Windows Audio Services Not Running

Method 1: Restarting Audio Services Press the Start button and find Windows System folder. Expand the folder to select Run to open the Run dialog box. Navigate to Windows Audio in the Services list. Right click on the service and choose Restart. How to fix Sound problems on a Windows Computer. Perform a System Restore. Enable Required Audio Services. Step 3: Run the System File Checker (SFC) tool. Step 4: Uninstall & Re-Install Audio Device. Repair Windows.
Do you experience the Audio Service needs restart issue on your Windows 10 Device? If yes, then worry not, as here we have brought some easy tips to tackle this trouble. Several users have reported that they get the “Windows Audio Service need a restart” error message when they try to log in. The same problem is also encountered while running video, music or playing games.
In a few cases, this is observed while watching YouTube or browsing on IE, Edge, Firefox, etc. The possible culprits behind this nuisance might be obsolete drivers, huge cache data or setup issues in Audio Services itself. Hence performing a clean boot, Restart Audio Service and Update related driver can resolve this bug. Let’s move to diagnose Audio Service needs restart issue in detail-
How to fix Audio Service needs restart issue on Windows 10
Here is the complete guide on how to solve Audio Service requires reboot while signing into Windows 10-
1. Perform Clean Boot
The clean boot is a perfect program that requires only a few sets of drivers and software to start up. Thus, it mitigates the chances of occurrence of any such issue. Here are the steps-
Step 1: At first open your system as Administrator, in case you don’t know, you can open this page for further details.
Step 2: Press Win logo and R hotkey together to launch Run dialogue box.
Step 3: Here, type MSConfig in the void then hit Enter to proceed further.
Step 4: Tap Services tab and activate the checkbox Hide all Microsoft services henceforth hit Disable all button.
Step 5: Now choose the Startup tab followed by the Open Task Manager option.
Step 6: Again, select the particular program which is supposed to create a nuisance then hit the Disable button. Repeat this step till all of the running programs are closed.
Step 7: Once the task is finished, close Task Manager and hit OK on the System Configuration window.
Restart your device and most probably the error won’t be there on your System. If you are still struggling with this trouble, try the next workarounds.
2. Restart the Windows Audio Service
If the above method doesn’t help to rectify Audio Service needs restart issue, this might be due to the trouble in running Audio Services. Hence Restart this option and set it as manual. To perform the task, just follow the below-mentioned steps-
- Press Windows key & R together then type Services.msc in the empty bar and hit Enter.
- When the Services window opens up, locate Windows Audio Services.
- Once found, right-click on the same and select Restart.
- Now double click on the same services to launch Properties window.
- Under General Tab, Stop the services in Running status.
- Set the Startup time to “Automatic” followed by Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made so far.
- Repeat the same process again for Windows Audio Endpoint Builder Service and Multimedia Class Scheduler Service (If they do occur in your system).
- At last, Restart your computer, and you can now play video as well as music. Hope the issue Audio Service needs a restart issue is solved, however, if not, try the next workaround.
3. Update your audio driver
The old or missing driver might also be responsible for this Audio Service requires reboot issue. The best way to solve this problem is to update audio drivers to their latest versions. Here is how to download and install the same-
- Jointly press Win logo and X to launch the Start option.
- From the list, select Device Manager followed by the Enter key.
- Henceforth, expand the “Sound, video and game controllers” category.
- Here right-click on the “High Definition Audio device” option thereafter select Update Driver option from the context menu.
- Succeeding after click “Search automatically for updated driver software” and wait till a copy of the driver is downloaded. This option might vary according to your Windows versions.
- Once the task is completed, the message “The best driver software for your device is already installed” will pop up on Desktop Screen.
- Reboot your system and see the changes, you can now play the audio/ video again.
- Lastly, Restart your system and play the audio/video again. Hope this time your system will smoothly do the task without having any interruption.
Audio Services Not Responding – Microsoft has added various troubleshooter in Windows, for various problems. And, these troubleshooter helps to fix Windows issue by the user itself. But, sometimes troubleshooter just shows error information. And, doesn’t fix the issue by itself. Recently, after a Windows update, lots of Windows users started facing Audio issue. And, troubleshooter was just showing “Audio services not responding” error. So, if you’re facing a similar error, then this article is for you. In this article, you will get to know some working solutions.
Though, there isn’t any specific reason behind this error. This error can occur due to multiple reasons. Like, due to incompatible and out-dated sound driver, faulty Windows update, or it could be third-party software interference. Some users are reporting that when they hover the mouse pointer over speaker icon. Then, the audio service is not running, the message does appear. Well, whatever is the error you’re facing. This article will help you to fix all sound related problem in Windows 10.
Contents
- 1 Fix: Audio Services Not Responding.
Fix: Audio Services Not Responding.
Note: Before trying out any software related solutions. I suggest you check all your audio components. Sometimes, faulty hardware creates conflicts with software. Also, read my article on “No Audio Output Device is Installed“.
Restart Audio Services.
The error clearly indicates that the problem is with Audio Services. So, by restarting audio services we can fix the problem. Though, the error is not occurring only because of any single Audio service. The error can occur due to multiple Audio services. So, we are gonna restart all Audio-related services. Also, by setting up startup type to automatic, we can fix the problem permanently. Means, next time you won’t need to start services manually.
