Acer Nitro 5: Audio Problems, Failed to Play Test Tone (Windows 10)

So I've had my Acer Nitro 5 for less than a year. And in the past month, I've started to have issues with my audio output. I've tried plugging a variety of different devices into my laptop's audio jack, but none of them work: No audio plays at all.

When I go to the audio output's properties & have Windows play a test sound, I get an error message: "Failed to play test tone!"

I had this problem start 2 Windows updates ago (as of 07-08-2021). I was able to fix it the 1st time by disabling audio enhancements. But this time, audio enhancements are all disabled, so that's no longer the cause. It started again seemingly randomly 3-4 days ago (I played games on this laptop, audio shouldn't be a problem).

I've tried:

(1) Uninstalling the Realtek audio driver & then restarting my laptop. No luck.

(2) Updating the Realtek audio driver from the Acer website for my specific model. No luck.

(3) Using my laptop's built-in speakers, in case it's somehow a problem with the audio jack. Same exact problem, no luck.

(4) Restarting Windows Audio service. No luck.

(5) Ensuring my laptop had the latest Windows 10 update. I'm currently up-to-date as I write this, but I'm still having this problem.

I'm at my WIT'S end, does ANYONE know what causes this issue, & how I might go about solving it???

Accepted answers

William_mk2

Zappalation

Since you tried all the steps follow the steps given below:

You can always do a refresh and reset. These are steps to do the refresh and reset ..

click on start - settings - update and security - recovery - reset this pc - get started

or

on start - type here to search - type reset this pc - click on reset this pc on the top - click on get started

It will show you keep my files and remove every thing

chose keep my files
chose the account - type the password - click on local reinstall - click on reset
It will be in progress..
login to computer and start using the computer.

If it is still not working

click on start - settings - update and security - recovery - reset this pc - get started
chose remove everything
click on local reinstall - just remove my files - click on reset - It will be in progress

If you do refresh ( keep my files ) - all your personal files like pictures, music , documents , videos will still be intact. Only the applications will be lost

If you do reset ( remove everything ) - you are doing a factory default. It will become like a day one computer. It will wipe out everything and take your computer to day one like a new computer.

All comments

William_mk2

Zappalation

Since you tried all the steps follow the steps given below:

You can always do a refresh and reset. These are steps to do the refresh and reset ..

click on start - settings - update and security - recovery - reset this pc - get started

or

on start - type here to search - type reset this pc - click on reset this pc on the top - click on get started

It will show you keep my files and remove every thing

chose keep my files
chose the account - type the password - click on local reinstall - click on reset
It will be in progress..
login to computer and start using the computer.

If it is still not working

click on start - settings - update and security - recovery - reset this pc - get started
chose remove everything
click on local reinstall - just remove my files - click on reset - It will be in progress

If you do refresh ( keep my files ) - all your personal files like pictures, music , documents , videos will still be intact. Only the applications will be lost

If you do reset ( remove everything ) - you are doing a factory default. It will become like a day one computer. It will wipe out everything and take your computer to day one like a new computer.

Joe9844

So you have Realtek Audio Console instead of Realtek HD Audio Manager?

If yes, then go to Microsoft Update Catalog, search for realtek 2021 media, download 6.0.9175.1 audio driver. Search for realtek 2021 audio effects, download 11.0.6000.911 audio effects.

Unzip both cab files and copy/paste all items into brand new empty folders.

Then go to device manager, update the 9175 audio driver under "sound, video and game controllers" and update ALL 3 Realtek software components under "software components" by pointing them to your newly created folders. Then run Microsoft Store to download new Realtek Audio Console. If you don't have those items, install Acer's realtek driver using the installer exe first.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/0s/m66pvd9xxlyo.png

Zappalation

Thank you all for your answers!

I did find a solution!

I hadn't seen y'all's answers until after I tried the fix, but my fix was to simply reset the PC, as @Acer-William suggested. I chose to keep my files. It did, of course, return the PC to factory settings (with all files remaining in place but no installed applications), but it DID resolve the issue.

I installed all Windows updates again, & the issue has remained solved since (it's been at least a week now).

KennethRamping

Uninstalling Realtek drivers (don't reboot) then uninstalling hidden 'Intel (R) Display Audio' under Sound, video and game controllers in Device manager (then reboot), installing latest Realtek drivers from Acer's website might have helped you, without you needing to reset your PC. This may or may not work because this is what I did to fix my faulty audio on bluetooth after my audio completely broke due to a broken driver deployed by Windows update. My audio completely broke and I was able to fix speaker and headphone audio by simply reinstalling drivers from Acer's website, tho this was not a complete fix - bluetooth audio broke. Then, after days of trying, the one I italicized completely fixed it.

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