Many users are faced with a situation when, after connecting new equipment, there is an image on the screen and no sound. Owners of modern displays from Xiaomi often wonder how to activate embedded speakers or transmit audio stream through HDMI. This is a common problem that is solved by software setting up the operating system or checking physical connections.
Embedded speaker systems in monitors usually have little power, but they are enough for video conferencing, watching news videos or background music while working. However, by default, the computer may not choose them as the default playback device. Integrating sound into the Xiaomi ecosystem requires the right signal source in the menu of the display itself and the appropriate settings in Windows or macOS.
And you have to consider that some budget models may not have built-in speakers at all, but only have headphone output, and in these cases, the sound is transmitted to external acoustics. If the speakers are present but silent, most often it is the choice of the signal source or the outdated graphics card drivers. Next, we will discuss all the stages of the setup in detail.
Verification of physical connections and signal sources
The first step should always be to check the hardware. The sound is transmitted over digital interfaces like HDMI or DisplayPort, along with the video stream. If you use analog cables like VGA or DVI, audio transmission through them is impossible without a separate audio cable. Make sure that the cable is tightly inserted into the connectors of both the system unit and the Xiaomi monitor itself.
Once power is turned on, check which signal source is selected from the display menu. Often, the computer is connected via HDMI, and the monitor is configured to work with DisplayPort or vice versa. To switch, use the joystick or control buttons on the back of the device.
- 🔌 Make sure that the cable is used. HDMI DisplayPort, as they transmit audio and video at the same time.
- 🖥️ Press the menu button on the monitor and select the correct source (Input Source) corresponding to the connected port.
- 🔇 Check if the volume on the monitor itself is reduced to a minimum using the control buttons.
- 💻 Make sure the cable is not damaged and has a certificate of compliance with media transmission standards.
⚠️ Note: If you use adapters (e.g. HDMI-to-VGA), no audio will be transmitted, and in such cases, you need to separate the audio cable from the output on the motherboard to speakers or headphones.
☑️ Diagnostics of connection
On some Xiaomi models, ports can be marked differently, and one of them can support ARC (Audio Return Channel), although this rarely matters for PCs. The main thing is to provide physical contact. The digital signal is sensitive to cable quality, so using cheap analogues can lead to periodic loss of sound.
Configure the playback device in Windows
Once a physical connection is successful, the operating system must automatically identify the new device, but Windows often continues to output sound to the built-in speakers of the laptop or motherboard, and to fix this, you need to manually switch the default output device in the system settings.
Right-click on the speaker icon in the tray (near the clock) and select "Open audio settings." In the window that opens, look for the "Output" or "Select output device" section. Your Xiaomi monitor should appear on the list of available devices, often indicated by the display model or video chip name (for example, NVIDIA High Definition Audio).
If the standard menu didn't work, you can use the extended sound control panel, and to do this, type in the Windows search bar the command mmsys.cpl and press Enter, and the classic Sound window will open.
- 🎛️ Go to the “Replay” tab in the sound settings window.
- ✅ Find your monitor in the list (may be called Digital Audio (HDMI)» or by name).
- 🔘 Right-click and select “Use by default».
- 📈 Click on Properties and in the “Additional” tab check the bit rate and sampling rate.
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If the monitor is not listed, try updating the hardware configuration. To do this, click on "Action" in Device Manager» → «Update the configuration of the equipment».
It's important to check the volume level for this particular device. In the same Playback tab, double-click on the monitor, go to the Levels tab and make sure the slider isn't at zero. Sometimes the system mixer can "remember" the low volume for specific applications.
Working with drivers and video outputs
Sound through HDMI or DisplayPort is processed not by the motherboard sound card, but by a video chip, which means that the video card drivers (NVIDIA, AMD or Intel) are responsible for the audio transmission. If the drivers are installed incorrectly or outdated, the sound on the Xiaomi monitor will not work even if all the settings are correct.