1. Press Windows + R key simultaneously to open run Window.
2. Type services.msc and press enter. (Windows services Window will get open now.)
3. Now, look for the following Audio services. And, restart each mentioned audio services by right-clicking.
- AudioDeviceService.
- Windows Audio.
- Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.
- Plug and Play.
Set Startup type Automatic.
1. Right-Click on Audio service, then click on properties.
2. Now in startup type drop-down menu, make sure ‘Automatic’ is selected. (Do this for all Audio services mentioned above.)
That’s it. This solution will solve “Audio Services Not Responding” Error. If it doesn’t try the next solution.
Check System Configuration.
With the help of system configuration Window. You can decide, which service can run on next Windows start, and which not. I suggest you check all these audio services are selected or not.
1. Open Run Window Again. (Win + R)
2. Type msconfig.exe and press enter.
3. System configuration Window will get open. Click on Services tab.
4. Here you can check all Audio services are selected or not.
Check Dependent Services.
Some Windows system services depend on other services. So, if other services are not working. Then, the main service will also not work, even if it’s running. Windows Audio service also depends on some other services. So, you have to make sure those services are running or not.
1. Open Services Window again.
2. Find the “Windows Audio” service, and right-click on it. Then, click on properties.
3. In properties Window, Click on dependencies tab.
Here you will able to see two services.
- Remote Procedure Call (RPC).
- DCOM Server Process Launcher.
- RPC Endpoint Mapper.
- Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.
4. Now, close properties Window, and first look for these two services. And, restart these services and make their startup type to automatic.
After that, restart the Windows Audio service again. And, then restart your Computer. That’s it. Hopefully, this solution will fix, Audio services not responding problem.
Execute commands using PS.

If by restarting Audio services, this error doesn’t get resolved. Then, you can try this solution. This solution is suggested by a Windows Forum user. Though, I don’t find this solution related to this problem. But, still, you can give it a try.
1. In Windows 10, Press Windows + X key simultaneously to open the WinX menu.
From the menu, Click on Windows PowerShell(Admin).
2. Windows PowerShell will get open. Type the following commands. And, press Enter after each command.
- net localgroup Administrators /add networkservice
- net localgroup Administrators /add localservice
3. After executing both commands, type exit and press enter. And, now restart your Windows to apply changes.
Reinstall Audio Drivers.
The device driver is basically a computer program, that operates a particular connected device. And, if something is wrong with Windows Audio. Then, it could possible that Audio drivers are corrupted, incompatible. In this case, reinstalling and updating the driver is the best solution.
Reinstall existing driver.
Before trying to update the driver. First, you can try to reinstall the pre-installed audio driver.
1. In Windows 10, Right-Click on start button then click on Device Manager.
2. In Device Manager, Expand “Sound, video and game controllers” option.
It could possible that there are multiple Audio drivers are installed. But, I suggest you look for Realtek Audio Drivers.
3. RIght-Click on “Realtek Audio” driver, and then click on Uninstall device option.
Now, restart Windows, and on restart Windows will automatically install the Audio driver again. If not, then in device manager, click on the “scan for hardware changes” option.
Update Audio Driver.
Though, there are two ways to update Audio driver. Either, you can use device manager or can install drivers manually.
Use Device Manager.
Skyrim Special Edition update 1.14 patch notes is now available for players on PS4 and Xbox One. According to the official Skyrim Special Edition update 1.14 patch notes, the new update has added new Creation Club contents as well as stability and performance improvements.
1. To update the driver using device manager. Right-Click on audio driver then click on “Update Driver” option.
2. In Update drivers Window, Click on “search automatically for updated driver software” option.
Install Driver Software Manually.
If, Audio services not responding, error coming in Windows 10 laptop. Then, open the manufacturer site of your laptop. Search for the model number of your laptop and then download Audio Drivers.
If the problem occurring in your new PC Build. Then, Open motherboard manufacturer site to download Audio drivers.
Alternatively, you can check Windows update for the audio drivers.
Uninstall Recent Windows Update.
According to some Windows user, this error is occurring after a recent Windows Update. And, Windows allows the user to uninstall last Windows update. So, if Audio services not responding, the problem is occurring after the Windows update. Then, I suggest you uninstall Windows update. Though, it could also possible that driver got outdated because of new Windows update. So, first, try the above solution.
1. Open Control Panel > Click on Uninstall a program.
2. From the left pane click on “View installed updates”.
3. Here, you will able to see all the installed update. Check the date of the last update. And, if you think the problem started after that last update. Then, you can uninstall that update by right-clicking on it.
Modify Registry Value Data.
Run these Audio troubleshooters.
I can understand, the Audio troubleshooter is showing this error. But still, there are some other Audio Troubleshooter. Which exists in Control Panel.
1. Open Control Panel > In view by, click on large icons.
2. Click on Troubleshooting > View All.
From here run these troubleshooters.
- Playing Audio.
- Recording Audio.
- Video Playback.
If none of this troubleshooter helps. Then, I suggest you reinstall Windows. Reinstalling Windows is quite easy. And, there are multiple guides available on the internet. But, don’t forget to create the backup of your important data. Also, try the Audio device in another Computer.
- среда 29 апреля
- 21