F5F Stay Refreshed Software General Software My sound stops working on its own and I have no choice but to try installing the Realtek audio driver again.

My sound stops working on its own and I have no choice but to try installing the Realtek audio driver again.

My sound stops working on its own and I have no choice but to try installing the Realtek audio driver again.

A
Amanda_Thomsen
Junior Member
3
09-08-2026, 10:23 AM
#1
I live on Windows 10 version 20H2 with a Realtek integrated audio chip in my Gigabyte Z170 HD3P. A few days ago, an automatic update came through and turned on Windows Sonic, boosted the sound quality, but it made things worse. Now every time I try to play any sound, it cuts off suddenly after a short while, followed by that familiar buzz of when you unplug your headphones.

I tried reinstalling the audio driver, but that keeps failing. The Realtek installer wizard asks me to remove the old driver first, then restart my computer so it can install the new one. But every time I do this, after restarting, it tries to delete the driver again and asks for another restart. This goes on forever in a loop somehow. I still have an audio driver installed right now, but the sound cutting off keeps happening. How can I fix this?
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Amanda_Thomsen
09-08-2026, 10:23 AM #1

I live on Windows 10 version 20H2 with a Realtek integrated audio chip in my Gigabyte Z170 HD3P. A few days ago, an automatic update came through and turned on Windows Sonic, boosted the sound quality, but it made things worse. Now every time I try to play any sound, it cuts off suddenly after a short while, followed by that familiar buzz of when you unplug your headphones.

I tried reinstalling the audio driver, but that keeps failing. The Realtek installer wizard asks me to remove the old driver first, then restart my computer so it can install the new one. But every time I do this, after restarting, it tries to delete the driver again and asks for another restart. This goes on forever in a loop somehow. I still have an audio driver installed right now, but the sound cutting off keeps happening. How can I fix this?

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ille200306
Member
159
09-10-2026, 11:35 AM
#2
Here are some other places to look: https://www.intel.com/content/www/u... or check Lenovo's support page at https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/do... There is also a free download for Realtek Audio Drivers on oemdrivers.com. I looked through the links and couldn't find anything related to Realtek. You should visit these official websites instead. Go into Device Manager to see which drivers are already installed. Tell me what you find, then post it here. If you need an older version of a driver that works fine with your machine, go ahead and install it.
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ille200306
09-10-2026, 11:35 AM #2

Here are some other places to look: https://www.intel.com/content/www/u... or check Lenovo's support page at https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/do... There is also a free download for Realtek Audio Drivers on oemdrivers.com. I looked through the links and couldn't find anything related to Realtek. You should visit these official websites instead. Go into Device Manager to see which drivers are already installed. Tell me what you find, then post it here. If you need an older version of a driver that works fine with your machine, go ahead and install it.

H
hayabusa4649
Junior Member
43
09-10-2026, 02:45 PM
#3
Go through Device Manager to stop and take out the sound drivers. Then look for the right ones online and get them without any extra software. Uninstall the old stuff first, then put the new ones back in and set everything up again. Don't use any automatic programs or guides.
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hayabusa4649
09-10-2026, 02:45 PM #3

Go through Device Manager to stop and take out the sound drivers. Then look for the right ones online and get them without any extra software. Uninstall the old stuff first, then put the new ones back in and set everything up again. Don't use any automatic programs or guides.

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NinjaTurtleNL
Member
207
09-14-2026, 10:16 AM
#4
Where do I get the original audio software for my computer, and what steps do I take to fix a broken installation by myself?
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NinjaTurtleNL
09-14-2026, 10:16 AM #4

Where do I get the original audio software for my computer, and what steps do I take to fix a broken installation by myself?

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cepacolera
Junior Member
19
09-14-2026, 06:39 PM
#5
I even checked the official Gigabyte website to get an audio driver installed, but it was just another version of the exact same problem I already had.
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cepacolera
09-14-2026, 06:39 PM #5

I even checked the official Gigabyte website to get an audio driver installed, but it was just another version of the exact same problem I already had.

M
mcDavoz
Senior Member
544
09-15-2026, 08:39 PM
#6
Here are some other places to check: https://www.intel.com/content/www/u...or...hki7c.html https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/do...r-...lus-g2-itg Realtek Audio Driver for Windows 10/11 64 bit free download | Device Drivers (oemdrivers.com) I looked at several other links but they didn't seem to be related to Realtek. You can check the official websites from the maker. Look in Device Manager to see what drivers are already installed there. Let me know how it goes. Maybe you'll need an older version, but if it works and makes your system stable then go with that one.
M
mcDavoz
09-15-2026, 08:39 PM #6

Here are some other places to check: https://www.intel.com/content/www/u...or...hki7c.html https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/do...r-...lus-g2-itg Realtek Audio Driver for Windows 10/11 64 bit free download | Device Drivers (oemdrivers.com) I looked at several other links but they didn't seem to be related to Realtek. You can check the official websites from the maker. Look in Device Manager to see what drivers are already installed there. Let me know how it goes. Maybe you'll need an older version, but if it works and makes your system stable then go with that one.