How to Update Realtek Audio Driver: 3 Best Ways

How to Update Realtek Audio Driver

If you’d like to update your Realtek HD audio drivers, continue reading as this article will show you how to update Realtek audio driver easily by using as few steps as possible.
You may also need to update your computer sound card software, if you’re facing no sound issue, sound not working, or headphones not working etc.
These drivers are essential for your computer’s audio performance and should be updated as soon as possible to ensure that the sound quality and a working system.

There are a few different ways that you can update your Realtek HD audio drivers. The easiest way is to use the Device Manager service, as this is available in all versions of Windows.

Three ways to update Realtek audio driver

If you’re having sound issues with your computer, there are a few things you can do to try and fix them. Here are three ways to do it:

Step 1: Manually Update Realtek HD Audio Drivers via Device Manager

Device Manager is a comprehensive tool for managing devices on your computer. It provides a centralized location for managing all the devices attached to your computer, including drivers, software, and settings.
Device Manager makes it easy to find the information you need to troubleshoot and fix problems with your devices.

There are two ways to do this in device manager:
1. Option 1: Open Device Manager by typing “device manager” in the search bar on your computer’s start menu. When Device Manager opens, expand “Sound, video and game controllers” then right-click on Realtek High-Definition Audio and select Update Driver and click on Search automatically for updated driver software on the next screen.
Hold on for the process to finish finding the latest available update for your Realtek device.
Once the driver is installed, reboot your computer and you should be able to use Realtek High-Definition Audio again.

Manually Update Realtek HD Audio Drivers via Device Manager

2. Option 2: Open Device manager again and follow the same steps as in option 1 till you get to “Search automatically for updated driver software”. This time click on Browse my computer for driver software instead.
Next is to select “Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer and select the appropriate driver from the list and click Next. Wait for the installation to complete, close and restart your computer.

Update Realtek Audio Driver

Realtek audio driver

Step 2: How to update Realtek audio driver from Manufacturers website

If you’re not sure which one to download, or if you don’t have the original CD or DVD that came with your computer, we can help.

To download and install the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website, follow these steps:
Head to Realtek website and find the driver you want to download for your device by using “audio” to start the search.
Then select and download the correct corresponding program with the model of your sound card and the version of Windows and download and save the file to your computer’s hard drive or a flash drive.

Note: if you don’t know your version, you might have to open your computer case to get the correct model or you can download the same package from these three options ALC888S-VD, ALC898 or ALC892 which works for most of Realtek sound cards.

Locate the folder where you saved the downloaded program and open it and double-click on the setup file and follow the screen instructions to install and upgrade to the latest Realtek High-Definition Audio drivers.

How to update Realtek audio driver from Manufacturers website

Step 3: Update the Realtek audio driver using windows update

How to update Realtek audio driver using windows update? Windows update is a handy tool that helps you keep your computer up-to-date with the latest security patches and software updates. It’s fast, easy to use, and can automatically install new updates when they’re available.

To use Windows Update:
1. Open the Start menu or the Windows key on your keyboard.
2. Click Settings.
3. Under System and Security, click Updates and Security.
4. Click on windows updates on the left-side, and the click on check for updates button. If an update is found, install the update and reboot your PC

Update the Realtek audio driver using windows update

How to identify if you need to update your audio driver

If you’re experiencing issues with your sound, or if your computer is just old and can’t keep up with the demands of modern audio technology, it might be time to update your driver.

There are a few things you can do to check if you need to update your driver, and after that, the process of updating will be pretty straightforward.

Here are a few things to look for to determine if you need to update: -Low volume or poor quality sound from your audio devices -Dropped or distorted audio playback -Sound that is not in sync with the video -Unusual crackling or popping noises If you are experience any of these problems.

Tweak your settings for the best sound quality

Sound quality is important to most people. If you want to get the best sound from your media, there are a few things you can do to tweak your settings. Follow these tips and you’ll be sure to enjoy great sound without breaking the bank.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
-Check your sound card manual to see if there are any specific adjustments you can make. -Try using different speakers or headphones. If you have to, buy a set of headphones with a built-in amplifier. -Use the Dolby Digital or DTS tracks.

Supported Chips

These chipsets are supported in Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 10

ALC900, ALC660, ALC662, ALC663, ALC665, ALC667, ALC668, ALC670, ALC671, ALC672, ALC676, ALC680, ALC1220, ALC1150, ALC882, ALC883, ALC885, ALC886, ALC887, ALC888, ALC889, ALC892, ALC899, ALC861VD, ALC891, ALC273, ALC275, ALC276, ALC280, ALC282, ALC283, ALC284, ALC286, ALC288, ALC290, ALC292, ALC293, ALC298, ALC383, ALC221, ALC231, ALC233, ALC235, ALC236, ALC255, ALC256, ALC260, ALC262, ALC267, ALC268, ALC269, ALC270, ALC272

Supporting chips in Windows 2000, Windows XP:

ALC270, ALC272, ALC273, ALC275, ALC276, ALC280, ALC282, ALC283, ALC284, ALC286, ALC290, ALC292, ALC293, ALC383, ALC900, ALC660, ALC662, ALC663, ALC665, ALC667, ALC668, ALC670, ALC671, ALC672, ALC676, ALC680, ALC221, ALC231, ALC233, ALC235, ALC236, ALC255, ALC256, ALC260, ALC262, ALC267, ALC268, ALC269, ALC880, ALC882, ALC883, ALC885, ALC886, ALC887, ALC888, ALC889, ALC892, ALC899, ALC861VC, ALC861VD, ALC891.

FAQ’s

What is Realtek audio?

It is a software and hardware development company that produces high definition audio solutions into many of today’s consumer pc’s and laptops and everything from Bluetooth, PCIe controllers and others.

Is downloading Realtek safe?

Are you concerned about the safety of downloading? Well, there is no need to be! As we discussed on how to update Realtek audio driver in three different ways and reasons why downloading Realtek drivers from official website is a safe option other than any random third-party website.
First of all, it provides software updates that ensure that their drivers are always up-to-date and safe. Secondly, Realtek never installs driver software that comes bundled with other software on your computer.

Is Realtek a virus?

No, is not a virus. When people hear the name “Realtek,” they may think of a virus. But the software is not a virus, and there is no reason to be concerned about it.
In fact, it is an unremarkable piece of software that does legitimate things like help computers sound. There is no reason to avoid it or worry about it.

Can I uninstall Realtek audio driver?

Yes, if you need to uninstall audio driver from your computer, you can do so through the Device Manager. To start, open the Device Manager by pressing Windows Key + X and selecting “Device Manager.” Next, expand “Sound, video and game controllers” then right-click on Realtek High Definition Audio and click on the “Uninstall device” button.
Follow screen instructions to complete and after uninstalling, make sure to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

In conclusion, updating your Realtek audio driver is a very simple process. It can be completed in a few minutes by following the steps we outlined earlier. However, it is important to keep your sound card software up-to-date in order to get the best possible performance from your audio hardware.
So, make sure to visit your motherboard or sound card manufacturer’s website regularly and download the latest drivers. Thanks for reading and we hope this guide you on how to update Realtek audio driver.

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Exkay

Enjoys covering various related topics and with years of experience sharing content around social media, Fintech and computers.