Realtek is one of the largest hardware and driver manufacturing company, including audio codecs which are used in many computers and multimedia devices. The Realtek HD Audio Driver is the most used audio driver around the world. It provides high-quality Dolby, DTS, and Surround Sound. It comes with a number of features, but its main use is to provide your PC with sound. And if its driver stops working or has any issues, your computer’s audio won’t work.

Lately, since the Windows 10 came out, there have been numerous reports of Realtek High Definition Audio Driver failure. Usually, this issue occurs after upgrading your computer to Windows 10, or after installing any Windows 10 update. This normally happens when the driver is not up to date. But, it can also happen due to other reasons as well. This issue has been affecting a lot of Windows users, and if you are one of them, there’s nothing to worry. In this article, we will help you fix the problem. Just follow the methods mentioned below, one by one, until the issue is fixed.

If you have to manually install a driver for the device — perhaps the driver is already installed on your system — you can use the Update Driver button in the device’s Properties window. If the device driver is already installed on your system, click the “Browse my computer for driver software” link and choose an installed driver. To check if a downloaded HDA Realtek driver is compatible with your audio device (i.e. If the audio device Hardware ID is included in the '.inf' files of the Realtek driver), follow the instructions given above on how to run a PowerShell script and run the following script. A complete list of available wireless device drivers for Realtek this page, you will find all available drivers listed by release date for the Windows Vista 32bit operating system. Realtek RTL8188EU Wireless LAN 802.11n USB 2.0 Network Adapter drivers were collected from official websites of manufacturers and other trusted sources.

You can get other Realtek drivers as well. Go through and get it now. Realtek HD audio driver is important if you want to use all features of Realtek. This driver helps the application to function in your system. Further, there is another drive that you may get from Realtek and it may help your system.

There are a few methods to solve this problem. Perform these methods carefully, and you will be free of this error in no time.

Working Method : –

2. Add Legacy Hardware option to Install Hardware

This method should only be performed if Sound, video and game controllers or High Definition Audio Device / Realtek High Definition Audio is missing from the Device Manager.

Step 1. Right-click on the Start menu button and select Device Manager.

Step 2. Go to the drop-down Action menu and select Add legacy hardware. If clicking on Action shows help only. click on any empty space inside and then click again on action.

Step 3. The last step will open a pop-up window. Here click Next on the first screen.

Step 4. Select Search for and install the hardware automatically (Recommended), and click on Next.

Follow the rest of the on-screen instructions. After the process’ completion, you will find the Realtek Audio Device in Device Manager.Check if this has solved the problem for you. If not, follow the next method.

Method 1 – Confirm it’s a Driver Problem

Before beginning with the methods of solving the issue, you will have to make sure it’s the driver which is causing the problem. Why? Because, you may be getting the driver failure error message, but still it could be some other issue. We will get back to that later in the methods. First, we will check if it’s the driver issue or not.

Step 1. Right-click on the Start menu button and select Device Manager.

Step 2. Here, expand Sound, video and game controllers.

Step 3. Under Sound, video and game controllers, you will find High Definition Audio Device or Realtek High Definition Audio. Here you have to make sure if there is a yellow exclamation mark or a question mark on its icon. If it’s there, then it means it’s a driver issue.

Note: If Sound, video and game controllers or High Definition Audio Device / Realtek High Definition Audio is missing from the device manager, you can perform method 2 to fix it.

As you have made sure it’s a driver issue, you can now move on to the third method, where we will try to fix the issue. Skip method 2.

3. Update Drivers

In this method, we will try and fix the problem by updating the Realtek High Definition Audio driver. The driver might be outdated or corrupt, which could have led to the issue. Follow the steps mentioned below to perform this method.

There are two ways to perform this method.

Method 1 – Automatically

Step 1. Right-click on the Start menu button and select Device Manager.

Step 2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers and right-click on High Definition Audio Device or Realtek High Definition Audio. Select Update Driver.

Step 3. Now, select Search automatically for updated driver software.

After performing the last step, the computer will try to search for the latest driver on the internet. It will download and install them automatically. After the updating process is done, you should restart your computer.

Method 2 – Manually

To update the driver manually, you will have to download the driver update from the internet.

Step 1. Go to Realtek’s website.

Step 2. Here, mark the box beside I accept to the above, and click on Next.

