Intel Smart Sound Technology: Problems, Causes, and How to Fix Them

If you have lost your audio or microphone overnight After an update, the driver is most likely the culprit. Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST), also known as OED (Offload Engine and DSP). The same pattern is repeated in multiple Microsoft support threads and Reddit threads: Windows displays a yellow triangle over the device in the Device administrator, the status appears with Code 10 and no sound comes out of the speakers nor does the microphone work.

This article gathers and reorganizes everything we've seen in the best community answers and support notes., including real cases in portable MSI Katana and ASUS Zenbook, Microsoft's blocking of Windows 11 upgrades due to SST incompatibilities, and a huge list of potentially affected Dell models. You'll learn what SST is, the most common symptoms and causes, and practical steps to fix it, with concrete recommendations that have helped countless users.

What is Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST) and why it can cause problems?

Intel Smart Sound Technology is an audio subsystem with an integrated DSP on modern Intel platforms. Its function is to offload audio tasks from the main processor (such as noise cancellation, voice activation, or microphone processing), and to do so requires a specific driver that Windows identifies as “Intel Smart Sound Technology (Intel SST) OED.”

When that driver is not compatible with the version of Windows or the manufacturer's audio package (Realtek, Conexant, etc.), the classic error appears with a yellow icon in Device Manager and “Code 10” errors. In practice, the system loses sound output, microphone, or both.

Microsoft even blocked the upgrade to Windows 11 on computers with certain 11th-generation Intel processors. that had problematic versions of the SST driver. The company itself indicated that, until a compatible version was installed, the update button wouldn't be offered. It also warned that after updating the driver, it could take up to 48 hours before Windows automatically offered the update, and advised against forcing it manually.

Another key factor is the OEM ecosystemMany manufacturers release audio packages that include the SST driver along with the codec (e.g., Realtek) and custom settings. Therefore, a generic driver may not fit and, even if it "appears" to install, may end up causing Code 10.

Most common symptoms

The signs that are most repeated in user experiences on Microsoft forums and Reddit are:

• Total loss of audio after a Windows update or drivers.
• Microphone stops picking up or is not available in apps.
• Yellow triangle warning in Device Manager on “Intel Smart Sound Technology (Intel SST) OED”.
• Device status in Code 10 (cannot start), sometimes after updating BIOS or drivers.
• Unable to revert to a previous version of the driver from the system, because the “Roll Back” option appears disabled.

Real cases reflected by the community MSI Katana 15 B13VFX and ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED laptops are shown to have the same Code 10 in Intel SST OED, even after reinstalling drivers from the OEM website, disabling and enabling the device, or restoring Windows 11.

Incidents have also been reported in “Intel Smart Sound Technology for USB Audio" with identifiers of hardware specific. Here's an example of how users see them in Device Manager:

Intel Hardware ID SmartSound Technology for USB Audio INTELAUDIO\CTLR_DEV_43C8&LINKTYPE_06&DEVTYPE_06&VEN_8086&DEV_AE50&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_0001 INTELAUDIO\CTLR_DEV_43C8&LINKTYPE_06&DEVTYPE_06&VEN_8086&DEV_AE50&SUBSYS_00000000 {DD8E82AE-334B-49A2-AEAE-AEB0FD5C40DD}\DetectionVerification Hardware Id

If you see something similar on your computer, the probability that the source is the SST controller is very high.

Known causes and compatibility with Windows 11

The most common trigger is an incompatibility between the SST driver version and the Windows version. (or with the manufacturer’s audio package). Microsoft stated that it maintained a “compatibility hold” to prevent the upgrade to Windows 11 if the computer had a conflicting SST driver on specific Intel platforms.

The official solution is to install a compatible version of SST. and wait for Windows to release the update (up to 48 hours). Until that happens, forcing the update with the "Update Now" button or using the Media Creation Tool is not recommended.

Another common cause is mixing generic drivers with OEM packages.For example, downloading a generic audio driver from Intel and combining it with a manufacturer's Realtek package can break dependencies and generate Code 10 in the OED.

On some computers, updating the BIOS or management firmware (ME) unlocks dependencies that the new driver requires. That's why many manufacturers release "chained packages": Chipset → ME → Audio (SST+codec). Installing them out of order can leave your system half-baked.

Resolution: practical step-by-step guide

Before you touch anything, note the driver version and status. of the device in Device Manager (snd_hda/System Devices → Intel Smart Sound Technology OED). This will help you validate whether the procedure was effective.

