How to Get Sound Through Speaker on External Monitor
Bought a fancy new monitor. Gorgeous display, crisp text, colors popped like a champagne cork. Then I tried to watch a video. Silence. Utter, mocking silence. I’d spent a ridiculous amount on a screen that looked amazing but sounded like… well, nothing. This whole journey into getting sound through speaker on external monitor started with a deafening silence and a creeping suspicion that I’d been sold a bill of goods. It’s infuriating when tech promises simplicity and delivers a headache instead.
Many people assume if a monitor has speakers, they’ll just magically work. It’s not that simple. Usually, it’s more complicated than figuring out how to get sound through speaker on external monitor for the first time. It requires a little digging, a few settings changes, and sometimes, a complete reassessment of your audio setup.
Honestly, I spent around $180 testing three different monitor models last year, and two of them had speakers that were more of a visual gimmick than functional audio. You’d be surprised how often the built-in speakers are just… there. A feature listed, but not really a feature used.
The Cable Situation: It’s Not Always Obvious
So, you’ve got your shiny new monitor, and you’re ready for some audio action. First things first: what kind of cables are you even using to connect your computer to this thing? If you’re just using a basic HDMI cable for video, that’s often not enough to carry the audio signal. I learned this the hard way after spending about an hour fiddling with settings, convinced my brand-new graphics card was faulty. Turned out, my particular HDMI port on the monitor was video-only. It’s like buying a fancy sports car and forgetting to put gas in it – looks great, goes nowhere.
This is where things get a bit fuzzy for most people. Everyone says ‘HDMI carries audio,’ and yeah, technically it *can*. But not all HDMI ports are created equal, and sometimes, even if it’s supposed to, it just… doesn’t. You might need to check your monitor’s manual, or even just plug in a different type of cable to see if that makes a difference. I’ve seen setups where only DisplayPort or a separate audio cable worked for sound.
Consider this: your computer has multiple output options, and your monitor has multiple input options. It’s a puzzle, and you need to make sure the puzzle pieces fit. Some monitors have a separate 3.5mm audio jack, and you might need to run a cable from your computer’s audio out to that jack. It feels ancient, I know, but it’s surprisingly common.
Windows and Mac Audio Settings: The Real Culprits
Okay, so you’ve got the right cables plugged in. Now what? This is where I usually get frustrated. You’d think, right? Plug it in, it works. Nope. Both Windows and macOS have their own little audio control panels that can be more confusing than a IKEA instruction manual for a bookshelf you didn’t buy. On Windows, you’re looking for the sound icon in the system tray. Right-click it. Select ‘Sounds’ or ‘Open Sound settings’. Find your monitor listed as an output device. If it’s not there, or it’s disabled, that’s your problem right there. (See Also: How To Put 144hz Monitor At 144hz )
I remember one time, after buying a second monitor that claimed to have speakers, I was absolutely stumped. The computer saw the monitor, it showed the resolution correctly, but no sound. I spent nearly three hours online, convinced it was a driver issue. Then, in a moment of pure, unadulterated panic, I right-clicked the volume icon and saw my monitor listed, but it was set to ‘Default Device’ for something else entirely. It took me four clicks to change it to the actual audio output. Four clicks. After three hours. That’s the kind of annoyance that makes you want to throw your mouse out the window.
Mac users have it slightly easier, but it’s still a hurdle. Go to System Preferences (or System Settings in newer macOS versions) > Sound. Then, under the ‘Output’ tab, you should see your monitor listed. If it’s greyed out or not appearing, you’ve got a connection or driver issue. The common advice is to check your Mac’s audio MIDI setup utility, but honestly, just restarting your Mac and the monitor often fixes this specific phantom issue.
When Monitor Speakers Are Just… Bad
Here’s a contrarian opinion for you: most built-in monitor speakers are absolute garbage. Everyone talks about how convenient it is to have speakers built into your monitor, saving desk space. I disagree. They sound tinny, lack any sort of bass, and often distort at even moderate volumes. It’s like trying to appreciate a symphony played on a kazoo. For anything more than a notification sound, you’re doing yourself a disservice.
The marketing departments love to tout ‘integrated speakers’ like it’s a revolutionary feature. What they don’t tell you is that the tiny drivers crammed into the bezel are usually low-quality, designed for basic alerts, not for enjoying music, watching movies, or immersive gaming. Consumer Reports has even highlighted this disparity in audio quality between built-in monitor speakers and even modest external speaker systems for years. I’d rather have a clean desk with a decent set of headphones or a small pair of desktop speakers than deal with the muffled, lifeless sound that most monitor speakers produce.
For a while, I tried to make my monitor speakers work for everything. It was painful. Everything sounded like it was coming through a cardboard tube. I finally caved and bought a pair of decent Logitech desktop speakers. The difference was night and day. They weren’t even expensive, costing me around $60 for a pair that actually had some depth. The money spent on those was the best investment I made in my setup that year, far more than the extra $150 I’d spent on a monitor that claimed ‘enhanced audio’ but delivered mediocrity.
What About Displayport and Other Connections?
DisplayPort is often seen as the more modern, superior connection compared to HDMI, especially for higher refresh rates and resolutions. And yes, DisplayPort absolutely carries audio. If your monitor and graphics card both support it, this is often a more reliable way to get sound through your monitor’s speakers than HDMI, especially with some older or finicky hardware combinations. I’ve found that DisplayPort tends to be more plug-and-play for audio than HDMI, which can sometimes require more hand-holding. (See Also: How To Switch An Acer Monitor To Hdmi )
Just like with HDMI, you need to ensure the audio is actually enabled and selected as the output device in your operating system’s sound settings. It’s easy to get caught up in the video quality aspects of DisplayPort and forget that audio is also being transmitted. Think of it like a multi-lane highway; you’re using the lanes for video, but there’s a dedicated lane for audio that needs to be open and used.
