Windows 10: Black dialog box controlling speakers keeps speaker muted

Hi,


I am running Windows 10 on a Surface tablet. I suddenly have a small dialog box that controls my speakers showing up on my screen. It is on the top left hand corner of the screen. I cannot find a way to move it or remove it. It keeps my speakers muted making online meetings impossible. Why is it showing up and How in heck do I get rid of the damn thing? I suspect the update to Edge that I just did may be related to this issue.

:)

 

How do I mute my internal laptop speakers leaving external speakers on

Hello everyone, I'm a newbie. Windows 10. Incredibly I was innocently dusting my Del laptop keys when my computer sound (usually set on Pandora music) was muted, showing an 'x' over speaker icon on taskbar. Previously I could just click it to get it unmuted. This time it took about two hours of my time. Now I have sound coming out of both my external speakers and my internal speakers, when previously just plugging in my external speakers would mute my internal, or built-in, speakers. Is there any way I can mute my internal speakers without muting my external speakers without spending the rest of the day in troubleshooting, involving detailed examination of my motherboard and countless other steps?
Thanks for listening!
tma

 

Laptop Left Speaker Gone Mute

Have you checked to see if you have a balance control?




And presumably you've checked you have stereo via your headphones..

Also see

 

Speakers on permanent mute and unable to clear it on Windows 10

Hello Christina,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Community.

We understand the inconvenience you have experienced.

• What is the make and model of your PC?
• Is it a Laptop or Desktop?
• Is it showing red mute symbol against speaker icon in system tray?
• Are you referring to Cumulative Windows Update?

If in case the problem is on laptop, then check with the function key combination for mute and unmute on keyboard. For example, Fn key + F7 or F9. So, try to press the key combination to see if it makes any difference. Also try pressing the function key
(I.e. F7 or F9) alone without using Fn key to check if it correct the issue.

If it doesn't fix the issue, then go to System tray, right-click on Speaker Icon, then select
Open Volume Mixer. Ensure that all speaker slider are set correctly and noting is selected to Mute. If anything is showing a Mute (I.e. red mute symbol), then try to clear it to see if it fix the issue. If problem still persist, then try below
steps.

• 
  Open Device Manager, by pressing
  Windows Key + X and select Device
  Manager.
  
• 
  Spot and expand the “Sound, video and game controllers” using
  Arrow keys or using cursor.
  
• 
  Double-click on the High Definition Audio Device
  driver or any other driver showing there.
  
• 
  Go to the Drivers tab.
  
• 
  Select Roll Back Driver
  under Drivers tab.
  
• 
  In the Driver Package rollback dialog box, select
  Yes.
  
• 
  Reboot the system to check if problem still persist.
  
• 
  If it doesn't fix the issue, then Right click on the same driver and select “Uninstall” then restart the system and let the system install the driver automatically on Start. Check and see
  if it resolve the issue. (Recommended step)
  

Keep us posted the outcome to guide you further.