How to Download, Update, & Reinstall Realtek HD Audio Manager on Windows PC

How to Download, Update, & Reinstall Realtek HD Audio Manager on Windows PC

/ James Masterson

A Realtek HD Audio Driver runs the default audio driver for most computer users using Windows operating systems. Realtek HD Audio Manager is a tool used to control sound on desktop or laptop computers, and it’s the default option for Windows 10 systems. This audio driver comes packed with great features that produce fantastic sound results.

The Realtek HD audio driver is a standard audio solution for many OEM computer brands. It works well with either your laptop or computer most of the time. However, you will also need to perform a Realtek audio driver update from time to time. The Realtek HD Audio Manager is a popular and reliable sound driver, and it is an audio driver with a range of supporting features, including DTS, Dolby, and Surround Sound.

Furthermore, Realtek HD Audio Manager is one of the easiest-to-use audio drivers available today. Realtek HD Audio Manager allows you to control your audio adapters. Also, it can automatically detect newly added devices like headphones, speakers, or microphones to your PC. In short, it allows users to link different sound devices to their computers easily.

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Unfortunately, many users have reported experiencing issues with their Realtek HD Audio Driver. The problems usually include lousy sound quality and the program being inaccessible/missing from the taskbar or computer. Updating or reinstalling the sound drivers is advised for any issues with sound quality or control on your computer.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll show you to fix any issues caused by the Realtek HD Audio driver. The best way to do this is to download, update or completely reinstall the audio manager, so follow the steps below and get rid of your troubles.

Understanding Realtek HD Audio Manager Features

Multiple features are one of the best reasons Realtek HD Audio Manager is top-rated. To access the real audio manager, you must go to the right bottom right corner of your desktop next to the time and date display.

If you right-click the orange sound icon, you can find all the sound settings you adjust. For example, you’ll see Sound Driver Manager, System Sound Events, Audio Devices, Volume Control, Windows Media Player, and Sound Recorder.

The Sound Manager allows users to choose a specific speaker configuration. Depending on your setup, you can choose between 5.1 Speaker, Quadraphonic, and Stereo. If you need to disable or enable speakers, you can do so through the Speaker Configuration tab. In addition, you have added options like Speaker Fill, Bass Management, Swap Center, or Subwoofer Output.

Realtek HD Audio Manager also allows users to do a sound test and control volume through the speaker tab.

Methods to fix Realtek HD Audio Manager:

Audio driver issues are relatively easy to fix. These audio driver issues often stem from installing incorrect or outdated driver software. As a result, you can install the correct drivers to fix the problem.

Fix #1: Use Fortect System Repair for Your Realtek HD Audio Manager

The easiest way to solve any issues with outdated or broken drivers, including performing a Realtek HD audio driver update, is to use Fortect. This program will help you scan, update, and fix any system issues, including the ones connected to Realtek HD Audio Manager. It can even detect if you use the proper audio driver.

The great thing about this program is that you don’t have to do manual work other than setting up the program itself, which is pretty straightforward.

Follow these steps to download and install Fortect on your PC. Follow the on-screen instructions to fix your Realtek HD Audio Manager update errors.

Step #1

Download Fortect for free.

Wait for the download to complete, then open the File to start the installation process.

Step #2

Begin the installation process by clicking on the File, accepting the license agreement by checking the “I Accept the EULA and Privacy Policy” marks, and clicking the Install and Scan buttons.

fortect repair

Step #3

Once installed, Fortect will scan your system for errors & weaknesses, such as outdated drivers. It’ll also track down the error that caused your Realtek HD Audio Manager to break down.

Once complete, you will get a detailed view of any errors found and an option to fix them automatically. For example, it can also download the latest driver and install it for you. While the program works for many issues, you might need a full version to get the full benefits.

Step #4

Once the full scan is complete, select the green “Clean Now” button to fix your issues.

fortect scan

Fortect will fix all errors found on your PC, including the Realtek HD Audio driver program and drivers.

Once complete, restart your computer and check if everything works fine. Your sound should work fine now, and the program should be accessible from the Start menu and taskbar. Fortect is one of the best driver software update tools you can use.

If you prefer to manually fix your Realtek HD Audio Manager problems, follow the steps below.

Fix #2: Update Your Realtek HD Audio Driver Manager

Outdated/faulty drivers cause many problems in the tech world. Updating the Realtek audio driver software through the device manager should be your go-to option if you encounter any issues. You can usually find the latest driver on the official website.

Note: When downloading the Realtek audio driver, use the Realtek HD Audio Manager website. This will make sure you are not downloading possible faulty files.

If you want to update your Realtek audio manager, take the following steps and follow the screen instructions.

