Experiencing no sound while playing Hearthstone on Windows 10 can be frustrating. Sound plays a crucial role in enhancing your gaming experience, so fixing this issue quickly is important. Fortunately, there are several straightforward solutions you can try. This guide will walk you through each step clearly and patiently.
Before diving into complex fixes, it’s best to start with simple checks. Sometimes, the problem might be due to a minor setting or accidental mute. Understanding why sound issues occur can help you troubleshoot more effectively.
This article covers everything from basic sound settings to more advanced troubleshooting methods. You don’t need to be a tech expert to follow along.
By the end of this guide, you should be able to enjoy Hearthstone with full sound on your Windows 10 PC.
Quick Note: What to Check Before Starting
- Make sure your speakers or headphones are properly connected and working with other applications.
- Confirm that your Windows volume is not muted or set too low.
- Check if Hearthstone’s in-game sound settings are enabled and volume sliders are up.
- Restart your computer to clear any temporary glitches.
Step 1: Verify Windows Sound Settings
Windows 10 has its own volume control system, separate from the game. Sometimes, Hearthstone’s sound might be muted or turned down in Windows.
- Click the speaker icon on the taskbar (usually at the bottom right).
- Make sure the volume slider is not at zero and not muted.
- Right-click the speaker icon and select Open Volume Mixer.
- Look for Hearthstone in the list of apps and ensure its volume is not muted and is turned up.
Why this matters: Windows allows you to control volume for individual apps. Hearthstone’s sound might be muted here even if the overall system volume is fine.
Step 2: Check In-Game Sound Settings
Hearthstone has its own audio options that can be adjusted within the game.
- Launch Hearthstone and go to the main menu.
- Click on the Options or Settings gear icon.
- Navigate to the Sound tab.
- Ensure Sound Effects and Music are enabled and volume sliders are at a reasonable level.
Why this matters: If sound is disabled or set to zero inside the game, you won’t hear anything regardless of system settings.
Step 3: Restart Audio Services
Windows audio services manage sound playback. Restarting these can fix temporary glitches.
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type
services.mscand press Enter. - In the Services window, scroll down and find Windows Audio.
- Right-click it and select Restart.
- Do the same for Windows Audio Endpoint Builder if available.
Why this matters: Restarting these services refreshes Windows’ sound system and can resolve conflicts causing no sound.
Step 4: Update or Reinstall Audio Drivers
Outdated or corrupted audio drivers can cause sound issues in games.
- Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
- Expand the Sound, video and game controllers section.
- Right-click your audio device (e.g., Realtek, Intel audio) and select Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
- If no update is found, consider downloading the latest driver from your PC or motherboard manufacturer’s website.
- If updating doesn’t help, right-click the audio device and choose Uninstall device. Restart your PC, and Windows will reinstall the driver automatically.
Why this matters: Drivers act as the bridge between Windows and your hardware. Problems here can lead to no sound in games.
Step 5: Disable Exclusive Mode in Sound Settings
Sometimes, apps take exclusive control over your audio device, blocking sound from other programs like Hearthstone.
- Right-click the speaker icon and select Sounds.
- Go to the Playback tab.
- Select your default audio device and click Properties.
- Go to the Advanced tab.
- Uncheck Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device.
- Click Apply and OK.
Why this matters: Disabling exclusive control prevents other programs from blocking sound output to Hearthstone.
Step 6: Run Windows Troubleshooter for Sound
Windows 10 includes a sound troubleshooter that can detect and fix common audio issues automatically.
- Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.
- Go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
- Click Additional troubleshooters.
- Select Playing Audio and click Run the troubleshooter.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
Why this matters: The troubleshooter can quickly identify simple problems that might be difficult to spot manually.
Alternative Methods and Advanced Options
If the above steps don’t work, consider the following:
- Check for Windows Updates: Sometimes, system updates fix underlying sound bugs.
- Disable Sound Enhancements: In your default playback device’s properties, under the Enhancements tab, check Disable all enhancements.
- Run Hearthstone as Administrator: Right-click the Hearthstone shortcut and select Run as administrator. This ensures the game has full access to system resources.
- Try Different Audio Output Devices: Switch between headphones, speakers, or HDMI audio to see if the issue is device-specific.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why does Hearthstone have no sound only, while other applications work fine?
This usually indicates an issue with Hearthstone’s in-game settings or Windows Volume Mixer muting the game specifically. Check those settings first.
Can antivirus or firewall settings cause sound problems in Hearthstone?
It’s uncommon, but some security software might interfere with game files. Temporarily disable antivirus or firewall to test.
Is it necessary to update Windows for fixing sound issues?
While not always necessary, keeping Windows updated ensures you have the latest fixes and driver support, which can resolve sound bugs.
How do I reset Hearthstone settings if I suspect the game files are corrupted?
You can repair or reinstall Hearthstone through the Blizzard Battle.net launcher, which can fix corrupted files affecting sound.
Will reinstalling the game fix sound issues?
Reinstalling can fix deeper problems but should be considered after trying other troubleshooting steps.
When Nothing Works
If you’ve tried all the steps above and still have no sound in Hearthstone, here are some last-resort options:
- Contact Blizzard Support: Visit the official Blizzard support page for Hearthstone and submit a ticket or check community forums for similar issues.
- Check Hardware: Test your audio device on another PC to rule out hardware faults.
- Perform System Restore: If the issue started recently, restoring Windows to an earlier point may help.
Remember to keep your system backups and important files safe before performing major changes.
Conclusion
Fixing the Hearthstone no sound issue on Windows 10 usually involves simple checks of volume controls, in-game settings, and audio drivers. Restarting audio services and running the Windows troubleshooter can resolve many common problems quickly. If those steps don’t help, consider more advanced options like disabling exclusive mode or reinstalling drivers.
By following this guide step-by-step, you should be able to restore sound and enjoy Hearthstone’s immersive audio experience. Always start with the simplest fixes and move gradually to advanced methods to avoid unnecessary complications. Good luck and happy gaming!