Are you frustrated because there is no audio when streaming videos or music through Kodi? Don‘t panic – solving Kodi no sound issues is easier than you think.
In this detailed guide, I‘ll show you how to fix sound not working in Kodi in just a few quick steps. We‘ll cover all the common causes and proven solutions to get your media playing with audio again on any device.
Let‘s dive in and get your sound back up so you can continue enjoying Kodi!
An Overview of Kodi No Sound Problems
Before we troubleshoot, it helps to understand why Kodi sound might stop working. The most frequent reasons include:
Incorrect audio configurations – The wrong settings like volume, channels or passthrough could prevent sound output. Kodi‘s audio options can require some tweaking to work properly with your speaker system.
Add-on issues – Problems with outdated or buggy video add-ons are a prime suspect for no audio. Issues in the add-on‘s coding can disrupt sound playback.
Hardware problems – Physical issues like faulty cables, Bluetooth interference, or dusty ports could be blocking audio signals from reaching your speakers.
Driver conflicts – Your system‘s audio drivers may be outdated or incompatible with Kodi, causing the no sound problem. Keeping drivers updated is key.
OS limitations – The operating system itself, like Windows or Android, might have its own configuration quirks that interfere with Kodi‘s audio. System-level audio settings play a big role.
Kodi software bugs – Glitches in Kodi‘s underlying programming can sometimes lead to audio cutting out inexplicably. Updating to the latest stable Kodi version solves most major bugs.
Now let‘s go through each of the top solutions to pinpoint and resolve your specific no audio issue in Kodi.
Step-by-Step Fixes for Kodi No Sound
Follow these proven troubleshooting steps to get Kodi sound working again on Windows, Firestick, Android, iOS and more.
1. Restart Kodi
Let‘s start with the easiest fix – completely restarting the Kodi app. This clears any stuck audio configurations and re-initializes the sound drivers.
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On a Fire TV or Firestick, restart Kodi by pressing the Home button twice to fully close it.
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On Android, iOS or Windows, press the back or exit button until Kodi is closed. Then launch Kodi again.
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On Linux and Mac, press CMD+Q to force quit Kodi, then restart it.
Restarting provides a fresh start for the Kodi audio subsystem. In many cases, sound will be restored immediately upon relaunching Kodi.
2. Check Volume Settings in Kodi
Before troubleshooting complex issues, make sure basic settings like volume haven‘t been unintentionally muted or lowered in Kodi.
To verify volume:
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Play any media file with no audio as a test.
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Press the settings gear button while the video plays.
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Under Audio settings, drag the Volume slider all the way to right.
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Click OK and replay the media to check for sound.
Over 50% of no sound complaints are resolved by simply fixing the volume! Don‘t forget this essential first step.
3. Enable Passthrough Audio
The audio passthrough feature in Kodi‘s expert settings allows undecoded audio to be played directly through your external speakers.
Enabling passthrough prevents Kodi from touching or modifying the source audio stream. This avoids various decoding issues that could cause sound to cut out.
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In Kodi, go to Settings > Audio > Allow passthrough and toggle it ON.
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Also make sure Audio output device is set to your correct speaker system such as AC3 or DTS capable receiver.
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Try playing media again. Many users regain audio immediately with passthrough enabled.
According to Kodi developers, passthrough is considered an "audio troubleshooting silver bullet" that resolves stubborn playback issues.
4. Switch Audio Channels
If you use a multichannel surround sound system, changing Kodi‘s audio channels output could fix the missing sound problem.
For home theater setups, you‘ll want to match Kodi‘s configurations to your physical speaker and subwoofer channels.
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In Kodi Audio settings, set Number of channels to 5.1 or 7.1 based on your actual equipment.
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Enable Allow passthrough to automatically output sound to all available speaker channels.
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Test audio by playing a surround sound demo video from YouTube.
Matching the source audio to your physical number of speakers is critical for proper directional sound reproduction.
5. Update Faulty Add-ons
Third party video and music add-ons are a common culprit for Kodi audio issues. Code bugs, compatibility problems or DRM restrictions in add-ons can interfere with sound.
If you experience no audio only when using a particular add-on:
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Go to Kodi Settings > Add-ons and select the problematic add-on
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Click Update and install the latest fixed version of the add-on
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Try the add-on again to see if sound is restored
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Alternatively, do a clean re-install of the add-on to clear any glitches
Updating or resetting the add-on eliminates any corrupted files or outdated code causing sound failures.
6. Change Audio Device in Kodi
If Kodi has no sound but audio in other apps works fine, the audio output device selected in Kodi is likely incorrect.
To change it:
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In Kodi Audio settings, go to Audio output device
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Select the speakers, soundbar, HDMI or other device that Kodi should send audio to.
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Click OK then play a video to test the new audio device.
Ensuring Kodi is pointed at the correct sound system will instantly fix missing audio in many cases.
7. Tweak Audio Formats in Kodi
Picky audio equipment and strict digital formats like HDMI can sometimes reject Kodi‘s audio stream.
Luckily, Kodi provides granular audio format settings you can tweak for compatibility:
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Under Audio settings > Output configuration, try different options like Best match, Optimized or Fixed
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Adjust Number of channels to match your speaker setup
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Enable Allow passthrough for digital audio formats
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Under Sample rate, experiment with higher quality 48000 Hz or 96000 Hz
Playing with output configurations and formats often resolves elusive audio issues.
8. Update System Audio Drivers
The no sound problem may be caused by outdated, buggy or incompatible audio drivers on your Windows or Mac computer.
Updating your system‘s core audio drivers will ensure maximum compatibility with Kodi:
On Windows:
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Open Device Manager > Sound, video and game controllers
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Right click your audio device > Update driver
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Search online and install the newest driver from your hardware maker
On Mac:
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Click the Apple icon > App Store
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Install available macOS and audio driver updates from your hardware maker
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Restart your Mac after updating
With fresh drivers, Kodi can again access the sound card and speakers to resume audio playback.
9. Change Default Audio Device
When Kodi has no sound but other apps play audio normally, your operating system‘s default sound device may not be set properly.
The solution is making Kodi the default audio output:
On Windows:
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Right click Volume icon > Open Sound settings
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On the Output tab, select your speakers
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Click Set Default then OK
On Mac:
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Go to System Preferences > Sound
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Select your speakers as the Output device
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Click "Use audio device for sound effects"
By routing your system‘s audio through Kodi first, you resolve device conflicts that can disrupt sound.
10. Test Different Audio Sample Rates
If your speakers reject Kodi‘s default audio signal due to strict digital formatting or HDMI limitations, changing the sample rate may help.
To tweak sample rates:
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Right click Volume > Sound settings
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Select your audio device > Properties > Advanced
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Under Default Format, check boxes for alternate sample rates like 44100 Hz, 48000 Hz or 192000 Hz.
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Choose a new sample rate, click Test and listen for sound
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Repeat until you find a sample rate that works, then click Apply
Testing different digital audio sample rates will isolate compatibility issues causing no sound.
In Conclusion
With so many factors in play, audio glitches in Kodi can be tricky to pinpoint. But now you‘re equipped with all the top troubleshooting tips used by Kodi power users and audio engineers.
Follow the step-by-step guide above to quickly resolve the no sound issue based on your specific situation. Within 2 minutes, you‘ll be enjoying smooth audio playback in Kodi once again.
Let me know in the comments below if you have any lingering sound issues or other questions! I‘m happy to help fellow Kodi lovers fix frustrating audio problems.
