Few things are more frustrating than settling in for a movie, a video call, or a work presentation only to find your HP Pavilion x360 has gone completely silent. The speakers are there, the volume is up, but nothing comes out. The good news is that this is almost always a fixable problem—and you don’t need to be a technician to solve it.
In this guide, we’ll walk through every practical step, from the simplest checks to deeper driver and software fixes, all tailored to the HP Pavilion x360. Most solutions take less than ten minutes and require no special tools. Let’s get your sound back.
Start With the Obvious: Volume and Connections
Before diving into drivers or settings, rule out the everyday culprits that account for a surprising number of sound failures. A quick visual and audio check can save you a lot of time.
Adjust Volume Levels
Click the speaker icon in the system tray (bottom-right of the taskbar) and make sure the slider isn’t all the way down or showing a muted speaker icon. Press the volume-up key on your keyboard—usually a function key like F3 or F5—to see if the on-screen volume indicator responds. Then open Settings > System > Sound and confirm that the output device is set to “Speakers (Realtek Audio)” or whatever your built-in audio device is called. Some apps (like browsers or media players) have their own volume sliders; check those too.
Inspect Speaker Cables (If Using External Speakers)
If you’re troubleshooting external speakers connected to the audio jack, turn off the laptop and inspect the cable for kinks, cuts, or loose plugs. Re-seat the plug firmly into the headphone jack. If you’ve been using a splitter or extension cable, try connecting directly to the laptop. In practice, a frayed cable is the most common hardware cause of intermittent sound.
Test With Headphones
Plug a pair of headphones into the 3.5 mm jack. If you hear audio, the problem is isolated to the internal speakers. If you still hear nothing, the issue is likely in the audio system itself—drivers, settings, or a deeper software conflict. This simple test immediately narrows your search.
Run the Windows Sound Troubleshooter
Windows includes a built-in audio troubleshooter that can automatically detect and fix common problems. It’s a good second step because it requires no manual diagnosis.
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Go to System > Sound > Troubleshoot (under “Advanced”).
- Select your audio device and click Next.
- Follow the on-screen prompts. The tool may reset the audio device, disable enhancements, or reinstall the driver.
- After the fix is applied, play a test sound to confirm.
The troubleshooter won’t catch every issue, but it saves time on the most frequent software glitches. If it doesn’t resolve the problem, move on to the next steps.
Update Audio Drivers via Device Manager
Outdated or corrupted drivers are the leading cause of speaker failure on the HP Pavilion x360. You can update them manually in a few minutes.
- Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
- Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
- Right-click your audio device (usually “Realtek High Definition Audio” or “Conexant SmartAudio”) and choose Update driver.
- Select Search automatically for drivers. Windows will check for newer versions and install them if available.
- Restart your laptop.
If Windows doesn’t find a newer driver, go directly to the HP Support website and enter your Pavilion x360 model number. Download the latest audio driver from the “Driver-Audio” section, then run the installer. This source is always the most reliable for your specific hardware.
Reinstall Audio Drivers (Clean Install)
Sometimes a driver update isn’t enough—the driver files themselves are corrupt. A clean reinstall forces Windows to rebuild the driver from scratch.
- Open Device Manager and expand Sound, video and game controllers.
- Right-click your audio device and select Uninstall device.
- In the confirmation dialog, check the box Delete the driver software for this device (if available) and click Uninstall.
- Restart your laptop. Windows will automatically detect the missing driver and reinstall the default version.
- After the restart, test the sound. If the audio returns, the reinstall fixed the corruption.
A common mistake is skipping the restart step. Without it, Windows may not trigger the automatic reinstallation, leaving your system driverless.
Use HP Support Assistant for Audio Diagnostics
HP Support Assistant is a pre-installed tool on most Pavilion x360 laptops. It can run a dedicated audio hardware check and apply fixes specific to HP hardware.
- Open HP Support Assistant (search for it in the Start menu).
- Go to the Troubleshooting tab.
- Select Audio or Sound and click Run Audio Check.
- The tool will test the internal speakers, the audio chip, and the driver. It will report any failures and suggest steps.
- Follow the recommended fixes, which may include updating drivers, changing audio settings, or running a hardware diagnostic.
If the tool detects a hardware fault, note the error code. You can share that with HP support for a repair or warranty claim. Keeping HP Support Assistant updated ensures you have the latest diagnostics.
Check Intel Smart Sound Technology (ISST)
Many Pavilion x360 models use Intel Smart Sound Technology, a dedicated audio DSP that offloads sound processing from the CPU. If this driver is outdated or conflicts with other software, the speakers may stop working entirely.
Identify Outdated ISST Drivers
Open Device Manager and expand System devices. Look for an entry named Intel Smart Sound Technology (Intel® SST) or Intel Smart Sound Technology Audio Controller. Right-click it, select Properties, and go to the Driver tab. Note the driver version and date. If the date is more than a year old, it’s likely outdated.