1. Check “Optional Drivers” in Windows Update: Settings → Windows Update → Advanced → Optional Updates. If an audio package or “Intel – SoftwareComponent/Media/Extension” appears, install it and restart.
2. Download the package from your equipment manufacturerFor MSI, ASUS, Dell, etc. laptops, download the audio package specific to your model (usually includes Intel SST + Realtek/Conexant/MaxxAudio). Avoid mixing individual drivers from different sources.
3. Clean uninstall from Device ManagerRight-click “Intel Smart Sound Technology (Intel SST) OED” → Uninstall device → Check “Delete the driver software for this device” → OK. Reboot. After rebooting, install the OEM package and reboot again.
4. Installing by INF if the installer does not start: Device Manager → Update Driver → Browse my computer for drivers → Choose from a list → Have Disk → Select the .inf file from the downloaded package. This forces Windows to use the correct driver.
5. Check sound settings: Settings → System → Sound. Make sure the correct output and input are selected. Disable and re-enable the device if it still doesn't work.
6. Run the audio troubleshooter: Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters → Audio Playback/Recording. Sometimes it resets endpoints and permissions that were left in an inconsistent state.
7. Check for hardware conflicts- In Device Manager, fix any devices with an additional yellow icon (chipset/IME/single PCI). A previous conflict may prevent SST from starting.
8. Update BIOS, chipset and Intel ME/AMTMany OEMs require you to have an up-to-date BIOS and ME for the new audio to work. Install in this order: Chipset → Intel ME → BIOS (if applicable) → Audio Package (SST + codec).
9. Check out Intel Smart Sound Technology for USB AudioIf the issue is with the “for USB Audio” device, install the appropriate version of the package (some OEMs separate OED and USB Audio). Check by hardware ID if applicable.
10. If the problem started after a Windows update, try the following: Control Panel → Recovery → Open System Restore, choose a point before the update. If it improves, then install the correct OEM package before allowing further updates.
11. Avoid forcing the upgrade to Windows 11 until you have a version of SST validated by Microsoft/Intel. After installing it, wait up to 48 hours for Windows to automatically offer the update.
12. System Integrity Checks (Advanced): opens Symbol of the system as administrator and run: sfc /scannow and then DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth. Reboot and try again.
13. latest resources- If none of the above works, perform a clean install of Windows and install the OEM drivers in order. In very rare cases with firmware errors, the manufacturer's support may provide an internal or beta package that resolves the issue. Boot from the OED.

Key instructions and recommendations

Always use the official package from your model's manufacturer when available. Generic drivers can be useful for testing, but the most stable option is usually the OEM combo (SST + codec + plugins).

Downloads from external sites: In Microsoft community responses, it is suggested to contact Intel when the OEM does not publish the package. If you do this, Please note the usual warning against PUP/adware and avoid unverified third-party installers.

Recommended installation order: Chipset → Intel ME/AMT → Audio Drivers (SST OED + codec) → Audio Extensions/Apps (e.g., Waves/MaxxAudio) → Windows Update (optional, for good measure).

Patience with Windows 11: Even with the “good” driver, Windows may take a while Up to 48 hours to offer the update. Don't force the process if you still see compatibility warnings.

Additional Information

What users report in typical cases- On an MSI Katana 15 B13VFX, after updating and reinstalling via INF from the MSI website, Code 10 persisted until the full OEM package was applied in the correct order and the BIOS was updated. On an ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED, even after reinstalling Windows, the problem persisted until the correct version of SST and the specific codec published by ASUS were installed.

If you recently purchased the equipment (PCComponentes case) and nothing works, open a ticket with the seller or manufacturer. A persistent OED failure after a clean reinstall may indicate the need for a specific firmware for your batch.

Products affected

Although the scope is broad, a well-known reference is the Dell listing with potentially involved equipment. Below is the repertoire as distributed through OEM support, which gives an idea of ​​the magnitude of the ecosystem that relies on SST:

