Laptop sound only works after restarting, but stops working again every single time

[PearlyNoodle]

Hey! So I have the HP Envy x360 2-in-1 laptop with windows 11, and for a few months now, the sound from the speakers regularly stops working. At first, I tried every quick-fix; the entire trouble-shooting menu, updating the drivers (there were no new versions), etc, but none of that worked. "Have you tried turning it off and on again?" Yes, eventually I did, and sure enough, it fixed the issue. But the next time I opened and used my laptop, I had no sound. The only solution is to restart my device, but I'm working on my thesis at the moment, and it is really inconvenient with all of the articles to have to turn my laptop off and on every few hours. Plus, I don't think this is normal and should be happening at all. I would love to get a permanent fix for this problem. I found someone else on this forum that I believe has the same laptop type and a very similar problem, so it is not just me. Please help me find a solution! (And please do not give me all of the standard quick fixes anymore, or the BIOS updates, because they don't work. I've already tried :,) )

Thanks in advance!

[BeemerBiker]

I am guessing that the audio stops working when your  PC goes into sleep mode and is not reactivated when waking up.

1 - Try adjusting the power management setting for your audio device if power management is enabled**.

Open Device Manager(Win + X > Device Manager).
Go to Sound, video and game controllers or Audio inputs and outputs.
Right-click on your audio output device and select Properties.
Go to the Power Management tab (if any**).  Not all audio drivers have power management
Uncheck the box that says "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power".

** if your laptop is using "modern standby" then that option (if it even exists) is disabled.

Modern standby is explained here

2 - Disable Hybrid Sleep
Open Power Options from the Control Panel.
Click on Edit plan settings for your current power plan.
Click on Change advanced power settings.
Expand the Sleep section and find the Allow hybrid sleep setting.
Change the setting to Off.
Click Apply and then OK.

3 - Prevent fast start from loading an OS image that has the audio disabled

When your PC sleeps, it wakes up using :"Fast Start".  That procedure read a file that has an image of of the OS.

If that image is corrupted (audio disabled) then it will load that exact corrupted image every time your PC wakes up.

Disable fast start:  To disable fast startup on Windows, open the Control Panel, navigate to Power Options, then "Choose what the power buttons do," and under Shutdown settings, uncheck the "Turn on fast startup" box; if the option is greyed out, click "Change settings that are currently unavailable" first.

Hibernate also uses that same fast start image so you should try disabling hibernate if you are using that feature instead of sleep.

You can re-enable fast start. First be sure all is working  OK, then click the setting that enables fast start (or hibernate).  If you then reboot, a new OS image will be created with all setting intact and working.

let me know what you find out..

[PearlyNoodle]

Hey, thank you so so much for the elaborate and fast reply! I tried solutions one and two, but I unfortunately didn't have the power management tab or the hybrid sleep. But I have done the things under solution 3, then restarted my laptop (then the sound obviously worked), closed it so it would go into sleep mode, and after that, the sound is still working! I'm not sure if it will stay that way, so I'll keep you posted, but it seems you found the issue! These things would have never even come up in my mind as problems/solutions, so many thanks for the help! Have a great week 🙂

[BeemerBiker · Accepted solution]

I am glad you got it working. If it is a permanent fix, please mark my response as a solution. Fast start can cause a lot of problem and must users do not think of disabling it due to wanting to "start fast":

[PearlyNoodle]

Hey! It seems to be a permanent fix; my laptop has been in sleep mode for quite a few times now, but the sound is still working! I just wanted to let you know and to thank you again for your help 🙂 I marked your post as a solution!

[PearlyNoodle]

Okayyy so it stopped working again... Apparently it does not stop working everytime my laptop goes into sleep mode. Yesterday it worked after opening it, but today, all sound is gone again. Still works with headphones though, but still very annoying. Do you have any other ideas on how to fix this issue that's apparently still present?? Thanks in advance 🙂

[Snivy1245]

I've been having a similar issue on my 15.6 inch Laptop PC 15-fd1000 - as of yesterday it seems to have fixed itself. Wondering if you've had a similar moment of serendipity.