Windows 10: Fix Failed to play test tone error on Windows 10

If you see Failed to play test tone error while testing your speaker or headphone, here are some solutions to fix the problem. People often use the test tone to check the right-left balance of speakers and headphones. But, if [...]

This post Fix Failed to play test tone error on Windows 10 is from TheWindowsClub.com.

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No audio from speakers; Failed to play test tone.


I have a Dell Latitude E6520 running Windows 10 Pro x64. When I try to watch YouTube I get no audio. Spotify plays and gives no errors but doesn't have sound. When I plug in headphone sound plays but as communications headphones. When I try to play a test sound through Speakers/Headphones I get an error that says "Failed to play test tone." When I try to troubleshoot it can't identify the problem. I have attached the report from troubleshooting.
Thanks in advance for helping.
Branson

 

DTS Interactive (5.1 Surround) Error: Failed to play test tone.

Hello,

I followed your instruction but I still get the "failed to play test tone" error.

Best regards,

Thomas

 

Failed to play test tone (Sound stopped working) - The fix that worked for me.

This is actually submitted as a possible fix to the very frustrating issue of suddenly losing your sound.

This loss of sound might be due to a Windows update....

This is my story:

• Roughly 12-14Sep18 - Audio stopped while looking @ YT vids.
• All vols are fully up.
• There was a message saying if video (I think) doesn’t start, restart device.
• The on-screen Volume level METER still adjusted OK with laptop keys – but no sound.

NB: I later found that sound works OK when running in Ubuntu instead of Windows – proving my hardware to be OK.

• In Realtek HD Manager, testing sound was ineffective (the ‘TEST’ button greys when clicked, but nothing more happens – speakers should highlight when a test signal is received & played).
• In Sound Control Panel, Speakers/Properties/TEST speakers generates an error message
  
  "Failed to play test tone".
• In Sound Control Panel, no signal is registered from mic.

What I did (NONE of the usual standard replies had any effect on this issue).

1. Troubleshooting gave something like “Cannot access sound device…”
   
   – & “Not fixed”.
2. Restarted the Service - Windows Audio - no effect
3. Restarted the Service - Windows Audio Endpoint Builder - no effect
4. Uninstalled Realtek HD Audio (also ticking box to delete existing driver), then Re-started so that Windows would auto-re-install - no effect
5. Disabled all Enhancements - no effect
6. Used sfc /scannow - no issues found.
7. One suggestion related to settings in
   
   Computer Management/System Tools/Local Users & Groups/Groups
   
   – but Local users & Groups no longer exists in System Tools…. So this option no longer exists.

• Another suggestion I found was to restore the computer to a point prior to the sound failure.
  
  I PERFORMED THIS LAST OPTION AND MY SOUND WAS RESTORED.

This was such a frustrating issue – I hope the above info helps someone.

My restore point was also prior to some Windows updates, so when these are reinstated I might find that my sound fails again - but now I hope to be in a position for a quicker resolution.