools to output to multiple devices, but natively Windows does not allow two different output devices simultaneously. macOS also does not support this without third-party software. For most users, it is easier to just select the TV as the only output.

Why does the TV show ‘No Signal’ even though the laptop is connected?

That is a different problem from no sound. It usually means the laptop is not detecting the TV as a display. Try pressing Win+P (Windows) and selecting ‘Duplicate’ or ‘Extend’. On Mac, go to System Settings > Displays and click ‘Detect Displays’. Also check the cable and the TV input.

Does HDMI version matter for audio?

All HDMI versions support audio, but newer versions (like HDMI 2.1) support higher bandwidth and features like eARC. For basic stereo or 5.1 audio from a laptop, even HDMI 1.4 is sufficient. The issue is more likely the cable quality or the laptop’s audio settings.

Preventing Future Sound Issues

To avoid this problem recurring, set the TV as the default audio device before you start watching. On Windows, you can also disable the laptop’s internal speakers when an HDMI device is connected, so the system automatically uses the TV. On macOS, the output selection is per-session, so you may need to re-select the TV each time you connect.

Also, keep your graphics drivers updated. HDMI audio is handled by the graphics card on most laptops, so a driver update can fix both video and audio glitches. If you use a docking station, make sure it supports HDMI audio passthrough—some cheap docks only pass video.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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