This is a widely used onboard audio codec family for consumer motherboards and laptops, driving analog jacks and internal speakers on supported systems. It reports itself under "Sound, video and game controllers" and may pair with a vendor control panel for jack retasking and equalization. Because system builders tune audio for their own speakers and firmware, laptop and prebuilt owners should check the customized package from their computer maker rather than assume a generic package is compatible.
Realtek High Definition Audio Codecs at a glance
| Detail | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Device type | Onboard motherboard codec |
| Connection | Analog jacks and front-panel header |
| Driver source | PC or motherboard maker package |
| Windows class driver | May restore basic playback and recording |
| Control panel | Realtek Audio Console when present |
| Common symptom | Jack sensing changes after a Windows update |
Worth knowing: Onboard codec used by many PCs; laptop and prebuilt owners should check the OEM-customized package from their computer maker.
DriverHub US does not host driver files or bundle an updater. This page documents the Realtek High Definition Audio Codecsfamily; its citations are selected from the package-source policy recorded for this family.
The family record names PC or motherboard maker package as the package source. Match the package to the exact Realtek High Definition Audio Codecs device signals on this page and to Windows 10, Windows 11. A family name alone is not enough when the publisher separates packages by model, hardware revision, or PC configuration.
Onboard codec used by many PCs; laptop and prebuilt owners should check the OEM-customized package from their computer maker.
Shared identification, preparation, installation, verification, and rollback procedures are maintained on the complete audio & sound guide, rather than repeated on every family page. The citations below follow this family’s declared vendor, Windows, PC-maker, or motherboard-maker source policy.
These links go directly to the named publisher. Check the domain, exact model, Windows version, and package details before installing.
Dell: Official Dell support page. Confirm the exact model and operating system before selecting a package.
HP: Official HP support page. Confirm the exact model and operating system before selecting a package.
Lenovo: Official Lenovo support page. Confirm the exact model and operating system before selecting a package.
ASUS: Official ASUS support page. Confirm the exact model and operating system before selecting a package.
Acer: Official Acer support page. Confirm the exact model and operating system before selecting a package.
Microsoft Surface: Official Microsoft Surface support page. Confirm the exact model and operating system before selecting a package.
Gigabyte: Official Gigabyte support page. Confirm the exact model and operating system before selecting a package.
MSI: Official MSI support page. Confirm the exact model and operating system before selecting a package.
ASRock: Official ASRock support page. Confirm the exact model and operating system before selecting a package.
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Realtek High Definition Audio Codecs next to the other 15 families in this category
| Family | Manufacturer | Documented Windows releases | How you recognize it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Realtek High Definition Audio Codecs (this page) | Realtek | Windows 10, Windows 11 | Shows in Device Manager as "Realtek(R) Audio" or "Realtek High Definition Audio" |
| Realtek USB Audio | Realtek | Windows 10, Windows 11 | Appears when a USB headset or dongle is plugged in |
| Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST) | Intel | Windows 10, Windows 11 | Listed as an Intel Smart Sound Technology controller in Device Manager |
| Intel Display Audio (HDMI/DisplayPort) | Intel | Windows 10, Windows 11 | Shows as "Intel(R) Display Audio" under sound controllers |
| AMD High Definition Audio Device (HDMI/DisplayPort) | AMD | Windows 10, Windows 11 | Listed as "AMD High Definition Audio Device" |
| NVIDIA High Definition Audio | NVIDIA | Windows 10, Windows 11 | Shows as "NVIDIA High Definition Audio" |
| Creative Sound Blaster Series | Creative | Windows 10, Windows 11 | Enumerates as a Sound Blaster device in Device Manager |
| Creative Sound BlasterX / AE Series | Creative | Windows 10, Windows 11 | Internal PCIe card, often with a shielded enclosure |
