Windows 10: Windows 10 sound error: Failed to play test tone and everything

Hi, I need some help with my sound on Windows 10. Everything is ok but I can’t hear any sound from my speakers or headphones. When I go to the Sound settings and try to play a test tone, it says “Failed to play test tone”. This error started yesterday after I updated Windows 10.I have tried the following steps to fix it, but none of them worked:Restarted my computer several times.Checked the volume and mute settings on my computer and speakers.Plugged and unplugged my speakers and headphones.Ran the audio troubleshooter and followed its recommendations.Updated my audio drivers from the D

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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

 

No sound, won't play music, "Failed to play test tone" - Windows 10 made the music die

Hi,

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

I understand that you have an issue with sound and also you get an error
"Failed to play test tone" while playing music. We apologize for the inconvenience caused to you.

I would like to know the detail below to assist you better with the issue.

• What is the make and model of the computer?

Let’s try performing the steps below and check if it helps.

Method 1.

Run the Audio troubleshooters.

Follow the steps to run the troubleshooter:

• Press start button.
• Type Troubleshooting and click Troubleshooting under Settings.
• Now click on Hardware and Sound.
• Run the Play audio troubleshooter and follow the prompts. Once this is done, restart the computer and check the status.

Method 2.

Try updating the Audio drivers from the manufacturer's website and check if the issue persists.

Follow the steps to update the audio drivers:

• Press Windows key + X key and click Device Manager.
• Expand the Sound, Video and game controllers.
• Right-click on the Sound card and click on Update driver software.
• Restart the computer and check.

Also refer the below article and check if it helps.

No sound in Windows

Fix sound or audio problems in Windows - Microsoft Support

Note: The above article holds good to Windows 10 also.

Please let us know if you need further assistance.

 

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.