Audio is a vital part of our digital experience. Quality audio is essential for video conferencing, playing games or watching videos. Audio issues are sometimes encountered, and they’re often related to the audio drivers on your Windows 8 computer. Reinstalling your audio driver can fix audio issues. This article will walk you through the steps.
Understanding Audio Drivers
What are audio drivers?
Audio drivers are components of software that allow your computer’s OS to interact with audio hardware. The drivers act as a link between the computer and the audio device, translating the data to produce sound. Audio-related issues can occur if the driver is out of date or faulty.
How to Identify Your Audio Device
You must first know the audio device that your computer is using before you can install your audio driver. You can find this information in the Device Manager.
- Select Device Manager by pressing the
Windows +keys. - Expand the category ‘Sound video and gaming controllers’.
- Here you will find the audio device that your system uses.
Note the name of the device, which will be needed later to find the correct driver.
Uninstalling Your Current Audio Driver
You must uninstall your current audio driver before reinstalling. Follow the steps below to do this:
- Open Device Manager by following the instructions.
- Find your audio device in the ‘Sound video and Game Controllers’ section.
- Uninstall the device by clicking on it and selecting ‘Uninstall.
- Click ‘OK’ in the confirmation dialog that appears. Check the box that reads ‘Delete driver software for this Device’.
The system will uninstall the audio driver. After this, restart your computer.
Downloading Correct Audio Driver
After restarting your computer, you will need to download the latest audio driver. Downloading the driver is important. It should come from a reliable source.
- Go to the official manufacturer’s website.
- Search for the support or downloads section.
- Enter your audio device model into the search box or choose it from the list.
- Download the audio driver for your operating system.
Save the downloaded file to a convenient location on your computer.
Installing a New Audio Driver
You can now install the audio driver:
- Double-click the driver file to begin the installation.
- Follow the instructions in the installer.
- Restart your computer after installation.
Now your audio should work correctly. The driver may not be the cause of the problem if it persists. Consider seeking additional technical assistance in such cases.
Conclusion
Windows 8’s audio driver reinstallation is a simple process that can resolve a variety of audio-related problems. To ensure the security and functionality of your system, always download drivers only from trusted sources. These steps should allow you to restore the audio capabilities of your system and continue enjoying a digital experience.
