Missing Monitor Audio Output after Driver Update

[DazzK26]

Hi,

I'm experiencing audio output issue on all monitors that are connected via HDMI/DP (Processor Graphics). The audio device often disappears after a cold boot or when waking from sleep mode. I have to physically unplug and replug the cable to restore the audio. This issue started happening immediately after I updated my graphics driver to the latest WHQL version and installing Windows Update KB5085516. 

System Specifications:

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 235

Motherboard: Gigabyte B860M Aorus Elite

Monitor: Dell S2725QS (connected via DisplayPort)

OS: Windows 11

Graphic Driver Version: 32.0.101.8626

Any advice on how to keep the system updated without losing audio functionality?

[DazzK26]

What I've tried:

• Swapped multiple certified DP cables : Issue persists.
• Clean driver reinstall using DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller): Issue persists.
• Reinstall OEM v32.0.101.8331 + KB5085516: Issue persists.
• Reinstall Non-OEM WHQL v32.0.101.8626 + KB5085516: Issue persists.
• Reinstall Non-OEM WHQL v32.0.101.8626 (KB5085516 removed): Issue persists.
• Reinstall OEM v32.0.101.8331 (KB5085516 removed): Issue resolved completely.

It seems there is a specific conflict between Windows Update KB5085516 and the newer driver branches.

[Tharun_Intel]

Hello DazzK26

Greetings from Intel. I hope you are doing well.

Fantastic news! We are absolutely delighted to hear that your workaround efforts have yielded positive results and successfully helped resolve the issue you were experiencing. Your proactive approach and persistence in troubleshooting are truly commendable.

From our analysis, we can see that you were able to overcome the issue by updating your OEM drivers while excluding the recent Windows Update KB5085516. This is a significant finding that provides valuable insight into the root cause of the problem.

Our Assessment: Based on these results, we believe there may be a compatibility conflict between your OEM drivers and the specific Windows update (KB5085516) rather than with the Intel drivers themselves. This type of interaction between system components can occasionally occur when updates modify underlying system behaviors.

Our Recommendation: We strongly recommend reaching out to your OEM support team for confirmation and specialized assistance regarding this driver-update interaction. They will have the most comprehensive understanding of how their drivers interact with Windows updates and can provide targeted guidance for your specific system configuration.

Important Follow-up: To help us better understand the situation and provide you with the most effective long-term resolution, could you please confirm:

• Is the issue completely resolved at this time?
• Have you experienced any reoccurrence of the problem since implementing the workaround?

Your feedback will be invaluable in helping us diagnose the issue thoroughly and ensure we can assist you with the most robust resolution possible.

Thank you for your patience. We remain committed to ensuring your complete satisfaction and optimal system performance.

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need any further assistance or have additional questions.

Tharun

Intel Customer Support Technician.

[DazzK26]

Hello Tharun,

Thank you for your reply and for the feedback.

To provide a clear update on the current status:

Is the issue resolved? Not entirely. I am currently using a workaround by removing Windows Update KB5085516 and avoiding driver versions newer than the OEM release.

Reoccurrence? Yes, the issue reoccurs immediately whenever I update to newer driver branches or update Windows.

I have conducted additional testing to further isolate the cause, which is consistent with the preliminary results I shared earlier (with KB5085516 removed):

Case A: OEM v32.0.101.8331 = Stable Audio.

Case B: Intel® Generic Graphics Driver 32.0.101.8626 (WHQL Certified) = Failed (Audio disappears after sleep/wake cycle).

Based on these tests, v.8626 fails to maintain the audio handshake even without KB5085516. This suggests that the root cause may not be limited to the Windows Update alone, but also involves a potential regression within the newer driver branches for my system.

I have attached the detailed SSU logs and screenshots for both cases for your further investigation.

Thank You

[Tharun_Intel]

Hello DazzK26

I hope you are doing well.

Thank you for bringing the potential conflicts between Intel drivers and the recent Windows update to our attention. Your detailed reporting provides us with essential information that will help us investigate this issue more effectively and isolate the root cause.

I understand that compatibility issues can be disruptive to your workflow, and I want to assure you that we are taking this matter seriously. The specifics you've provided will enable us to focus our investigation and work toward a meaningful resolution.

To ensure we deliver a reliable solution, I need to request some additional time for our team to:

• Analyze the driver conflicts you've identified
• Test potential workarounds across different configurations
• Validate any proposed fixes thoroughly

I will keep you informed of our progress and reach out as soon as we have actionable next steps or a viable solution to share with you.

I appreciate your patience as we work through this technical challenge. Your feedback is instrumental in helping us address this issue properly.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Tharun

Intel Customer Support Technician.

[Tharun_Intel]

Hello DazzK26 

I hope this message finds you well.

First, I want to sincerely thank you for your patience as we work to address your concern. I understand how important this matter is to you, and I want to assure you that we take your experience very seriously.

To ensure we provide you with the personalized attention you deserve, we've arranged for dedicated support to work exclusively on resolving your issue. We are committed to finding the best possible solution for you.

