If your audio device gets disconnected/switched, Minecraft won't have sounds.

 Steps to replicate:
  1. Launch Minecraft
  2. Disconnect audio device (by detaching USB connector)
  3. Reconnect audio device
   or
  2. Switch to a different audio device (eg. Headphones -> Speakers)
  3. ----

 Problem:
  Game sounds won't play and you have to relaunch Minecraft.

 Possible Solution:
  Have a setting in Minecraft to set the audio output to the selected audio device
    Eg. (Discord)