Step 3. Now, you will have to select the correct driver according to your Windows operating system. Click on Global in front of the version description to download the driver update.

Note: If you are not sure if your Windows OS is 32bits or 64 bits –
Go to Cortana, type About and press Enter. Check the System Type.

Step 4. When the executable driver update file has downloaded, double-click on it and follow the on-screen instructions to install the driver.

Step 5. When the updating process is complete, Restart your computer.

This should fix the issue. But, if you are still facing the same problem, perform the next method.

4. Remove Driver

In this method, we will let Windows handle the problem. We will remove the device and the Windows will automatically install it, along with its driver.

Step 1. Right-click on the Start menu button and select Device Manager.

Step 2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers and right-click on High Definition Audio Device or Realtek High Definition Audio. Select Uninstall Device.

Step 3. Restart your computer.

When the computer restarts, Windows will automatically detect the audio hardware as a new hardware. It will then install it automatically. When it’s done, you can update its driver using Method 3.

This should solve the problem. If you are still facing the issue, perform the next method.

5. Turn Off Audio Enhancements

In this method, we will try to fix the issue by turning off audio enhancements. Follow the steps to perform the method.

Step 1. Go to Cortana and type Sound. Select the same from the results.

Step 2. Under the Playback tab, you will see connected audio devices. Click on the default device to select it, and then select Properties.

Step 3. Go to the Enhancements tab and mark the box beside Disable all sound effects. Don’t click on OK and don’t close the pop-up window.

Step 4. To check if this has solved the issue, play any music in the background. If it works, click on OK. If it doesn’t work, click on Cancel.

Step 5. Go back to step 2 and repeat the steps on another default device (if you have more than one).

This should fix the driver issue. If the problem is still causing you trouble, try the next method.

6. Volumes, Cables and Different Audio Formats

If none of the above mentioned methods worked, then most probably it is not the driver causing the problem. You should now check the cables connecting the speakers to your computer. Make sure there are no cuts on it.

Also, many applications and speakers have volume controls of their own. Check them and turn them all up.

Sometimes, audio codecs don’t support certain audio formats. If your computer is not a new one, this could probably be the issue. Try different audio format files and check if the problem still persists.

If you are still unable to hear any sound from the speakers, then either the speakers are not working, or the audio codec hardware has malfunctioned. Take your computer to the manufacturer’s customer care centre and ask them to repair it.

7. Alternate method

On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and X (at the same time) to get the quick-access menu.

1 – Click Device Manager.

2 – Click on Audio Inputs and Outputs

Realtek Multifunction Devices Driver Updater

3 – Click Realtek Digital Output

4 – Click Driver, Update Driver

5 – Browse my Computer for driver software

6 – click Let me pick from list

7 -click on generic software device.

Hope it is fixed. If it does not get fixed, move on to next method given below.

Realtek Multifunction Devices Drivers

We hope we were able to help you solve this problem. If you were able to solve this error using some other method, or if you have any issues, don’t forget to mention them below in comments.

It is easier to just download the Realtek HD audio driver from the website than to go on to some store and get it. You can get it for free and without any hassles. Just a few clicks and you can have it on your system. All we want to do is give you all the proper information needed. You can get other Realtek drivers as well. Go through and get it now.

Realtek HD audio driver is important if you want to use all features of Realtek. This driver helps the application to function in your system. Further, there is another drive that you may get from Realtek and it may help your system. This is the Realtek AC 97. Let us now focus on what Realtek HD audio driver provides us.

There are points about this driver that makes you want to use Realtek in your system. Realtek HD audio driver has many versions with constant changes and changes that improve its functioning. It is much newer than other drivers of Realtek. You can use this audio driver with the latest of os. This driver also has advanced specifications that give you smooth functioning of the application in your system. It also provides many versions that help you to download this driver on your system.

There are different needs for a system. Without all the drivers, you will not be able to run applications and without the above-mentioned driver, you cannot run the Realtek media player. This driver helps you in a specific way to run the application. Without these drivers you may find problems like:

Realtek Multifunction Devices Driver Win 7

1. Interruption while using the application.
2. No sound at all.
3. May not support a few kinds of files, etc

For this reason, you must have this driver. You can download it and help yourself with one of the best applications. Let us know what kind of features will come with Realtek HD audio driver.