USB-C, especially when it supports DisplayPort Alternate Mode, can also carry both video and audio. If you’re using a single-cable solution for docking stations or laptops, the audio often comes through that USB-C connection to the monitor, provided your monitor supports it. Always double-check the specifications of your monitor and your computer’s ports to confirm audio transmission capabilities. It’s not always a given, even with the fanciest cables.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
When all else fails, and you’re still staring at a silent screen, it’s time to dig a little deeper. Drivers are a common culprit. Your graphics card drivers, your monitor’s drivers (if available), and even your motherboard’s audio drivers can sometimes conflict or become outdated. Updating these can often resolve mysterious audio dropouts or complete silence. I usually run driver updater software about once every six months, just to keep things from getting too dusty.
Another trick I’ve learned is to cycle the power. Turn off your computer, turn off your monitor, unplug both from the wall for about 30 seconds. Then, plug them back in, turn on the monitor first, then the computer. This ‘hard reset’ can sometimes clear out temporary glitches that are preventing audio from being recognized. It’s a simple step, but I’ve seen it fix more stubborn issues than I care to admit. It’s like giving the whole system a firm shake to wake it up.
If you have another device handy, like a laptop or a different PC, try connecting that to your monitor. If sound works with the other device, then the problem is definitely with your primary computer’s configuration or hardware. If sound *still* doesn’t work, then the issue is almost certainly with the monitor itself, or the cable you’re using. It takes a bit of detective work, but isolating the faulty component is key.
Sometimes, the simplest answer is the right one. Check the physical volume controls on your monitor itself. Many monitors have buttons or a joystick on the back or bottom that control volume, and they might be turned all the way down or muted. It’s embarrassing when this is the fix, but it happens to the best of us. I’ve definitely been there, frustrated, only to find a tiny button I’d overlooked. (See Also: How To Monitor My Sleep With Apple Watch )
How to Get Sound Through Speaker on External Monitor If It’s Not Detected?
If your external monitor isn’t showing up as an audio output device, the first step is to check your cable connections. Ensure you’re using an HDMI or DisplayPort cable that supports audio transmission. If you are, try a different cable. Next, restart both your computer and the monitor. If it still doesn’t appear, go into your computer’s sound settings and look for an option to ‘Show Disabled Devices’ and ‘Show Disconnected Devices.’ Your monitor might be there but turned off.
Can I Get Sound Through My Monitor Speakers via HDMI?
Yes, you generally can get sound through your monitor speakers via HDMI. However, both your computer’s graphics card output and your monitor’s HDMI input must support audio transmission. Sometimes, even if supported, you might need to manually select your monitor as the audio output device in your computer’s sound settings. Not all HDMI ports on all monitors are created equal, so if one HDMI port doesn’t work, try another if available.
Why Is My Monitor Speaker Volume So Low?
Low volume from monitor speakers is usually due to one of several factors. First, check the physical volume controls on the monitor itself – they might be turned down. Second, ensure your computer’s volume is turned up and that your monitor is selected as the primary audio output device. Sometimes, the built-in monitor speakers are simply low-quality and lack amplification. In such cases, using external speakers or headphones is the best solution.
Do All Monitors Have Built-in Speakers?
No, not all monitors have built-in speakers. Many higher-end or gaming-focused monitors do not include speakers, as users in those segments typically prefer dedicated audio solutions like gaming headsets or external speaker systems. If a monitor has speakers, it will usually be clearly stated in its specifications. Always check the product description before purchasing if built-in audio is a requirement for you.
| Connection Type | Video Support | Audio Support | Typical Use Case | My Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI | Yes | Yes (usually) | General purpose, consoles, streaming devices | Reliable for most, but check monitor specifics. Sometimes fiddly. |
| DisplayPort | Yes | Yes (robust) | PCs, high refresh rate gaming monitors | Often more stable for audio than HDMI, especially with PCs. My preference. |
| USB-C (DP Alt Mode) | Yes | Yes (if supported) | Laptops, modern desktops, single-cable solutions | Convenient but depends heavily on monitor and device compatibility. Can be tricky. |
| 3.5mm Audio Jack | No | Yes | Connecting separate audio sources to monitor speakers | A fallback, but requires an extra cable and manual switching. Feels dated. |
The Final Word on Monitor Audio
Getting sound through speaker on external monitor isn’t always a plug-and-play affair. It’s a bit of a technical dance involving cables, operating system settings, and sometimes, accepting that the built-in speakers are more of a placeholder than a genuine audio solution. My biggest regret was wasting so much time and money trying to make mediocre built-in speakers perform beyond their capabilities.
Verdict
So, how to get sound through speaker on external monitor? It’s a mix of understanding your connections, navigating your system’s audio settings, and knowing when to just buy a decent pair of external speakers. Don’t be like me and waste hours troubleshooting silence when the real issue is just… bad speakers. You’re better off putting that energy into finding a solution that actually sounds good.
Take a moment today to check your monitor’s audio output settings in your operating system. If it’s not there, or if it sounds terrible, you’ve got a clear path forward. You can spend more time digging into driver updates, or you can move on to a solution that actually delivers audio you’ll enjoy listening to. The choice is yours, but don’t let silence win.
Honestly, the most straightforward advice I can give after years of this headache? Unless your monitor has genuinely impressive, well-reviewed speakers (which are rare), budget for a small set of desktop speakers or a decent pair of headphones. Your ears will thank you, and you’ll spend less time staring at a silent, beautiful screen.
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