"No Output Devices Found" for Audio Directly After Clean Installation of Latest Graphics Driver

[Funnybone32]

I installed the latest Graphics Driver (Intel 31.0.101.6559) while troubleshooting another unrelated problem, and upon restarting my computer, it seems that my computer forgot that it has a microphone and speakers. When I try to select an output device, it says the message in the subject line.

I've tried troubleshooting it with the notif bar option, checking for Windows updates in Settings, checking for Driver updates in the Device Manager, and I even tried installing the Realtek speakers as Legacy Hardware in Device Manager, only to get the error "The installation failed because a function driver was not specified for this device instance." Everything is up to date. What should I do?

[Max3Aj · Accepted solution]

Hi @Funnybone32, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 
Imagine the sound of silence where music should be, or the frustration of hearing distorted audio. It's as if a storm has brewed between your Intel graphics driver update and your audio drivers, causing them to clash in a cacophony of conflict. This is not an uncommon issue; Intel drivers can sometimes overpower audio components like HDMI audio or interfere with Realtek sound, leaving you with nothing but static.
 

To calm this tempest and restore harmony to your system, follow these steps:

Check Device Manager for Missing Audio Devices

1. Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Sound, video, and game controllers.
   • If you see Realtek Audio or Intel Display Audio, right-click and select Uninstall device (check "Delete the driver software for this device" if available).
   • If they are missing, expand Other Devices and see if there’s any "Unknown Device."
   • If there's an unknown device, right-click it and choose Update driver → Search automatically.

Reinstall the Realtek Audio Driver

Since forcing it via legacy hardware failed, manually installing the correct driver should work:

1. Download the Realtek Audio driver for your laptop from HP official support site.
2. Uninstall any existing Realtek/Intel audio drivers in Device Manager.
3. Restart your laptop.
4. Install the downloaded driver and restart again.

Reset the Windows Audio Service

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Scroll down to Windows Audio.
3. Right-click it and select Restart.
4. Also, check Windows Audio Endpoint Builder and Realtek Audio Service (if available) and restart them too.

Check Sound Settings

1. Right-click the sound icon in the taskbar and select Sound settings.
2. Scroll down to Advanced sound options and check if Realtek or Intel Audio is listed.
3. If nothing appears, click Troubleshoot common sound problems.

Roll Back the Intel Graphics Driver (If Needed)

If the issue started immediately after updating the Intel driver, rolling it back may restore the audio:

1. Open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager).
2. Expand Display adapters.
3. Right-click Intel UHD/Iris Xe Graphics and select Properties.
4. Go to the Driver tab and click Roll Back Driver (if available).

Use Windows Restore (If Recent)

If none of these work and the issue started after the driver update:

1. Press Win + R, type rstrui, and hit Enter.
2. Choose a restore point before you installed the driver update.
3. Let Windows restore your system.

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support