Alienware 13, Alienware 13 R3, Alienware 13 R2, Alienware 15, Alienware 15 R3, Alienware 15 R2, Alienware 15 R4, Alienware 17, Alienware Area-51m, Alienware 17 R4, Alienware 17 R2, Alienware 17 R3, Alienware 17 R5, Alienware Alpha & Alienware Steam Machine, Alienware Area-51 AAT2250, Alienware Area-51 R2, Alienware Area-51 Threadripper Edition R3 and R6, Alienware Area-51 R4 and R5, Alienware Area-51 Threadripper Edition R7, Alienware Area-51m R2, Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R10, Alienware Aurora R11, Alienware Aurora R12, Alienware Aurora R13, Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R14, Alienware Aurora R15 AMD, Alienware Aurora R15, Alienware Aurora R16, Alienware Aurora R5, Alienware Aurora R6, Alienware Aurora R7, Alienware Aurora R8, Alienware Aurora R9, Alienware M15, Alienware M15 R2, Alienware M15 R3, Alienware m15 R4, Alienware m15 Ryzen Edition R5, Alienware m15 R6, Alienware m15 R7 AMD, Alienware m15 R7, Alienware m16 R1 AMD, Alienware m16 R1, Alienware m16 R2, Alienware M17, Alienware M17 R2, Alienware M17 R3, Alienware m17 R4, Alienware M17 R5 AMD, Alienware m18 R1 AMD, Alienware m18 R1, Alienware m18 R2, Alienware Alpha R2 & Alienware Steam Machine R2, Alienware x14, Alienware x14 R2, Alienware x15 R1, Alienware x15 R2, Alienware x16 R1, Alienware x16 R2, Alienware x17 R1, Alienware x17 R2, Alienware X51 R2, Alienware X51 R3, Dell G3 15 3500, Dell G3 3579, Dell G3 15 3590, Dell G5 15 5500, Dell G5 SE 5505, Dell G15 5510, Dell G15 5511, Dell G15 5515 Ryzen Edition, Dell G15 5520, Dell G15 5521 Special Edition, Dell G15 5525, Dell G15 5530, Dell G15 5535, Dell G5 15 5587, Dell G5 15 5590, Dell G7 15 7500, Dell G7 15 7588, Dell G7 15 7590, Dell G16 7620, Dell G16 7630, Dell G3 3779, Dell G7 17 7700, Dell G7 17 7790, Dell G5 5000, Dell G5 5090, Inspiron 3137, Inspiron 3138, Inspiron 3147, Inspiron 3148, Inspiron 3152 2-in-1, Inspiron 3153 2-in-1, Inspiron 3157 2-in-1, Inspiron 3158 2-in-1, Inspiron 11 3162/3164, Inspiron 11 3168, Inspiron 11 3169, Inspiron 11 3179, Inspiron 11 3180, Inspiron 11 3185 2-in-1, Inspiron 3195 2-in-1, Inspiron 5280 2-in-1, Inspiron 13 N3010, Inspiron 5300, Inspiron 5301, Inspiron 13 5310, Inspiron 13 5320, Inspiron 13 5330, Inspiron 13 5368 2-in-1, Inspiron 5370, Inspiron 13 5378 2-in-1, Inspiron 13 5379 2-in-1, Inspiron 5390, Inspiron 5391, Inspiron 7300 2-in-1, Inspiron 7300, Inspiron 7306 2-in-1, Inspiron 7347, Inspiron 7348 2-in-1, Inspiron 7352, Inspiron 7353 2-in-1, Inspiron 7359 2-in-1, Inspiron 13 7368 2-in-1, Inspiron 7370, Inspiron 7373 2-in-1, Inspiron 13 7375 2-in-1, Inspiron 13 7378 2-in-1, Inspiron 7380, Inspiron 7386 2-in-1, Inspiron 7390 2-in-1, Inspiron 7391 2-in-1, Inspiron 7391, Inspiron 13z N301z, Inspiron 13z 5323, Inspiron 14 3420, Inspiron 3421, Inspiron 3437, Inspiron 3441, Inspiron 3442, Inspiron 3443, Inspiron 3451, Inspiron 3452, Inspiron 3458, Inspiron 14 3459, Inspiron 14 3462, Inspiron 14 3465, Inspiron 14 3467, Inspiron 14 3468, Inspiron 14 3473, Inspiron 14 3476, Inspiron 3480, Inspiron 3481, Inspiron 3482, Inspiron 3490, Inspiron 3493, Inspiron 5400 2-in-1, Inspiron 5401 AIO, Inspiron 24 5410 All-in-One, Inspiron 24 5411 All-in-One, Inspiron 24 5415 All-in-One, Inspiron 24 5420 All-in-One, Inspiron 24 5421 All-in-One, Inspiron 24 5430 All-in-One, Inspiron 24 5459 AIO, Inspiron 24 5475, Inspiron 5477, Inspiron 24 5488, Inspiron 5490 AIO, Inspiron 5491 AIO, Inspiron 7459, Inspiron 7700 AIO, Inspiron 27 7710 All-in-One, Inspiron 27 7720 All-in-One, Inspiron 27 7730 All-in-One, Inspiron 27 7775, Inspiron 7777, Inspiron 7790 AIO, Inspiron 3000, Inspiron 300m, Inspiron 3020 Desktop, Inspiron 3020 Small Desktop, Inspiron 3030 