How to Check If My Laptop Speakers Are Blown (Complete Guide)

Your laptop is one of the most important devices you own – it’s your link to the online world, your office away from home, and your entertainment hub.

So what do you do when something goes wrong with it?

In this blog post, we’ll show you how to check if your laptop speakers are blown so you can get them fixed as soon as possible.

How to Check If My Laptop Speakers Are Blown

If you’re not sure whether you suspect that your laptop speakers are blown, you can do a few things to check.

Physically Inspect the Speakers

• Ensure your laptop is turned off.
• Remove the battery, if possible.
• Locate the screws on the back of the laptop and remove them.
• Gently pry open the back panel of the laptop.
• Look for the speakers. They are usually located near the screen or towards the front of the laptop.
• Tap on the speakers’ cone.
• If you feel a rattling sound, the speakers are most likely blown.

Check the Volume

• Turn the volume all the way down.
• Plug in headphones or earbuds into the audio jack.
• Turn up the volume on your device.
• If there’s sound coming from the headphones or earbuds, then the problem is with the speakers, and they may be blown.

Use the Diagnostic Test

• On your laptop, open the Sound window.
• Click the Playback tab.
• Under Speakers, click the name of the speaker that’s not working.
• In the Diagnostic field, click Test.
• A speaker-test will play.
• Listen to the test and see if you can hear any sound from the speaker that’s not working.
• If you don’t hear a sound, continue to the next step.
• Click on the Recording tab and then right-click on the microphone.
• Select “Test Recording.” If you hear yourself talking, your laptop’s microphone is not blown. If you don’t hear yourself talking, the speakers are possibly blown.

What Does It Mean When a Speaker Is Blown?

A laptop speaker is blown when the sound coming from it is distorted, or no sound at all comes out.

If your laptop speaker is blown, you’ll not be able to listen to audio through the built-in speakers. You may be able to listen to audio through headphones if they are plugged in, but you will not be able to hear any sound from the laptop itself.

Any external speakers connected to your laptop will still work as needed even if the built-in speakers have blown.

What Does a Blown Speaker Sound Like?

No one wants to hear their speaker crackle and pop, followed by an annoying, high-pitched squeal. When a speaker is blown, it can produce any or all of the following sounds:

• Rattling or buzzing noise
• Hissing sound
• Whining sound
• Clicking noise
• Muffled sound

If you’re unsure whether your speaker is blown, try turning up the volume. If you hear any of the above sounds, your speaker is blown and needs to be replaced.

What Causes a Blown Speaker?

There are many reasons why laptop blown speakers might occur. Listed below are six of the most common causes:

1) Loud Noises:

If you’re listening to music or watching a movie on your laptop and it’s too loud, the sound can cause the speakers to blow.

2) Overheating:

If your laptop is overheating, the internal components can start to fry, which could lead to blown speakers.

3) Power Surges:

If there’s a power surge, it can damage the delicate electronic components in your laptop, which might result in blown speakers.

4) Dirt/Dust Build-Up:

Dust particles are microscopic, and they can easily enter the small openings of the laptop. Once these dust particles accumulate over some time, they can cause the laptop speakers to blow.

5) Physical Damage:

Another reason could be that the speaker is physically damaged. This might be the result of something hitting the speaker or liquid getting inside it.

6) Software Issues:

Another reason for a laptop speaker being blown could be an issue with the software. For example, if there is a problem with the audio drivers, this could stop the sound from coming out of the laptop speakers.

How to Fix a Blown Speaker

When your favorite song comes on the laptop, and you crank up the volume, only to have the sound cut out halfway through, it’s a frustrating experience. You may not know it, but you can repair a blown speaker yourself.

But first, you need to check if the speakers are muted.

If the speakers are muted, you won’t hear any sound even if they are not blown. To check if the speakers are muted, look for the speaker icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner of your screen). If it is turned off, click on it to turn it on.

If you hear no sound from your laptop speaker after unmuting, here are ways to try to fix the blown laptop speaker:

Use a Vacuum Cleaner

Attach the exhaust pipe of the vacuum cleaner to the speaker of the laptop speakers and turn it on. This will unclog the dirt and debris blocking the speakers. The suction will also cause the speaker to vibrate and produce sound.

Cooldown Your Laptop

A laptop cooler is a great way to keep your computer from overheating. By using a cooler, you can help to regulate the temperature and keep your laptop’s hardware from becoming too hot.

Update the Sound Drivers/ Check for Malware

Update the sound drivers. Go to the website of the laptop’s manufacturer, and download and install the latest sound drivers. You should also check for malware and viruses. Use

a malware scanner to check for any malicious software and remove it from your device.

Replace the Laptop Speakers

If your laptop’s speakers are blown, you can try to replace them yourself. Here are the steps to replace blown laptop speakers:

• Shut down your computer and unplug it from the power outlet.
• Remove the battery pack.
• Remove the screws that hold the cover in place.
• Gently pry the cover off of the laptop.
• Locate the blown speakers and remove them from the motherboard.
• Install the new speakers and screw them in place.
• Test to check if they’re producing sound as expected.

Use a Surge Protector

If a power surge caused the speaker problem, you’d need to buy a surge protector for your laptop. If it were an electrical spike, you’d need to have your wiring checked.

The Bottom Line

If you’re not sure whether your laptop speakers are blown, you can do a few things to check. In this article, we looked at various methods to consider: physical inspection, checking the volume, and using the diagnostic test.

If you think your laptop speakers are blown, try one of these diagnostic methods discussed in the post and see if they fix the problem. If not, you may need to take your laptop to a professional to get it fixed.