Step #1

In the Windows 10 search bar, type in and click on ‘Device Manager‘ to open the menu.

search device manager

Navigate down and click on ‘Sound, Video and game controllers‘ expand and find Realtek Audio Manager, then right-click and select ‘Update Drivers.’

update realtek audio driver

Step #2

Take the first option and Search automatically for updated driver software via the Device Manager.

If Windows can’t find the correct drivers, you must manually reinstall the Realtek HD Audio Manager.

Fix #3: Download and Reinstall Realtek HD Audio Manager

Manually downloading and reinstalling Realtek HD Audio Manager drivers takes time and expertise, so we suggest you implement the most straightforward method if possible. Nevertheless, manually installing the Realtek HD audio manager is also an excellent move to fix the issue.

Step #1

To avoid duplicate Realtek HD Audio Manager driver conflicts, it is advised to uninstall the previous drivers before downloading new ones. We’ll take the same process as earlier:

Type in and search for ‘Device Manager‘ in your search bar.

Navigate down to Sound drivers and find Realtek audio manager driver usually. This will be displayed as Realtek Audio. Right-click on the driver and select the ‘Uninstall Device‘ option. It would help if you had the following window pop up:

r3

Check the additional option to delete the driver and hit the ‘Uninstall’ button.

This will uninstall the Realtek Sound Driver from your computer, and you will have to reinstall the new drivers manually.

Note: If you can’t find any Realtek Audio Audio Manager drivers on your PC, skip right over to the next step to download & install them on your computer.

Step #2: Manually Download & Reinstall Realtek Audio Manager Drivers

To manually reinstall Realtek Audio Manager Driver, head to the official Realtek website page — https://www.realtek.com/en/downloads.

Since navigating the official website is a little tricky, carefully examine each step we take here. You will need to locate the PC audio codecs to reinstall them correctly.

Choose the ‘Computer Peripheral ICs‘ product line from the downloads page.

download realtek pc peripherals

Click on the menu again and select ‘PC Audio Codecs.’

download realtek pc codecs

Once again, open the drop-down menu and click on ‘High Definition Audio Codecs.’

download realtek hd pc codec

This will open up the list of available software for High Definition Audio Codecs, and you will find the ‘Software‘ link right next to it, click on that.

Our tests seem like all three links lead to the same page, so go ahead and open up the ‘ALC888S-VD‘ software link.

This should lead you to the drivers’ page, where you can choose which version to download.

Depending on your operating system (Windows or Linux), version (Windows 7, Vista, 10, etc.), and whether it computes on 32 or 64 bits, choose and select the desired audio drivers.

select realtek codec version

We are using Windows 10 on 64 bits, so we’ll download that version of the Realtek HD Audio Manager Driver.

Click on the download button in the image above; agree to the terms, enter your email, and start the download.

confirm realtek driver download

Once the download is complete from the PC audio codecs, run the File and complete your installation. This will work if you choose the Realtek HD Audio driver ‘Executable File‘ option rather than ‘Zip File.’ Extract the downloaded file to your desktop and open it to start the installation process.

Follow the installation instructions to reinstall your drivers.

Once complete, you will have successfully reinstalled the Realtek HD Audio Drivers.

Resolve Realtek HD Audio Manager Missing Issues

If you’re still finding it difficult to open or find your Realtek HD Audio Manager codecs, try these simple methods to resolve the problem, starting by enabling Task Manager Startup.

These methods should be implemented even after the reinstallation to ensure your Realtek Audio icon isn’t missing.

Enable Task Manager Startup

From the start menu, open up the Task Manager window.

Head to the ‘Startup‘ tab and search for your Realtek HD Audio Manager Driver.

If the status says ‘Disabled,’ right-click on it and select ‘Enable‘ to ensure it always starts up.

enable realtek startup

This will ensure your Realtek HD Audio Manager Driver driver always starts when you turn your computer on.

Add Legacy Hardware

Open windows 10 ‘Device Manager.’

Search and select the ‘Sound, video, and game controllers menu.

Click on the ‘Action‘ tab and select ‘Add legacy hardware.’

add legacy hardware

When prompted, choose the recommended option to search for legacy hardware from the Windows 10 device manager menu. This should locate and reinstall the Realtek HD Audio driver.

search and install hardware automatically

Restart your PC and check to see if your Realtek HD Audio Manager driver is working as intended and that your high-definition audio sounds as it did before the issue.

Try A Generic Audio Driver

You can use a generic audio driver if you already have the correct driver and still experiencing Realtek HD audio manager driver issues. This solution should only be done when none of the above fixes the Realtek HD audio manager driver issue.

Launch Device Manager by pressing Windows and X, and click on Device Manager.

