Why is sound not coming through Chrome Remote Desktop?

Chrome Remote Desktop is a remote desktop solution from Google that allows users to remotely access another computer through the Chrome browser or a Chromebook device. It utilizes Chrome’s speed, security and simplicity to offer a fast, easy way to work on a remote computer.

However, one common issue users report is that sound from the remote computer does not come through properly in a Chrome Remote Desktop session. The remote computer may have working audio locally, but that audio does not get transmitted to the local computer accessing it through Chrome Remote Desktop. This can be frustrating for activities like listening to music, watching videos, or conducting calls over a remote connection.

Verify Sound Works Locally

The first step is to verify that sound works properly on the host computer that you are connecting from. Try playing some audio or video files locally to check that the speakers and sound outputs are functioning correctly before troubleshooting the remote connection.

You can also use online tools like this sound test to confirm your speakers and audio outputs are working as expected on the host computer.

If sound does not work when played locally, the issue is with your host computer’s sound configuration or hardware, not specifically related to Chrome Remote Desktop. Fix any local sound problems first before further troubleshooting the remote connection.

Check Chrome Remote Desktop Settings

One of the first things to check is the settings within the Chrome Remote Desktop extension itself. In Chrome, click the extensions icon and select “Options” for Chrome Remote Desktop.

Under audio settings, make sure “Enable audio” is checked. Try changing the audio quality to high if it’s not already set to that. According to this Google support thread, selecting a higher quality audio setting can sometimes resolve issues with no audio.

You can also try changing the input and output audio device selected in the Chrome Remote Desktop settings. Make sure the correct microphone and speakers are chosen. If you have multiple audio devices connected, try each one to see if that fixes the problem.

Additionally, check Chrome’s site settings by clicking the lock icon next to the URL bar. Make sure both camera and microphone access are allowed for the Chrome Remote Desktop site/extension. If not, enable them and test again.

Finally, you can go to Chrome extension settings by clicking the extensions icon > Manage Extensions. Try disabling any other extensions that could interfere with Chrome Remote Desktop audio. Then test again to see if sound works properly without those other extensions enabled.

Check System Sound Settings

The first step is to verify your Windows system sound settings are configured correctly to allow sounds to play. Go to the Start menu and type “Sound” to open your Sound settings.

Under the “Playback” tab, make sure you have the correct speakers or headphones set as the Default Device. Test that audio plays by clicking the “Test” button while that device is selected (cite: Change Windows 10 System Sounds).

You can also try changing the sounds assigned to system events like new notifications. Go to the “Sounds” tab in Sound settings and pick a different sound effect for program events (cite: ASUS: Windows 11/10 Sound Settings).

If you can hear sounds when testing in Sound settings, then the issue likely lies with Chrome Remote Desktop specifically. If no sounds come through even when testing, your system audio configuration needs troubleshooting.

Update Chrome and Extensions

One possible cause for no sound in Chrome Remote Desktop is that you may not have the latest version of Chrome or a Chrome extension. Google releases updates for Chrome frequently that include bug fixes and performance improvements.

To update Chrome on a desktop computer, open Chrome and click on the three dots in the top right corner. Then go to Help > About Google Chrome. Chrome will automatically check for updates and download the latest version if available [1].

On Android phones and tablets, open the Google Play Store app. Tap on the profile icon in the top right corner, then Manage apps & devices > Updates available to check for any Chrome updates [2].

You should also make sure any Chrome extensions related to sound, like soundboards or audio modifiers, are up-to-date by going to Chrome Menu > More Tools > Extensions and clicking “Update” on any available updates.

Try Different Audio Inputs/Outputs

One method to fix sound issues in Chrome Remote Desktop is to try switching between different audio inputs and outputs on your local computer. For example, if you normally use headphones, try unplugging them and switching to your computer’s built-in speakers. Or if you were using speakers, plug in headphones or external speakers instead.

On Windows, you can change the audio input and output devices in the Sound control panel. Go to Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound. Under the Playback and Recording tabs, you can select different devices. Make sure to select devices that work properly when using your computer normally, as those are most likely to also work with Chrome Remote Desktop.

On Mac, open System Preferences > Sound. On both the Input and Output tabs, select different microphones/speakers to change where audio is being captured and played back from. Restart the Chrome Remote Desktop session after changing devices to see if that resolved any sound issues.

