I moved an older PC into a new case for my nephew, and it will be connected to a Hisense smart TV. The TV displays the computer normally, and Windows shows the TV as an available audio device and indicates that audio is playing, but the TV speakers remain silent.
The PC has an MSI motherboard and a GeForce GTX 1650. I installed the motherboard drivers, completed Windows Update, checked Device Manager, confirmed the TV is enabled and set as the default output, and tried changing the TV's HDMI settings. I also tested multiple HDMI cables, including one that works with another computer, and tried more than one HDMI input and another similar TV. The GTX 1650 only has one HDMI port.
Windows currently detects the TV as an NVIDIA High Definition Audio device, but selecting it produces no sound. The PC's front and rear headphone outputs work normally. What else should I check to get audio working over HDMI?
5 Answers
Open the classic Sound control panel, go to Playback, right-click the TV/NVIDIA device, and set it as the default device. Then check its Properties and try a basic format such as 16-bit, 48 kHz stereo. Disable audio enhancements and spatial sound temporarily. Some TVs do not accept the higher-channel or unusual formats Windows may select automatically.
Because the same behavior occurred with another TV and the cables have already been ruled out, the next useful test is another display with speakers or another graphics card. If headphones work but every HDMI display stays silent, the issue is probably the GTX 1650’s HDMI audio driver or hardware rather than Windows’ general audio system.
In Device Manager, expand Sound, video and game controllers and confirm NVIDIA High Definition Audio is present without a warning icon. If it is missing, uninstall that device and the NVIDIA graphics driver, restart, and reinstall the latest driver. Also check Windows’ Volume Mixer to make sure the application is not routed to a different output.
Verify that the TV itself is using its internal speakers and is not muted. Also check the TV’s audio output or digital audio settings and choose TV speakers, PCM, or stereo if those options are available. Reboot the PC while the TV is connected and powered on so the HDMI handshake is performed from the start.
Since the picture works but HDMI audio does not, check the NVIDIA driver installation rather than only the motherboard drivers. The HDMI audio component is provided by the graphics driver. Download the current GTX 1650 driver from NVIDIA, choose a custom installation, and make sure NVIDIA HD Audio is selected. A clean installation can also help if the existing driver is corrupted. Afterward, reboot with the TV already connected and select the NVIDIA/TV device again.
The TV is detected as NVIDIA High Definition Audio and is enabled, but I’ll reinstall the graphics driver with the HDMI audio component included.
I’ve rebooted it many times with the TV connected, and the TV has no soundbar or alternate output configured. Its internal speakers are the only output.