Once you download the Realtek HD audio driver you will get its manager file and you can enjoy the following feature that it provides to its user.

Now in case you are finding any kind of difficulties in installing the Realtek audio driver then let us help you. You will find the installation instructions below. In case you are required to remove the driver first and re-install it, in that case, you can scroll down a bit more and find the removing instructions for Realtek HD audio driver.

What To Do When Installing For The First Time?

• For Windows 2000, XP:
  • Step 1 – Windows may detect multimedia audio devices so in that case cancel it first.
  • Step 2 – Now, just run the program you downloaded and it will start your installation.
  • Step 3 – Then you will find “Next” or “Yes” on your installation window. Click on it to continue the installation.
  • Step 4 – In case there is a windows message popping us reading “Digital Signature Not Found” then press “Yes” again.
  • Step 5 – In order to finish the installation, restart your system.

• For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8:
  • Step 1 – Run the setup you downloaded.
  • Step 2 – To continue press “Yes” or “Next as per your system.
  • Step 3 – You may run into a window pop-up “Windows can’t verify the publisher of this driver software.” At this moment you should click on the option “Install this driver software anyway” to continue the installation.
  • Step 4 -To complete the installation, restart your system and you are good to go.

What To Do To Remove The Driver?

• Windows 2000, XP:
  • Step 1. Go to Start
  • Step 2 – Search for settings and then go to the control panel.
  • Step 3 – Now, click on the remove icon.
  • Step 4 – Select “Realtek High Definition Audio Driver” and click on the remove button.
  • Step 5 – You will be asked for confirmation so click on “Yes.”

• Windows Vista, Windows 7:
  • Step 1. Click on start and search for settings.
  • Step 2. Go to the control panel.
  • Step 3. Now click on programs and features.
  • Step 4. Select “Realtek High Definition Audio Driver.”
  • Step 5. Finally, click yes to finish the uninstallation.
  • Step 6. Restart your system to complete the uninstallation.

Multifunction Devices Reviews

• Windows 8:
  • Step 1 – Go to Apps
  • Step 2 – Find the option control panel.
  • Step 3 – Search and click on programs and features.
  • Step 4 – Select the “Realtek High Definition Audio Driver” and press on the uninstall button.
  • Step 5 – Now restart your system and you are good to go.

With this, you should also know the supported products for the Realtek HD audio driver. Here is the list for it according to the different versions of Windows.

Top Brands Supported Models For Realtek

Now if you are looking to download the Realtek HD audio driver on different hardware like Sony, Lenovo, and Dell. So we have segregated the list of supported models. So let us start and reading our table will clear your doubts on which models of Sony, Lenovo, and Dell support Realtek High Definition Audio Driver.

1. Realtek Audio Driver For Sony

If you are using a sony system then, you can help yourself with some very important information here. Realtek HD audio driver is not applicable or usable on all the models of sony. You should have a particular model from the set of models that provides the Realtek audio manager. In case you wondering how to install the file, do not worry we have already explained it above and the process is almost the same and you will not find any kind of difficulties.

Realtek Multifunction Devices Driver Win 7

Important Notes

• You need to be logged on as an administrator while installing this driver.
• Only to ensure that the installation is not interrupted, please clear your taskbar.

2. Realtek Audio Driver For Lenovo

Lenovo is one of the other popular systems that you might be the user of. In which case you need to get your file from here. Downloading Realtek HD audio driver is easy but at the same time, you need to keep a few things in your mind. The below table will give you the details of the file and also look out for the important notes below while downloading this file. For instructions on installation go above and check it out.

Important Notes

• If your system is not running satisfactory then look for any update for your system.

3. Realtek Audio Driver For Dell

In case you using a dell system then you should know there are a variety of systems within Dell that you may have and there are a set of models that allows you to use Realtek HD, audio manager. The below table will help you to understand which file you should get and in case you are worried about installing it then do not worry we got you covered with the installing instructions.

Important Notes

• Make sure your system is updated and check for the model listed down in the table
• Don’t work alongside the download, it may interrupt it.

You can easily download the Realtek HD audio manager from here. This was all about the Realtek HD audio driver. We hope you were able to understand how it will help you and when do you really need this driver in your system. We hope you have successfully downloaded Realtek and now enjoying the Realtek media player in your system. In case of any doubts or trouble downloading the Realtek HD audio driver, let us know in the comment section below.