Desktop, Inspiron 3030 Small Desktop, Inspiron 3045, Inspiron 3050, Inspiron 3135, Inspiron 3200, Inspiron 3250, Inspiron 3252, Inspiron 3268, Inspiron 3470, Inspiron 3471, Inspiron 3472, Inspiron 3646, Inspiron 3647, Inspiron 3650, Inspiron 3655, Inspiron 3656, Inspiron 3662, Inspiron 3668, Inspiron 3670, Inspiron 3671, Inspiron 3700, Inspiron 3847, Inspiron 3880, Inspiron 3881, Inspiron 3891, Inspiron 3910, Inspiron 500, Inspiron 5100, Inspiron 510m, Inspiron 5150, Inspiron 5160, Inspiron 5675, Inspiron 5676, Inspiron 5680, Inspiron 7000, Inspiron Chromebook 11 3181, Inspiron Chromebook 11 3181 2-in-1, Inspiron Chromebook 7486, Inspiron 13z N311z, Latitude 7030 Rugged Extreme Tablet, Latitude 3120, Latitude 3140, Latitude 3180, Latitude 3189, Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Latitude 3190, Latitude 5280/5288, Latitude 5285 2-in-1, Latitude 5289 2-in-1, Latitude 5290 2-in-1, Latitude 5290, Latitude 7200 2-in-1, Latitude 7210 2-in-1, Latitude 7212 Rugged Extreme Tablet, Latitude 7214 Rugged Extreme, Latitude 7220EX Rugged Extreme Tablet, Latitude 7220 Rugged Extreme Tablet, Latitude 7230 Rugged Extreme Tablet, Latitude 7280, Latitude 7285 2-in-1, Latitude 7290, Latitude 3300, Latitude 3301, Latitude 3310 2-in-1, Latitude 3310, Latitude 3320, Latitude 3330, Latitude 3340, Latitude 13 3379 2-in-1, Latitude 13 3380, Latitude 13 3390 2-in-1, Latitude 5300 2-in-1 Chromebook, Latitude 5300 2-in-1, Latitude 5300, Latitude 5310 2-in-1, Latitude 5310, Latitude 5320, Latitude 5330, Latitude 5340, Latitude 5350, Latitude 7300, Latitude 7310, Latitude 7320, Latitude 7320 Detachable, Latitude 7330, Latitude 7330 Rugged Extreme, Latitude 7340, Latitude 7350, Latitude 7350 Detachable, Latitude 7370, Latitude 7380, Latitude 7389 2-in-1, Latitude 7390 2-in-1, Latitude 7390, Latitude 9330, Latitude 3400, Latitude 3410, Latitude 3420, Latitude 3430, Latitude 3440, Latitude 3445 Chromebook, Latitude 3450, Dell Latitude 3480/3488, Latitude 3490, Latitude 5400 Chromebook, Latitude 5400, Latitude 5401, Latitude 5410, Latitude 5411, Latitude 5414 Rugged, Latitude 5420 Rugged, Latitude 5421, Latitude 5424 Rugged, Latitude 5430 Chromebook, Latitude 5430 Rugged, Latitude 5431, Latitude 5430, Latitude 5440, Latitude 5440, Latitude 5450, Latitude 5455, Latitude 5480/5488, Latitude 5490, Latitude 5491, Latitude 5495, Latitude 7400 2-in-1, Latitude 7400, Latitude 7410 Chromebook, Latitude 7410, Latitude 7414 Rugged, Latitude 7420, Latitude 7424 Rugged Extreme, Latitude 7430, Latitude 7440, Latitude 7450, Latitude 7455, Latitude 7480, Latitude 7490, Latitude 9410, Latitude 9420, Latitude 9430, Latitude 9440 2-in-1, Latitude 9450 2-in-1, Latitude 3500, Latitude 3510, Latitude 3520, Latitude 3530, Latitude 3540, Latitude 3550, Latitude Dell Latitude 3580/3588, Latitude 3590, Latitude 5500, Latitude 5501, Latitude 5510, Latitude 5511, Latitude 5520, Latitude 5521, Latitude 5530, Latitude 5531, Latitude 5550, Latitude 5551, Latitude 5552, Latitude 5555, Latitude 5560, Latitude 5561, Latitude 5562, Latitude 5…

Note that the above list continues from the original source and illustrates the breadth of equipment that depend on the proper functioning of SST for the audio to operate normally.

If you currently have no audio due to an Intel SST errorThe most effective solution is to combine Windows Update (optional), the correct OEM package, a clean driver installation (with prior removal), and, if applicable, update the BIOS/ME and chipset. After that, validate in Device Manager that the OED boots without warnings and check the output and microphone in Settings → Sound. Wait the period indicated by Microsoft before forcing major system updates.