4 Ways To Fix Red X On Volume Icon: If you are seeing a red X on volume icon in the system tray then it means you are not able to use your audio device. Even though the audio device is not disabled you will still see this error when you will run the audio device troubleshooter. You PC will show that High Definition Audio Device is installed but when you will hover over the icon it will say that No audio output device is installed. This is a very strange issue and in the end, the user is not able to use any kind of Audio services due to this error.
The first thing that the users try is they restart their system but this would offer no help. If you run Windows Audio Device Troubleshooter it will say that the audio device is disabled or: The audio device is turned off in Windows. The main cause of this error seems to be corrupt Microsoft permission or Windows audio device associate services have been disabled. Anyway, let’s see how to fix this red X on volume icon problem with the below-listed troubleshooting steps.
4 Ways To Fix Red X On Volume Icon
Make sure to create a restore point just in case something goes wrong.
Method 1: Registry Fix
1.Press Windows Key + R then type regedit and hit Enter to open Registry Editor.
2.Navigate to the following registry key:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MMDevices
3.Right click on MMDevices and then select Permissions.
4.In the Permission window, make sure to select Full Control for SYSTEM, Administrator, and the user.
5.Click Apply then OK to save the settings.
6.Now again navigate to the following registry key:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MMDevices\Audio
7.Repeat the step 4 and 5 to give full control to Admin, user, and SYSTEM.
8.Close Registry Editor and reboot your PC. This would Fix Red X On Volume Icon in Windows 10 but if you still have some issue follow the next method.
Method 2: Make sure Windows Audio service are started
1.Press Windows Key + R then type services.msc and hit Enter.
2.Scroll down till you find Windows Audio Services and right-click then select Properties.
3.Make sure the service is running else click on Start and then set the Startup type to Automatic.
4.Click Apply followed by OK.
5.Follow the same steps for Windows Audio Endpoint Builder service.
6.Close everything and restart your PC to save changes.
Method 3: Update Audio Drivers
1.Press Windows Key + R then type ‘Devmgmt.msc’ and hit enter to open Device Manager.
2.Expand Sound, video and game controllers and right-click on your Audio Device then select Enable (If already enabled then skip this step).
2.If your audio device is already enabled then right-click on your Audio Device then select Update Driver Software.
3.Now select “Search automatically for updated driver software” and let the process finish.
4.If it wasn’t able to update your graphic card then again select Update Driver Software.
5.This time select “Browse my computer for driver software.“
6.Next, select “Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.“
7.Select the appropriate driver from the list and click Next.
8.Let the process complete and then restart your PC.
9.Alternatively, go to your manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers.
Method 4: Uninstall Realtek High Definition Audio Driver
1.Press Windows Key + X then select Control Panel.
2.Click on Uninstall a Program and then search for Realtek High Definition Audio Driver entry.
3.Right-click on it and select Uninstall.
4.Restart your PC and open Device Manager.
5.Click on Action then “Scan for hardware changes.“
6.Your system will automatically Fix Red X on volume icon.
You may also like:
- How to fix Headphones not working in Windows 10
- Fix No Audio Output Device is Installed Error
- How to fix Audio services not responding in Windows 10
- Fix Install Realtek HD Audio Driver Failure Error
That’s it you have successfully Fix Red X on volume icon if you still have any queries regarding this post feel free to ask them in the comment’s section.
I did all of the above, but nothing worked. I still have no sound and the red x is there. Latest drivers are installed and I am plugged in.
Out of all presented fixes on here and on various videos on yt I tried variety of things. The only way I fixed it was by changing permissions as instructed here and then updating the hi def audio codec driver which was denied (the update) before I changed permissions.
I need to get the red x off my computer so I can hear my music but yet; I don’t want to damage it by dong the wrong thing. I just need to hear my music again. The connections are in place yet it says that there is a disconnection of the speakers and headphones. Can you troubleshoot my device and get it working or what should I do?
Hi, you can follow the methods listed in the guide without damaging your system. If the above guide didn’t work try this one out: https://techcult.com/fix-headphones-not-working-in-windows-10/
Tried all of the above. Had to change permissions for some. Didn’t work. Here is what worked: right click speaker icon, playback devices, double click speakers, Playback, Levels, click on speaker icon. No need to reboot. Icon in tray changes immediately and there was sound.
I have downloaded the latest realtek HD audio driver and installed. It worked. Immediately sound came back
Glad to know that worked for you.
You can get the red x when nothing is wrong. It seems to be a boot error, I can just change the volume and the red x disappears.
Run the updates it will automatically update or install the sound drivers, it workd for me twice.
Thanks, updating the sound driver fixed my red X on sound icon.