Did you install Windows via or directly from a USB drive ?
After installing Windows 10, users frequently find a yellow exclamation mark next to "High Definition Audio Controller" in Device Manager. Speakers remain silent. Headphone jacks hiss. Microphones don't pick up sound. This article is your definitive resource for fixing the Apple MacBook Pro A1278 audio driver Windows 10 issue permanently.
Is the currently visible inside your headphone jack?
Because Apple no longer supports the A1278 for Windows 10, the community has risen. Here are verified sources:
: If you install Windows 10 using modern UEFI mode, the Cirrus Logic audio chip is often completely hidden from Windows, resulting in a "No Audio Output Device Installed" error that no driver can fix. Boot Camp Assistant : It is highly recommended to use the Official Boot Camp Assistant
in macOS (if still installed) → About This Mac , or in Windows → Device Manager → System Devices for “High Definition Audio Controller” vendor/device IDs.
Do not use Boot Camp 6 or 7 (designed for newer Macs). They contain drivers incompatible with the A1278’s legacy hardware.
: A command-line tool that fetches the exact Boot Camp driver package for your specific Mac model identifier (e.g., MacBookPro8,1 Open Core Legacy Patcher (OCLP)
Driver sources and safety
: If you installed Windows 10 via "EFI Boot" (the orange icon during setup), the audio hardware is often hidden from Windows. For audio to work properly on this older hardware, Windows should ideally be installed in Legacy/BIOS mode via Boot Camp Assistant. Manual Cirrus Logic Driver Update :