The Xbox One is an outstanding gaming console, and one of the features that makes it so great is the immersive, high-quality audio. It can therefore be incredibly frustrating audio issues get in the way of your usual gameplay. What causes these annoying audio issues?
Audio issues with the Xbox One can be caused by a software malfunction, incorrect sound settings or using a damaged HDMI cable for connection. Rebooting the console or tweaking a few settings should fix the problem quickly. Be sure to make sure the speakers aren’t muted!
Now that you know this problem is fairly routine and there are plenty of solutions to try, let’s look at some of the details about troubleshooting and fixing your Xbox One audio issues once and for all. It’s typically not a hard problem to solve, but to make sure you leave this article with a solution in hand, we’re first going to review some of the most common causes for this, and then we’ll turn our attention toward detailed solutions.
Why Is Your Xbox One Audio Not Working?
The Xbox One audio not working could be due to a few different issues. Here are some of the common causes of this problem:
Wrong Sound Settings
If the sound on your Xbox One (on Amazon) was working fine previously and then it suddenly vanished, you might have changed your settings unknowingly.
Hardware Malfunction
One typical hardware issue with the Xbox One is when the HDMI ports are damaged. Test out the other ports on your console to see if you can get sound. If not, the problem could be the TV HDMI port or the cable itself.
Aging material can loosen some of the wires inside the HDMI cable, and they’ll break eventually. Dust and other tiny particles could also get inside the cable and cause complications.
Software Glitch
A random software glitch could cause sound loss to your Xbox One. Don’t be alarmed, though. You can fix this by rebooting the system or the game, and everything will be back to normal.
How to Fix the No Sound Issue on Xbox One
Now that we’ve determined the possible causes for the Xbox One audio not working, let’s look at some of the solutions.
Check the TV Volume!
You should first make sure that your TV volume isn’t turned down or muted before jumping to conclusions. If you use an external speaker, make sure it’s on and connected to your console.
Examine the TV and HDMI Connections
Press the Xbox button to open the guide, then proceed with the following:
- Select ‘Profile and System,‘ then ‘Settings.’
- Select ‘General‘ and choose ‘TV and display options.‘
- Select ‘Video fidelity and overscan.’
- Press the ‘HDMI‘ button.
If that didn’t work, unplug your HDMI cable and thoroughly examine it for any signs of damage. It’s also a good idea to check the TV and Xbox ports.
Clean the ports using compressed air to blow dust and dirt out. Reconnect the cable and test to see if the sound is back.
If the issue persists even after inspecting and cleaning the cable and ports, you could purchase a new HDMI cable (on Amazon) and test it out or head on to the next solution if you’ve confirmed the cable works fine.
Run the Audio Setup Tool
Here’s how to run the audio setup tool on your Xbox One:
- Press the Xbox button to open the guide.
- Select ‘Profile and system,’ then ‘Settings.‘
- Under Settings, choose ‘General,’ then ‘Volume and audio output.‘
- Choose a suitable audio option and press the A button to start the audio test.
- Use the animation displayed during the test to find the speaker with the error and troubleshoot it.
Restart the Xbox One
Restarting the Xbox one can successfully solve the issue if a minor bug is causing the audio loss.
Follow these simple steps to restart your console:
- Press and hold the Xbox button to display the Power Center.
- Select ‘Restart Console.’
- Click ‘Restart.’
If restarting the console doesn’t fix the issue, you might have to perform a hard reset to get it back in shape.
Check the Xbox One Sound Settings
You can also check whether you unintentionally changed the sound settings on your console. Here’s how to do it:
- Press the Xbox button to display the guide.
- Go to ‘Settings‘ and select ‘Display and Sound.’
- Select ‘Audio Output.’
- Select ‘HDMI audio‘ and pick ‘Stereo uncompressed.’
Troubleshoot Sound Issues With an Audio-Video Receiver
If you use an audio receiver linked to the TV, it might sometimes fail to output sound.
Here’s how you can fix it:
- Open the guide by pressing the Xbox button.
- Press the Input button on your TV remote
- Press Input once more to return the input source of the receiver to the console.
- Restart the audio receiver.
- Set the TV connection to HDMI.
Once you’ve completed these simple steps, confirm if the speakers make any sound. If not, then it’s highly likely that your Xbox has some deeper hardware issues, and it needs immediate repair.
Contact Xbox Support
You can get in touch with Microsoft’s Xbox support to get professional help if all of the above solutions were unsuccessful.
Repairing an Xbox One usually costs somewhere between $150 and $250, depending on the severity of the problem, but the Xbox team can fix your console free of charge with a valid warranty card.
How to Prevent Audio Issues on Xbox One
You can stop sound loss on your Xbox One by regularly cleaning it. Maintenance goes a long way in ensuring that the console’s hardware is in prime working condition.
Before kicking off the cleaning process, it’s important to note that you shouldn’t open your console since you could end up exposing it to greater risks.
Here’s how to clean the Xbox One:
- First of all, unplug your console from the power source.
- Use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe the exterior surface carefully.
- Blow compressed air into the ports and vents to get rid of dirt and dust that might clump inside the console.
- Go over the surface once more using the damp microfiber cloth to clean up any dust that might have landed on the exterior.
- Place the console on a stable surface in a well-ventilated area and check the vents regularly to ensure dust doesn’t penetrate, clutter, and damage vital audio hardware.
As long as you keep your Xbox One spotless, it should run smoothly, and you won’t encounter issues of the audio failing anymore.