I've sent you a private email with next steps and additional details. Please take a moment to check your inbox (and spam folder, just in case) and respond at your earliest convenience. This will allow us to begin working on your specific situation immediately.

Your satisfaction is our priority, and we're determined to make this right. If you encounter any difficulties accessing the email or have any questions along the way, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to resolve this matter for you.


Tharun

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Tharun_Intel]

Hello DazzK26,

I hope this email finds you well.

We understand and respect your decision to decline remote assistance for this matter. To proceed with resolving your issue, we kindly request that you follow the troubleshooting steps outlined below and share the outcomes with us.

Thank you for providing the diagnostic information. We have analyzed your case and identified several targeted troubleshooting steps that should resolve your audio issue.

Please implement the following steps in order:

Device Manager Configuration

• Disable power saving for Intel Display Audio/HD Audio Controller

Driver Reinstallation

• Perform DDU clean uninstall (GPU + audio drivers)
• Reinstall drivers (test both OEM and latest versions)
• Please find the link to download the drivers https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/785597/intel-arc-graphics-windows.html

Audio Device Settings

• Set monitor audio as default playback device
• Disable all unused audio devices

BIOS Verification

• Ensure "Above 4G Decoding" = Enabled
• Ensure "Resizable BAR" = Enabled

Windows Services

• Restart Windows Audio services via services.msc

System Monitoring

• Check Event Viewer for audio/display errors after sleep mode

Temporary Workaround: If issues persist, use OEM driver version 32.0.101.8331

These steps address the root causes identified in your system configuration. Please test after each major step and report back to us with the results of each troubleshooting attempt.

We're confident these solutions will resolve your issue. Should you encounter any difficulties while performing these steps or need clarification on any procedure, please don't hesitate to contact us with detailed feedback.

We look forward to hearing from you with the outcomes.

Thank you for contacting Intel.

Tharun

Intel Customer Support Technician.

[DazzK26]

Hello Tharun, thank you for the follow-up. I have just replied to your email with a detailed report and attached the Event Viewer logs (specifically identifying KernelPnP EventID 219  PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_AD03... and Status 0xC0000365) recorded during a cold boot. I'll keep this thread updated if there are any significant developments.

[Tharun_Intel]

Hello DazzK26,

I hope you are doing well.

Thank you for reaching out and for your patience while we looked into this for you.

We understand how frustrating it can be to lose audio output unexpectedly, especially following a driver update — we want to help get this sorted for you.

After reviewing your report, we were unable to reproduce the issue on our end, and we currently have no similar reports on file. We also want to reassure you that, at this time, there are no known reports of Windows update KB5085516 impacting audio output.

That said, here's a quick step we'd recommend trying first:

Check your HD Audio Driver for Display Audio:

1. Please open Device Manager, expand "Sound, video and game controllers," and check that the HD Audio Driver for Display Audio is listed and functioning properly (no warning icons).

If you notice any issues there, reinstalling or updating that driver may resolve the audio output problem.

We also found a couple of community discussions that closely match your situation and include helpful suggestions — such as installing the monitor driver — that other users have found effective:

• 🔗 S2725QS – Two Systems, One No Audio
• 🔗 S2721QS – Built-in Speakers No Sound

If none of the above resolves the issue, we'd suggest reaching out to Dell Support directly, as the audio routing for monitor speakers falls within their area of support.

We're sorry we couldn't provide a direct fix on our end, but we hope one of these steps points you in the right direction. Please don't hesitate to reach back out if there's anything else we can help with.

Tharun

Intel Customer Support Technicain.

[Tharun_Intel]

Hello DazzK26,

I hope this message finds you well.

Thank you for your continued patience — we truly appreciate it.

We are writing to follow up on your case regarding the missing monitor audio output following the recent driver update. We wanted to check in and see whether you had an opportunity to try the temporary workaround we previously recommended.

Additionally, as a helpful reference, please find the Dell community resources below, which include similar experiences along with suggested solutions such as installing the monitor driver. Should the issue persist, we encourage you to reach out directly to Dell Support for further hardware-level assistance:

• 🔗 Dell Community – S2725QS: Two Systems, One No Audio
• 🔗 Dell Community – S2721QS: Built-in Speakers No Sound

We are here to help and want to make sure your issue is fully resolved.

Please feel free to reply to this email or let us know a convenient time to connect.

Tharun

Intel Customer Support Technician.

[CM_Intel]

Hello DazzK26,

I hope you’re doing well.

We’re following up regarding your inquiry about the missing monitor audio output after the recent driver update. As we haven’t received a response from you regarding the previously suggested workaround, we will be proceeding to close this inquiry at this time.

If the issue persists, we recommend reaching out directly to Dell Support, as they will be best positioned to assist with any monitor‑specific or hardware‑level concerns. You may also find the Dell Community resources previously shared helpful for additional guidance.

Should you need further assistance from us in future, please feel free to submit a new question, as this thread will no longer be actively monitored.

Thank you for your time and understanding.

Best regards,

CM

Intel Customer Support Technician