Click Sound, video, and game controllers to expand. Next, right-click on your sound driver and then click Update Driver Software.

Click on Browse my computer for driver software. Then click on Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.

Next, click on the High Definition Audio Device. Click yes if you see any confirmation prompts.

Next, you will see that the system driver you are now using is the generic audio driver provided by Windows 10.

Finally, verify whether your PC/Laptop sound is back or not.

If you still have Realtek audio manager software problems even after changing the settings of your sound, video, and game controllers and haven’t found your fix here, check out the following posts that deal with similar issues. Windows critical error fix, DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NO_INTERNET Error, and wifi connected but no internet.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What does Realtek High Definition Audio Manager do?

Realtek’s High Definition Audio Manager is a tool used to control sound on desktop or laptop computers, and it’s the default option for Windows 10 systems. The program comes packed with great features that produce fantastic sound results.

How do I get Realtek High Definition Audio Manager?

Step #1: Type in and search for Device Manager in your search bar. Navigate down to Sound drivers and find your Realtek High Definition Audio drivers. Right-click on the driver and select Uninstall Device. Check the additional option to delete the driver and hit the Uninstall button.

Step #2 Visit https://www.realtek.com/en/downloads. (Realtek audio drivers windows 10) From the downloads page, choose the Computer Peripheral IC product line. Click on the menu again and select PC Audio Codecs.

Once again, open the drop-down menu and select High Definition Audio Codecs. This will open up the list of available software for Realtek High Definition Audio Codecs, and you will find the Software ink next to it.
Our tests seem like all three links lead to the same page, so go ahead and open up the ALC888S-VD software link.

Click on the download button in the image above; agree to the terms, enter your email, and start the download. Follow the installation instructions to reinstall your drivers.

What is Realtek High Definition Audio Manager?

Realtek HD Audio Manager is an audio codec that acts as a control panel for your onboard sound card. It allows you to control your microphone and the output of your speakers or headphones.

Options like equalizer settings, speaker configurations, and room correction are also available, depending on the model of your onboard sound.

How to Open Realtek High Definition Audio Manager?

The Realtek HD Audio Driver Manager can be accessed through your taskbar by clicking the “Show Hidden Icons” button. Now, double-click on Realtek HD Audio Manager to open it.

Alternatively, you can also open it by navigating Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Realtek HD Audio Manager.

How to Use Realtek High-Definition Audio Manager?

Realtek High Definition Audio Driver Manager can be used in several ways. First is adjusting your equalizer to tweak the sound output of your headphones or speakers.

You can also use the audio manager to adjust your speaker configuration for a stereo, quadrophonic, 5.1-channel, and 7.1-channel speaker setup.

Finally, the Realtek High Definition Audio Driver Manager can adjust your microphone settings, like the recording and playback volumes.

Where is the Realtek HD Audio Manager?

Suppose you can’t find the Realtek High Definition Audio Driver Manager from the taskbar or the control panel. In that case, you can open File Explorer and navigate to Windows Installation Drive (C:) > Program Files > Realtek > Audio > HDA > Realtek.exe (may vary depending on the version installed on your system).

What is Realtek HD Audio Manager, and do I need it?

Using the Realtek High Definition Audio Driver, you may control your computer’s surround sound, Dolby, and DTS sound systems. This driver requires your audio equipment to function on the PC, so removing it will result in severe audio issues.

How do I download and install Realtek HD Audio Manager?

Launch Device Manager. Expand the Sound, Video, and Game controllers. Update driver can be selected from the drop-down menu by right-clicking Realtek High Definition Audio. Click the Browse my computer for driver software option, assuming you already have the most current driver setup file stored on your computer.

Does Realtek HD Audio Manager still exist?

Yes, it does. Although Microsoft Windows does not own them, Realtek manufactures the drivers and chips required for most Windows computers to have audio.

What happens if I uninstall Realtek audio?

If you remove Realtek HD Audio Manager from your personal computer, your Realtek soundcard will become unavailable, and Windows will automatically identify and restore the appropriate audio drivers.

Should I disable Realtek HD Audio Manager startup?

Although it is not required for the usual operation of the device, having it makes adjusting the settings much simpler. However, if that becomes necessary at a later time, all you have to do is launch the control panel.

Is Realtek safe?

Realtek is not a virus; instead, it is the audio driver setup that is currently the most popular choice for usage on personal computers. Realtek also produces software for various other devices that may be installed on a personal computer. As long as you get your Realtek driver from your PC’s Support page or Windows 10 updates, you don’t have to worry about Realtek.

What is Realtek driver for?