For NVIDIA graphics card owners, you need to open the NVIDIA Control Panel. In the Sound section, you can see a list of available displays. If your monitor is displayed there but the sound is not coming, try reinstalling the driver by selecting the "Perform Clean Installation" option, which will delete old configuration files that may have caused the conflict.
| GPU manufacturer | Driver component | Where to find | Importance of updating |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA | NVIDIA High Definition Audio | NVIDIA Control Panel | Tall. |
| AMD | AMD High Definition Audio | AMD Radeon Settings | Tall. |
| Intel | Intel Display Audio | Device Manager | Medium |
| Microsoft Basic | Basic adapter | Windows Update Center | Critical |
In Device Manager (devmgmt.msc command), deploy the Sound, Game, and Video Devices branch. If you see a device with a yellow exclamation mark or the name "Unknown Device," the driver is not installed. Automatic search for drivers through Device Manager often helps to solve the problem quickly.
What to do if the driver is not installed?
Specifics of setting up macOS for Xiaomi Monitor
Apple users may also experience a lack of sound when connecting external displays. MacOS uses audio output control in a slightly different way. The system usually switches audio automatically, but sometimes manual intervention is required, especially if a USB-C to HDMI adapter is used.
To set up, go to System Settings (or System Preferences in older versions of macOS) and select Sound. In the Out tab, select your Xiaomi monitor from the list. If the device doesn't show, check the cable and try reconnecting it by rebooting your computer beforehand.
- 🍏 Open System Settings through the Apple Menu.
- 🔊 Go to the “Sound” section and select the “Exit” tab».
- 🖥️ Click on the monitor name in the list of devices.
- ⚙️ Check the balance of the left and right channel if the sound seems uneven.
It is worth noting that some models of monitors may not correctly transmit EDID-Mac data, which makes it difficult for the system to recognize that the device is connected to the sound, may help by using sound management tools such as SoundSource or Loopback, which allow more flexibility in managing audio routing.
Use the Xiaomi Monitor Menu (OSD)
Remember that the monitor itself has its own operating system (OSD) that controls signal processing. In the Xiaomi menu, you can find settings that directly affect the audio output. Often, by default, the volume can be twisted to zero or the wrong audio input is selected.
To enter the menu, use the joystick, usually located at the bottom or back of the case. Find the section associated with the sound (Audio or Sound), where you can adjust the volume, select equalizer modes (if any), and most importantly, check the status of the mute.
The critical consideration is the choice of sound source: make sure that the audio source is the current video input (e.g. HDMI 1) rather than the line input (Line In) if it is physically present on the body. Some models have an automatic switching feature, but it doesn't always work correctly.
⚠️ Warning: Resetting your monitor to factory settings can help if you’re confused in the menu OSD. After resetting, you will have to re-configure the brightness and color reproduction, but this will eliminate software glitches of the display firmware.
Troubleshooting and frequent errors
If none of these methods worked, the problem could be system conflicts or hardware malfunctions. Try connecting the monitor to another computer or laptop. If the sound comes up, it's a problem with the settings of your main PC. If the sound is nowhere, the monitor or cable may be faulty.
In the playback device properties, try ticking the "Disable all enhancements" tab on the Improvements tab, sometimes drivers try to apply processing that is incompatible with the simple monitor speakers.
- 🔄 Restart your computer with a connected monitor so that the system re-interviews the device.
- 🔌 Try another port. HDMI on the video card, if there are several.
- 💿 Check for updates BIOS motherboards, as they can improve compatibility with the periphery.
- 🛑 Turn off all the extras. USB-devices that may interfere with or conflict resources.
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In 80% of cases, the problem is solved by choosing the right output device in the Windows sound control panel or installing the current graphics card drivers.
Also worth checking for Windows services: Press Win + R, type services.msc, and find the service "Windows Audio." Make sure it's running and the type of startup is "Automatic." If the service is stopped, the sound won't work on any device.