[Solved] “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 This problem may be due to a corrupted audio driver, outdated drivers, or even faulty sound cards or speakers.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.

Common Reasons Why the Audio Service Is Not Running

This section will discuss the most common reasons behind the “Audio Service is not running” error on Windows. Understanding the possible causes can help diagnose the problem and apply the appropriate solution.

1. Corrupted or Outdated Audio Drivers: One common reason behind the error is outdated or corrupted audio drivers. These drivers are essential for your computer to communicate with the sound hardware. If the drivers fail to function correctly, the computer won’t be able to process sound properly, leading to an error message.
2. Audio Hardware Issues: Another possible cause of the problem could be the audio hardware itself. If there is a defect in the sound card or speakers, the Windows Audio Service may fail to run. In this case, you may need professional assistance to identify the problem and possibly replace the faulty hardware.
3. Disabled Audio Service: The “Audio Service is not running” error can also occur if the Windows Audio Service is disabled on your computer. This may have happened due to a software conflict or a change in system settings. Re-enabling the service can resolve the issue.
4. Incorrect System Configurations: Sometimes, the problem with the Audio Service can arise from incorrect system configurations. This may be due to a recent Windows update or a software installation that has changed certain settings. In this case, resetting the configurations or updating related drivers may help fix the problem.
5. Interference from Third-Party Software: Some third-party applications, particularly those related to sound or system optimization, can interfere with the Windows Audio Service, causing it to function improperly. If you have recently installed new software and started experiencing the issue, it may help to uninstall the potentially problematic application.
6. Virus or Malware Infection: In rare cases, a virus or malware may affect important system files or alter the settings, causing the Windows Audio Service to malfunction. Running an anti-virus scan and removing any detected threats can help fix the problem.

By understanding these common reasons behind the “Audio Service is not running” error, you can troubleshoot the issue more effectively using the methods discussed earlier in this article. Remember that fixing the error may require a combination of solutions, depending on the root cause.

How to Repair Audio Service Not Running

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 (Fortect)

Fortect 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 Fortect on your computer.

NOTE: These steps will require you to temporarily deactivate your anti-virus to prevent it from interfering with Fortect.

Step 1: Download and Install Fortect 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 Fortect, 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.

1. Right-click on the Windows logo key to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type msc and hit Enter.
3. Locate and click Windows Audio service.
4. Next, right-click on the service and choose Properties (you can double-click on it directly to open the Windows Audio Properties window).
5. 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.
6. Ensure all the components are Started and Running in the services.msc.
7. 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.

Conclusion: Windows Audio Service Not Running

In this article, we have discussed various methods to fix the “Audio Service is not running” error on Windows computers. This problem can be caused by multiple factors, and it is crucial to identify the root cause to apply the appropriate solution.

From updating audio drivers and restarting the necessary services, to using third-party repair tools or addressing hardware issues, there are several fixes to choose from. The key is persistence and patience when working through the provided methods.

If the problem continues even after trying all the suggested solutions, it is recommended to contact a professional technician for further assistance. Remember that maintaining your computer’s health and performing regular maintenance, like updating drivers and software, helps prevent such issues from arising in the future.

Stay vigilant and enjoy a smooth, error-free audio experience on your Windows computer.