How to Fix Audio Service is not running on Windows
The Windows Audio Service is not running error is pretty standard for many windows users. It causes the computer to function without audio. This means when you play media on your computer, you won’t hear any sound on your speakers or headset. Sometimes, you may also get an error message signaling a problem with your audio services.
Using a computer without audio is difficult, especially if you are going to use it to play media content with audio. This problem may be due to a corrupted audio driver, outdated drivers, or even faulty sound cards or speakers. Thankfully a problematic Windows audio can easily be fixed with just a few steps. Sometimes, you only need to adjust audio-related service settings or update the audio driver.
To help you fix the audio services problem, follow the guides below.
Method 1: Increase or decrease the volume of your computer
The simplest way to fix this issue is to try increasing the volume of your computer and the sound device. It may be just a minor glitch with the operating system.
Step 1: Click the Windows audio speaker logo on the taskbar.
Step 2: Try increasing or decreasing the volume using the slider
Try playing music or video to check if the issue is fixed. If not, proceed to the method below
Method 2: Use Third Party System Repair Tool (RESTORO)
Restoro is a program that analyzes your computer and automatically repairs issues on your PC that may cause the error “Audio Service is not running.”
Follow the steps below to download and use Restoro on your computer.
NOTE: These steps will require you to temporarily deactivate your anti-virus to prevent it from interfering with Restoro.
Step 1: Download and Install Restoro for free
Step 2: Accept the license terms agreement by checking the “I Accept the EULA and Privacy Policy” to continue.
Step 3: After installing restoro, it will scan your computer for the first time.
Step 4: You can view the details of the scan by expanding the “Details” tab.
Step 5: To fix the issues found, expand the “Recommendation” tab and choose between “Clean” and “Ignore”
Step 6: Click on “Clean Now” at the bottom part of the program to begin fixing the issue.
Check if Windows audio services error is now fixed. If not, you can try the following steps.
- Check out: How to Fix Audio Renderer Error
Method 3: Check your audio drivers
Your computer needs sound drivers for it to play sounds. Sometimes these audio drivers get corrupted or become outdated, which causes the error. Follow the steps below to update your sound driver.
Step 1: Press on the Windows key + S and search for “Device Manager”
Step 2: Open the device manager
Step 3: Look for Audio Inputs and outputs and expand it
Step 4: Right-click on speakers and select properties
Step 5: Go to the driver tab and click uninstall
Step 6: Reboot your computer, and Windows will automatically install the new audio driver for you.
Check if the audio services error is resolved; sometimes, you also need to consider that you did the latest Windows update. In some cases, some users may need to update game controller drivers to ensure that they are working correctly.
Method 4: Check Audio Components
You can also check your audio service components to see if they are working correctly.
- Right-click on the Windows logo key to open the Run dialog box.
- Type msc and hit Enter.
- Locate and click Windows Audio service.
- Next, right-click on the service and choose Properties (you can double-click on it directly to open the Windows Audio Properties window).
- Shift to the Dependencies tab. It would help if you expanded to see all the components under This service depends on the following system components.
- Ensure all the components are Started and Running in the services.msc.
- Restart the Windows Audio services and reboot the PC.
Method 5: Restart Windows Audio Service
Step 1: Press on the Windows key + R. Or right-click the Windows logo and click on Run.
Step 2: Type “services.msc” and click ok
Step 3: Look for Windows Audio service
Step 4: Right-click on it and select Restart
Step 5: Find Windows Audio Endpoint Builder
Step 6: Right-click on it and choose Restart
Step 7: Look for Plug and Play and right-click on it
Step 8: Select Restart
Step 9: Check if Audio Service is not running error is fixed
Method 6: Use Windows Troubleshooter
Step 1: Press the Windows key + S and search for “Control Panel”
Step 2: Open Control Panel
Step 3: On the search box, type “Troubleshooting”
Step 4: Click on troubleshooting
Step 5: Select Hardware and Sound
Step 6: Select Playing Audio
Step 7: A menu will pop up; click next
Step 8: Wait for the scan to finish and follow the guide on the troubleshooting wizard.
Method 7: Add the Audio Services Manually
Another way to try is to set up and enable audio service manually.
Step 1: Press Windows + R and type Command Prompt. Right-click and choose open as an administrator.
Step 2: Enter the following commands and press enter:
net localgroup Administrators /add networkservice
net localgroup Administrators /add localservice
Step 3: After these commands are processed successfully, restart your system.
Once you have tried changing local account configurations or the local account system account, you can also try logging out and logging in to your Windows user account.
The problem could be due to a faulty sound card. Have your computer checked at the nearest service center and replace your sound card.