You may configure your speaker system’s audio using the Realtek audio driver. This software has a Room Correction menu that lets you change the level for each speaker separately. Although installing the Realtek HD Audio Manager is not required, having it is pretty beneficial.

Why can’t I find Realtek HD Audio Manager?

Realtek HD Audio Manager may be immediately accessed by locating its icon in the System Tray and selecting it to launch the program. To find it, you might have to click the upper-arrow symbol.

If you cannot locate it in the System Tray, use File Explorer and navigate to the following place: To access the Realtek HD Audio Manager, navigate to C:\Program Files\Realtek\Audio\HDA\ and open the RtkNGUI64. Additionally, you can create a desktop shortcut for the application.

How do I get my Realtek HD Audio Manager back?

Select the Action menu option on Device Manager. Click on Scan for hardware changes option under Action. Windows will scan for and identify when you’ve removed the Realtek HD Definition Audio driver from your system, at which point it will request that you reinstall it. Finish the reinstallation, and follow the instructions that appear on the screen.

Why is my Realtek audio not working on Windows 10?

There have been reports of this problem occurring with Realtek drivers. To resolve the issue, ensure that you have the most recent drivers installed, then determine if that helps. 

Is Realtek a virus?

Realtek, Realtek drivers, and the Realtek HD Audio Manager are not viruses or malware. Although this is the case, cyber criminals guise their tools as Realtek, knowing how crucial and widely used Realtek is. Only download Realtek products from reliable sources to avoid virus infection on your computer.

Is Realtek audio driver compatible with Windows 11?

Realtek is a Taiwanese company that produces a wide range of computer hardware products, including audio drivers. While some of their products may be compatible with Windows 11, others may not be. It depends on the individual product and its compatibility with Windows 11.

Can I reinstall Realtek audio driver?

To reinstall the audio driver, you must uninstall the current driver installed on your system. Once the current driver has been uninstalled, you can install the new one. Remember that you will need to restart your computer after the installation.

How do I know if my Realtek audio driver is up to date?

The easiest way to check if your driver is up to date is to check the manufacturer’s website. You can also use a tool like DriverIdentifier to scan your system and find out which drivers are outdated.

Are Realtek HD Audio drivers necessary?

Realtek HD Audio drivers must ensure your HD audio device works properly. Without the correct driver, your device may not be able to produce sound or may produce a sound of poor quality.

In some cases, installing the wrong driver can even cause your computer to stop working. Therefore, it is essential to make sure that you install the correct driver for your Realtek HD audio device.

Why can’t I find Realtek HD Audio Manager?

One possible reason you cannot find the Realtek HD Audio Manager could be that your computer’s operating system is incompatible with the audio driver. Another possibility is that the correct driver is not installed correctly on your computer.

If you have recently installed a new audio driver, it is possible that the Realtek HD Audio Manager was not automatically installed along with it. You may need to install the Realtek HD Audio Manager software manually.

Where can I download the Realtek audio driver?

The Realtek audio driver can be downloaded from the Realtek website. Go to www.realtek.com and click on the “Downloads” link.

Under “Downloads,” click on the “Audio” link. On the next page, select your operating system and click on the “Download” button. This should download the current version of the Realtek audio driver.

How do I fix sound problems on Windows 11?

There are a few ways to fix sound problems on Windows 11. One way is to go into the Control Panel and click on Sound. From here, you can adjust the settings for your speakers and microphone.

Another way is to right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and select “Open Volume Mixer.” This will allow you to adjust the volume for individual programs.

How do I change audio settings in Windows 11?

You must access the Control Panel to change the audio settings in Windows 11. Once you have accessed the Control Panel, you must select the “Sounds” option.

Within the “Sounds” menu, you can adjust the volume of your computer’s audio and select which audio device you would like to use.

What is the Microsoft UAA bus driver?

Microsoft UAA bus driver is software that allows communication between certain hardware devices and software programs. It is used to connect various hardware components to the operating system and is required for some devices to function properly. The UAA bus driver is typically installed automatically when the operating system is installed.

What is the latest Realtek audio driver version 2022?

The latest Realtek audio driver version is 2022. This version was released on May 21, 2021, and is the most recent version of the Realtek audio driver. This driver is compatible with Windows 10, 8, 7, and Vista.

Where do I find support for Realtek High Definition Audio?

If you are looking for driver support for Realtek High Definition Audio, the best place to start is the website for your motherboard or sound card manufacturer. Realtek is a chipset manufacturer producing audio chipsets on many different motherboards and sound cards. The drivers for these devices are not developed by Realtek but by the companies that manufacture them.

James Masterson
Meet the author

James is a software engineer and an information architect with a keen eye for detail. Among his key interests are enhancing the usability of our Windows 10 content, troubleshooting errors, and tech news.