Realtek High Definition Audio driver (ALC codecs)

Latest driver

Almost every desktop board and most laptops with Intel or AMD processors use a Realtek audio codec. The codec is a small chip next to the chipset that drives the headphone jack, the speakers and the microphone. Windows 10 and 11 can run it with their own generic driver, which is why sound often works right after a clean install. The Realtek driver adds what the generic one lacks: jack detection, separate front and rear outputs, microphone boost and the Realtek Audio Console.

Find out which codec you have

Expand Sound, video and game controllers in Device Manager, open Properties of the audio device, go to the Details tab and select Hardware Ids. The first line looks like HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0269&SUBSYS_1028052C. VEN_10EC means Realtek, and the part after DEV_ identifies the codec model.

For most models the device code matches the marketing name, so DEV_0887 is ALC887 and DEV_0256 is ALC256. A few do not follow the pattern, and those are the ones people get wrong:

If you see INTELAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0256 instead, it is the same codec connected through Intel Smart Sound Technology on newer laptops. The Realtek package covers both forms, but the Intel Smart Sound driver has to be installed first, otherwise the codec does not appear at all.

Universal (UAD) and legacy drivers

Realtek ships two kinds of packages. The current one is the universal audio driver, UAD: a lean driver plus Realtek Audio Console, which installs separately from the Microsoft Store. The older HDA packages bundle Realtek HD Audio Manager in one installer and are mostly found on downloads for Windows 7 and early Windows 10.

Packages from Microsoft Update Catalog in the table above are UAD drivers. They install on top of the generic driver: unpack the .cab file, then use Update driver in Device Manager and point it at the folder (step by step).

Laptops: the maker's package matters

The SUBSYS part of the ID tells the driver how the laptop maker wired the codec: which pins go to the speakers, how the headset jack works, which microphone array is used. A generic Realtek package usually plays sound, but on a laptop it can miss the internal microphone or the headset detection. If something like that is missing, install the audio driver from the laptop maker's support page for your exact model; it is the same Realtek driver with the right configuration for that board.

No sound after installing

1. Open Settings, System, Sound and check that the right output is selected. Realtek often adds a second output for the front panel.
2. Unplug and plug the headphones back: jack detection decides which output is active.
3. If the device shows a yellow mark, remove it with Uninstall device, tick "Attempt to remove the driver for this device", restart and install again.
4. On Intel laptops from 2018 onward, make sure the Intel Smart Sound Technology driver is installed before the Realtek one.
5. If nothing helps, roll back to the generic driver: Update driver, Browse my computer, Let me pick, High Definition Audio Device.

Related: Code 10, Code 52 and finding a hardware ID.

All drivers

Hardware IDs

Compare these IDs with the "Hardware Ids" value in Device Manager (Properties > Details) for your device (how to find them).