What to Do if Windows Won’t Play the Audio Test Tone
So you’ve tested your sound drivers and found that the test tone isn’t playing on Windows. This problem occurs with an error message such as “Failed to play test tone” or something similar.
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1. Restart Your Computer
If the test tone isn’t playing, restart your computer first. This often refreshes the system and solves small glitches that may have developed. It’s a simple workaround but sometimes effective.
To restart your computer, close any running applications. After that, pressAlt + F4, or right-click theStartmenu and selectShut down or sign out>Shut down.
2. Run the Audio Troubleshooter
Windows comes with a built-in troubleshooter for minor audio problems. It diagnoses and fixes issues related to audio hardware, settings, and driver configuration. Here’s how to use this tool.
Wait for a while until Windows scans and fixes the issue. After this, see if the test tone is working.
3. Restart the Windows Audio Service
The Windows Audio service is responsible for controlling the sound on your computer. It’s possible that this service stopped running and caused the test tone to fail. In this case, you must restart the Windows Audio service to get your sound back. Here’s how.
After doing this, close the Services window and open any audio application to check if the test tone is playing.
4. Turn Off Audio Enhancements
The audio enhancement feature on Windows enhances audio quality and adds additional effects to audio playback. However, it sometimes leads to audio problems and glitches. Disabling this feature may fix any sound issues you have.
To disable audio enhancement, do the following:
Audio enhancements should now be disabled, and you may find your sound issues resolved. If you have multiple audio devices, repeat the process for each device. Once you have completed these steps, restart your computer and check if your audio issues have been resolved.
5. Update the Audio Driver
Outdated or corrupted audio drivers may lead to the test tone not working. You will need to update them to get your sound back on Windows.
To update the audio driver:
These drivers usually install with a double-click, but if it doesn’t, go back to Device Manager and do this:
Wait until Windows downloads and installs the latest driver version. Once done, restart your device and check if the test tone is now playing.
6. Reinstall the Audio Drivers
If you’re still having the same issue, then your audio drivers might be corrupted. So uninstall and reinstall them and check if it works. This process completely removes and reinstalls the driver package on your computer.
It’s a bit more time-consuming but worth trying if the above solutions fail. Here’s how to do it:
After this, close the window and restart your computer. Once your system is up, Windows will automatically detect the audio device and install its driver. This will fix the issue if the driver was corrupted.
7. Try Different Audio Formats
Sample rate and a bit depth are two important settings that affect the sound quality on your computer. If these settings are not configured correctly, audio glitches may occur, causing the test tone to fail. Based on your device specs, it’s possible to change the sample rate and see if it helps.
To change these settings, do the following:
If this solution works, you should leave the settings at their current values. If it doesn’t work, go back and select a different sample rate. Once you find the correct settings, clickApply>OKto save the changes.
8. Perform a Few General Fixes
Besides the methods mentioned above, it’s possible to try a few general fixes that may help you get the test tone working.
Playing the Test Tone Again on Windows
It appears that you are having problems with your sound card and the Windows test tone is not playing. Hopefully, one of these tips worked for you, and your speakers are now working.
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