Problems with audio quality like static, choppiness or lag are often due to incorrect input/output settings. Cycling through different options essentially reinitializes the audio drivers and can clear up those types of problems. Just make sure to test devices that you know already work locally before troubleshooting other potential causes.

Disable Other Extensions

One potential cause of audio issues in Chrome Remote Desktop is interference from other Chrome extensions. Extensions can sometimes conflict with Chrome Remote Desktop and disrupt audio functionality.

As a troubleshooting step, try temporarily disabling other extensions to see if that resolves the no audio problem. You can disable extensions individually or disable them all at once for testing.

To disable an extension, open the Chrome menu > More Tools > Extensions. Then toggle the slider off for any extensions you want to disable. Some extensions known to possibly cause interference are ad blockers, VPNs, accessibility tools, and security extensions.

After disabling other extensions, try connecting to Chrome Remote Desktop again to see if sound now works properly. If audio issues persist, re-enable extensions one by one until you identify any problematic extensions.

According to users on Reddit and other forums, disabling unnecessary extensions often resolves Chrome Remote Desktop audio and lag issues (source). Keep extensions disabled that are not critical for your Chrome Remote Desktop session.

Reset Chrome Settings

One troubleshooting step is to reset your Chrome browser settings back to default. This will clear any problematic custom settings and extensions that could be interfering with audio in Chrome Remote Desktop.

To reset Chrome settings on Windows or Chrome OS:

1. Open the Chrome browser.
2. Click the three dot menu icon in the top right corner.
3. Hover over “Settings” and click “Reset settings.”
4. In the pop-up window, click “Reset settings.”
5. Chrome will reset to factory default settings and restart.

On Mac:

1. Open Chrome and click Chrome in the top left menu.
2. Hover over “Settings” and click “Reset settings.”
3. In the pop-up window, click “Reset settings.”
4. Chrome will reset and restart.

Resetting Chrome removes any extensions, settings changes, and other customizations that could be interfering with functionality like audio in Chrome Remote Desktop (Reset Chrome settings to default). After resetting Chrome, test if audio works properly in Remote Desktop again.

Check Network/Firewall Settings

Sometimes audio issues in Chrome Remote Desktop can be caused by restrictive network or firewall policies blocking the audio feed. Check if any network firewalls, proxies, or policies are blocking the inbound or outbound audio connections needed for Chrome Remote Desktop.

Make sure your firewall is configured to allow Chrome Remote Desktop connections. You may need to add exceptions for the Chrome Remote Desktop executable files and services. Refer to your firewall documentation for instructions on adding exceptions or whitelisting specific applications. Depending on your network setup, you may also need to open certain ports used by Chrome Remote Desktop.

If you are accessing Chrome Remote Desktop from another network, the firewalls and policies on that external network could also potentially block the audio feed. Try accessing from a different network to see if that resolves the problem.

Corporate networks in particular tend to have more restrictive policies that can block Chrome Remote Desktop audio. Check with your network administrator to ensure the network firewall is not configured to block Chrome Remote Desktop audio streams. They may need to adjust policies to allow Chrome Remote Desktop audio for your machine.

Make sure that no bandwidth throttling, traffic shaping, or QoS policies are impacting Chrome Remote Desktop’s audio streams. Audio requires consistent low-latency connectivity and can be impacted if networks apply throttling policies to certain protocols or traffic.

If adjusting firewall policies does not resolve the issue, you can try using Chrome Remote Desktop’s built-in VPN proxy feature to bypass restrictive networks. Enable this in your Chrome Remote Desktop settings. This tunnels the connection through Google servers which typically bypass firewall audio blocks.

Contact Support

If you have tried all of the troubleshooting steps and Chrome Remote Desktop audio still does not work, it’s a good idea to reach out to Chrome support or your IT department for further assistance.

You can contact Chrome support through the Chrome Remote Desktop help center by visiting https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/1649523?hl=en&ref_topic=1649518. Here you can find troubleshooting articles, submit feedback to developers, or get one-on-one help from Chrome support agents.

If Chrome Remote Desktop was set up by your organization’s IT department, it’s best to reach out to them as well. They may need to adjust firewall, network, or group policy settings to allow audio to properly stream through Chrome Remote Desktop sessions. Providing your IT team with details on what you’ve tried already can help them resolve the issue faster.

With help from Chrome support or your internal IT team, the root cause preventing audio from working in Chrome Remote Desktop can likely be identified and corrected. Their specialized knowledge and access can provide the final piece to get Chrome Remote Desktop’s audio streaming properly functioning.