Fix 1 — Check Audio Output Device Selection
Click the speaker icon in the system tray and verify the correct playback device is selected. The dropdown may have switched to HDMI Audio or a Bluetooth device that is not connected, causing audio to be routed to an inactive output. Select Speakers (Realtek Audio) or HP Speakers as the output device. This is the most common cause of sudden audio loss on the Pavilion Gaming 15 — the output device changes when an HDMI cable or Bluetooth device is connected and Windows sets it as default.
Fix 2 — Reinstall Realtek Audio Driver from HP Support
Download the Realtek audio driver for the HP Pavilion Gaming 15 from HP Support. In Device Manager, right-click Realtek Audio and select Uninstall device (check the driver deletion box). Restart. Run the HP Realtek audio installer. A Windows Update can replace the HP-certified Realtek audio driver with a generic version that lacks the HP Pavilion Gaming 15 speaker amplifier configuration. The HP-certified driver includes speaker equalization and amp initialization code that the generic version omits.
Per Faisal Azman, gaming content creator using HP Pavilion Gaming 15 i7-12700H: “Audio stopped working completely after a Windows Update on the Pavilion Gaming 15. The audio output device had switched to HDMI in the system tray, and the Realtek driver had been replaced by a generic version. Selecting HP Speakers as output and reinstalling the HP Realtek driver fixed both issues.”
Fix 3 — Run Windows Audio Troubleshooter
Open Settings → System → Sound → Troubleshoot common sound problems → Output devices. The troubleshooter can detect and fix common audio issues including Windows Audio Service not running, incorrect default playback device, and missing audio format support. On the Pavilion Gaming 15, the troubleshooter frequently identifies the Windows Audio Endpoint Builder service as stopped, which is a common cause of complete audio failure where no audio devices appear in Sound settings.
Fix 4 — Restart Windows Audio Services
Open Services.msc. Find Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder. Right-click each and select Restart. Confirm both are set to Startup type: Automatic. If either service is stopped, right-click and select Start. The Windows Audio Endpoint Builder service enumerates all audio devices on startup. If it stops, no audio devices appear in Sound settings even if the Realtek hardware and driver are correctly installed and functional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is audio not working on HP Pavilion Gaming 15 i7-12700H?
The audio output device switched to HDMI or Bluetooth, the Realtek driver was replaced by a generic version via Windows Update, or the Windows Audio service is stopped. Check the system tray output device selector, reinstall the Realtek driver from HP Support, and restart Windows Audio services in Services.msc.
Does HP Pavilion Gaming 15 have good speakers?
The HP Pavilion Gaming 15 has dual speakers tuned with Bang and Olufsen audio. The Realtek audio codec drives the speakers with HP-specific equalization applied through the HP Audio software layer. Sound quality is above average for a gaming laptop at this price range, particularly for midrange frequencies.
Why is there no sound from the headphone jack on HP Pavilion Gaming 15?
The 3.5mm combo jack may be set as a non-default device or the Realtek driver is not registering the jack insertion correctly. In Sound settings Playback tab, check if the headphones appear as a device. If the jack auto-detection is not working, go to Realtek HD Audio Manager (search in Start) and configure the front panel jack detection settings manually.
Can HP Omen Gaming Hub affect audio on Pavilion Gaming 15?
HP Omen Gaming Hub has audio effects settings that can override the default Realtek audio equalization. If the hub has boosted or modified audio settings that conflict with the speaker hardware capabilities, distortion or audio failure can result. Open HP Omen Gaming Hub audio settings and reset to default if audio issues began after changing hub settings.
Conclusion
Audio not working on the HP Pavilion Gaming 15 i7-12700H is fixed by checking the system tray audio output device selector for an incorrect HDMI or Bluetooth output, reinstalling the HP-certified Realtek audio driver from HP Support, running the Windows Audio Troubleshooter, and restarting Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder services in Services.msc. The HP-certified Realtek driver includes Pavilion Gaming 15-specific speaker amplifier and Bang and Olufsen equalization settings that a generic Realtek driver from Windows Update does not contain.
Ryan holds a Computer Science degree and has over 20 years of hands-on experience with PC hardware, software, and driver troubleshooting. He is the author behind softwaredriverdownload.com, where he helps everyday users fix driver issues quickly and accurately. Ryan has personally tested most of the fixes on this site across a range of Windows 10 and Windows 11 machines.
Leave a Reply