Windows 10: Speakers muting after 2 minutes

Since I did the Windows 11 update a few days ago, my speakers mute after 2 minutes of inactivity and then turn off a couple of minutes later. It doesn't happen if there is sound continuously playing.Things I've tried: Reinstalled drivers, unselected "allow applications to take exclusive control", set power management to performance mode, checked for any obvious power management settings related to sound.Dell XPS 8940; Bose Companion 5 multimedia set. Never had an issue before this Windows update.

:)

 

Speaker MUTE Key and ICON

The suggestions about restarting the explorer.exe and running sfc didn't fix the problem. I don't think there is a
corruped file becuase the mute switch worked fine until the day I upgraded from 7 to 10.

I ran a copy of Linux Live and the mute icon works fine, going back to win 10 the mute switch is always on regardless the postilion of the speaker mute key, the ICON is always on.

 

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