- Learn to troubleshoot computer speaker issues
- Find out why your speakers could be quieter than usual
- Also, check out our post on the loudest Bluetooth speakers!
Have you ever dealt with pesky computer or laptop speakers that don’t seem to get past 50% volume, even when you have them turned up to full blast?
This is a common issue that computer users face, and today, we’re going to explore the most common causes of this malfunction.
Computer speakers become too quiet or fail to surpass a certain volume when equalizer settings are used, audio drivers are outdated, or external cords are damaged, among other reasons.
Luckily, there are some pretty quick fixes to these causes that we’re going to explain in-depth for you.
If you’d like to learn more about why your computer speakers are too quiet, keep reading.
We’ll explain step-by-step fixes that you can make in your computer’s settings center, as well as things you can check on external speakers to ensure they’re working properly. Without further ado, let’s get into the details!
7 Possible Reasons Why Your Speakers Are Quiet
Computer speakers can go quiet or fail to perform at their best due to a myriad of reasons related to software settings, audio driver problems, damaged connection cords, and other issues.
Sometimes, all you have to do to fix the problem is to navigate into your computer’s settings center or control panel and move a few levels around. But other times, you may need to repair or replace certain external cords or connections.
Below are the most common reasons that speakers become quieter than they should be, which we’ll explain in detail today:
- Damaged or Faulty Speaker Wires
- Speaker Cords Not Fully Plugged In
- Loudness Equalization Turned On
- Audio Driver Needs Updating
- Computer Settings Have Volume Reduced
- Wrong Computer Volume Mixer Settings
- Broken Computer Built-In Speakers
Let’s dive into each in more detail.
1. Damaged or Faulty Speaker Wires
If you’re using external speakers for your laptop or computer, then you probably have either a wired connection or a Bluetooth wireless connection.
With wired connections, such as external speakers connected with USB or auxiliary cords, the wires can become damaged and frayed with time.
This is a common cause of speaker malfunction that could lower the volume output, even when you have sound settings turned up to full capacity.
Make sure that you check your speaker wires and ensure that they are in good condition, unbroken, unfrayed and that the jacks are clean.
If they are, then you can move on to other possible causes of speaker malfunction.
2. Speaker Cords Not Fully Plugged In
As silly as it may seem, people do make this mistake from time to time, and it can cause speakers to perform inadequately.
If you have a wired connection with external speakers to your laptop, then you should check that the cords are properly connected.
Auxiliary cords need to be pushed all the way into their jacks on your computer, as do USB cord connections. You should also check that the connections are secure from the cords to your external speakers.
They should be fully snapped into place and not crooked.
And last but not least, one connection that is vital with external speakers is the connection to the root power source. Your monitors or wired external speakers should have their electrical cords fully plugged into the outlet for proper performance.
3. Loudness Equalization Turned On
One computer setting that many people aren’t aware of is the loudness equalization option. When activated, this setting on Windows computers enhances audio by balancing the different pitches therein.
In theory, it’s supposed to make the quality of the audio much better, but it can also reduce the volume output for computer speakers when it’s turned on.
So, if your computer speakers are still annoyingly quiet, even when you have them turned up to full capacity, check on this setting.
Simply navigate to your computer’s speaker settings/properties center, and click on the “Enhancements” option. Toggle the option for “Loudness Equalization,” making sure that it is turned off.
4. Audio Driver Needs Updating
Another possible cause of too-quiet computer speakers is an outdated audio driver or a driver that needs to be reset by uninstalling and then reinstalling.
Most of the time, you probably aren’t worried about the audio driver, if you’re even aware of it, to begin with. But you can easily update this driver by navigating to your computer’s “Device Manager.”
Once you’re in the device manager center, view the different device names. Once you’ve found the audio driver(s), you’d like to update, right-click on its name and select the option to “Update Driver.”
5. Computer Settings Have Volume Reduced
Another reason that you’re computer speakers might be performing poorly is that the computer settings are lowering the volume without your awareness.
One thing you can do to assess and fix this problem is to head to settings and adjust.
Take the following steps:
- Press the Windows key or go to the control panel search bar
- Type in the word “Sound”
- Head to the “Communication” tab
- Change the available option to “Do Nothing”
- Apply the change
These simple settings fix often do the trick when you can’t get your speakers to play at full volume.
6. Wrong Computer Volume Mixer Settings
Sometimes, a speaker fix on a laptop is as simple as going into the device’s settings and making some alterations. For one thing, you should make sure that your computer’s volume mixer settings are at the right levels.
You may need to go into system settings and open the “Volume Mixer.”
On Windows PC laptops, you can navigate quickly to this setting by pressing WIN+R on your keyboard and typing “sndvol” + ENTER.
Once you’re in the volume mixer center, there should be different options for speakers, as well as different system sounds. Make sure that all of the slider icons are turned up to their highest level (100).
7. Broken Computer Built-In Speakers
Occasionally, even with all of the volume mixer settings corrected and audio drivers updated, built-in computer speakers can still fail to do their job. If you’ve exhausted all other options, then it’s possible that your device’s speakers are broken and in need of repair.
In this case, you should invest in some external speakers, such as Bluetooth-connected or USB cord-connected speakers, until you can fix your computer’s speakers.
Certain speakers, such as computer sound monitors, allow you to plug in the speakers directly into your computer with an auxiliary connection. The monitors are powered by an electrical outlet connection.
You could also opt for a simpler Bluetooth speaker connection that allows you to wirelessly connect your speakers to your computer via Connections settings.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve ever wondered why my laptop speakers are so quiet? then hopefully our guide has been useful for you. It’s likely that the problem is right under your nose and can be fixed in less than five minutes.
Make sure to rely on our suggestions above, which give instructions on how to manage audio settings and updates in your computer’s Control Panel.
Whether your issue is with built-in computer speakers or a set of external monitors, there is always a way to get to the root of the problem. Good luck, and make sure to check all possible causes!
Before you go, check out our guide to the 7 Best High-End Speaker Brands (That Redefined The Listening Experience)!