| Focusrite Scarlett USB Interfaces | Focusrite | Windows 10, Windows 11 | External USB box with XLR and instrument inputs |
| Focusrite Clarett / Vocaster Interfaces | Focusrite | Windows 10, Windows 11 | External USB interface, multi-input Clarett or podcast-oriented Vocaster |
| Logitech USB Headset and Speaker Audio | Logitech | Windows 10, Windows 11 | USB headset, speakerphone, or speaker set |
| Dell Audio (Waves MaxxAudio and OEM codec packages) | Dell | Windows 10, Windows 11 | Often includes a Waves MaxxAudio control panel |
| HP Audio (OEM codec and companion packages) | HP | Windows 10, Windows 11 | Matched to an HP product or serial number |
| Lenovo Audio (OEM codec packages) | Lenovo | Windows 10, Windows 11 | Selected by Lenovo machine type |
| ASUS Audio (motherboard and laptop OEM packages) | ASUS | Windows 10, Windows 11 | Motherboard packages listed per board model |
| Microsoft Surface Audio | Microsoft Surface | Windows 10, Windows 11 | Audio bundled in a Surface driver and firmware package |
Realtek
Realtek USB Audio covers the codec inside many USB headsets, speaker bars, and small audio dongles that connect over a USB port rather than an analog jack. Windows can usually run these devices with its built-in class driver the moment they are plugged in, so the Realtek package mainly matters when a device exposes extra controls. Expect these to appear under "Audio inputs and outputs" and under USB when connected.
Intel
Intel Smart Sound Technology is an on-die audio DSP built into many recent Intel laptop and tablet platforms, handling tasks such as voice wake, microphone processing, and power-efficient playback. Unlike a plain codec, it needs a matched controller driver and firmware, and a mismatch is a frequent cause of missing audio after a Windows upgrade. The validated build usually comes from the laptop or tablet maker rather than as a universal Intel download.
Intel
This component carries sound over HDMI and DisplayPort connections that run from Intel integrated graphics, so audio reaches a monitor or TV that has its own speakers. It installs as part of the Intel graphics driver rather than the onboard codec, which is why a missing display-audio device is really a graphics-driver problem. It only appears as an output when a display capable of audio is connected.
AMD
AMD High Definition Audio delivers sound down the digital display outputs of Radeon graphics and Ryzen integrated graphics, feeding the speakers built into a monitor or television. It rides inside the AMD graphics driver package, so you manage and update it by updating the display driver, not the motherboard audio. The output only shows up while a compatible display is plugged in.
NVIDIA
NVIDIA High Definition Audio is the sound component that travels over HDMI and DisplayPort from a GeForce or NVIDIA workstation GPU to a display with speakers. It is installed automatically alongside the Game Ready or Studio driver and updated with them, so it is not a standalone audio download. Like other display-audio devices, it appears as a selectable output only when a suitable monitor or TV is attached.
Creative
The Sound Blaster line is a family of discrete audio devices, both internal PCIe cards and external USB units, aimed at cleaner output than onboard audio and at gaming effects like virtual surround. Each ships with its own control software from Creative that exposes equalization, mixing, and profile switching, and that application must match the driver generation. Install the full Creative package rather than a driver-only file to get the intended experience.
Realtek hardware documented outside audio & sound
| Family | Category | Documented Windows releases |
|---|---|---|
| Realtek USB Audio | Audio & Sound | Windows 10, Windows 11 |
| Realtek PCIe Gigabit and 2.5G Ethernet | Network & Wi-Fi | Windows 10, Windows 11 |
| Realtek Wireless LAN Adapters | Network & Wi-Fi | Windows 10, Windows 11 |
| Realtek Bluetooth Adapters | Bluetooth | Windows 10, Windows 11 |
| Realtek PCIe/USB Card Reader Controller | Card Readers | Windows 10, Windows 11 |
| Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller | Ethernet & LAN | Windows 10, Windows 11 |
| Realtek PCIe 2.5GbE Family Controller | Ethernet & LAN | Windows 10, Windows 11 |
| Realtek USB GbE Family Controller | Ethernet & LAN | Windows 10, Windows 11 |
| Realtek Virtual Audio Endpoint (companion feature) | Virtual Devices | Windows 10, Windows 11 |
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