How to Uninstall and Reinstall Your Audio Drivers on Windows

If you are having problems with your audio devices, it is usually recommended to reinstall the audio drivers. Reinstalling drivers will remove any previously installed audio drivers that may be causing problems with your audio devices.

Windows updates usually take care of drivers, however they can sometimes suffer from errors and cannot be installed automatically. That is why if this happens you will have to install them manually, but don't worry if you don't know how to do it we will explain it to you.

How to Uninstall and Reinstall Your Audio Drivers on Windows

Reinstallation via Device Manager:

Access Device Manager:  Press the Windows key and type "Device Manager" in the search bar. Select the application from the search results.

Locate Audio Device: Expand the "Sound, video and game controllers" section. Identify your audio device, which might be named "High Definition Audio Device" or similar.

Uninstall the Driver: Right-click on your audio device and select "Uninstall device".

Confirm Uninstallation: A confirmation window will appear.  For a clean reinstall,  check the box labelled "Delete the driver software for this device" and click "Uninstall".

Restart Your Computer:  Windows will automatically detect the missing audio driver and reinstall the generic driver during the restart process.

Manual Driver Installation (Optional):

If you require a specific driver version or encounter issues with the automatic installation, you can manually download and install the driver from the device manufacturer's website.

Identify Device Model:  Press the Windows key + R, type "msinfo32", and press Enter. In the System Information window, locate the line labelled "Baseboard Product". This usually indicates your device model.

Download Driver from Manufacturer's Website:  Using a web browser, navigate to the website of your computer or motherboard manufacturer. Search for the audio driver specific to your device model. Download the appropriate driver file (usually a .exe file).

Run the Installer:  Follow the on-screen instructions provided during the installation process.

Additional Considerations:

If you're unsure about the specific audio device or encounter difficulties locating the driver, consult your device's manual for detailed instructions.

Creating a system restore point before uninstalling any driver is recommended. This allows you to revert to a previous configuration if necessary.

Corrupt or outdated drivers can cause sound quality issues, crackling, or complete loss of audio, but with these procedures, you will be able to effectively reinstall audio drivers and restore optimal sound performance to your Windows 10 system.