Update the ISST Driver
Go to the Intel Driver & Support Assistant or the HP support site and download the latest Intel Smart Sound driver for your exact model. Install it, restart, and test the sound. In some cases, you may need to update the Intel Smart Sound Technology OED (Audio DSP) driver as well. A common signal that ISST is the culprit is that the speakers stop working after a Windows update.
Adjust Windows Sound Settings
Sometimes the solution is a setting you didn’t know existed. Two adjustments frequently resolve sound issues on the Pavilion x360.
Set the Correct Playback Device
Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and select Open Sound settings. Under Output, make sure your built-in speakers are selected. If you see “Headphones,” “Speakers (Realtek),” or “Digital Output,” choose the one that matches your internal hardware. If you’ve connected external speakers, Windows may have switched to them automatically.
Disable Audio Enhancements
Audio enhancements (like loudness equalization or virtual surround) can conflict with the HP audio drivers. To disable them:
- Right-click the speaker icon and select Sound.
- Go to the Playback tab, right-click your default device, and select Properties.
- Click the Enhancements tab.
- Check Disable all enhancements.
- Click Apply and OK.
Test the sound. Enhancements are often the hidden cause of “no sound after an update” issues.
Test External Speakers to Isolate the Problem
If you haven’t already, plug in a pair of external speakers or headphones. If sound plays through the external device, the internal speakers have a hardware fault—likely a blown speaker, loose ribbon cable, or a failed audio jack. If no sound plays through external devices either, the problem is in the software or audio chip.
For external speakers that work, inspect the internal speakers: open the laptop’s bottom panel (if you’re comfortable) and check that the speaker connectors are seated. A loose cable is a common issue after a drop or a bump. If you’re not comfortable opening the laptop, a professional repair shop can do this in minutes.
Perform a Full System Restart
A simple restart often refreshes the audio services that may have hung. But a “restart” is different from a “shutdown and power on.” Windows Fast Startup can skip the full reset. To force a complete restart:
- Click Start > Power.
- Hold the Shift key while clicking Restart.
- Wait for the laptop to reboot fully.
After the restart, test the sound. This clears any temporary audio service glitches that a normal shutdown might not.
Additional Checks: Windows Updates and Audio Services
Install Pending Windows Updates
Microsoft frequently releases audio driver fixes through Windows Update. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Install any pending updates, especially those marked “Driver updates.” Restart after installation.
Reset Windows Audio Services
If nothing else has worked, the Windows Audio service may be stopped or corrupted.
- Press Windows key + R, type
services.msc, and press Enter. - Scroll down to Windows Audio.
- If it’s not running, right-click and select Start.
- Right-click again, choose Properties, and set the startup type to Automatic.
- Do the same for Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.
- Restart your laptop.
This is a deeper fix that often resolves stubborn sound failures after system changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I fix the sound on my HP Pavilion x360 laptop?
Start with the simplest steps: check the volume isn’t muted, test with headphones, and run the Windows sound troubleshooter. If those don’t work, update or reinstall the audio drivers via Device Manager, and use HP Support Assistant to run a hardware diagnostic. Most issues are software-related and can be resolved in under 15 minutes.
Why did my HP laptop speakers suddenly stop working?
Sudden speaker failure is usually caused by a driver corruption after a Windows update, a disabled audio service, or a conflict with Intel Smart Sound Technology. Restarting the laptop, rolling back the most recent audio driver, or disabling audio enhancements often brings the sound back.
Why are my speakers all of a sudden not working?
Sudden no-sound issues can also stem from a loose internal speaker cable (if the laptop was bumped) or a software glitch that hung the audio service. Try the system restart with the Shift key held down, and check the Windows Audio service status (see “Reset Windows Audio Services” above).
How to reset the speaker on an HP laptop?
Open Device Manager, expand Sound, video and game controllers, right-click your audio device, and select Uninstall device. Do not delete the driver software. Then restart the laptop. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver. This is the cleanest “reset” for the audio subsystem.
Why are my HP Pavilion x360 speakers not working if the headphones work?
If headphones work but the internal speakers don’t, the issue is likely hardware-related—a loose or disconnected speaker cable, a blown speaker, or a faulty audio jack that is stuck in “headphone mode.” You can try gently inserting and removing a headphone plug a few times to reset the jack. If that doesn’t help, the internal speakers may need replacement.
Conclusion
Troubleshooting HP Pavilion x360 speaker problems doesn’t have to be a headache. By methodically working through volume checks, the Windows troubleshooter, driver updates, and the Intel Smart Sound driver, you can solve the vast majority of sound issues yourself. If you’ve tried all the steps and the speakers remain silent, the problem is likely hardware-related—and that’s a job for a qualified repair technician.
Remember to keep your drivers and Windows updated regularly to prevent future audio glitches. With these fixes, you’ll have your Pavilion x360 playing clear sound again in no time.
