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Here are 10 easy ways to resolve your playback device issue:

Solving Skype problem with playback device on Win 10

‘What do people talk about on Skype?
3 % Hi, how are you? 97 % Can you hear me?’
Author Unknown

We know you love Skype – it allows you to pack a lot of talking and messaging into your busy life, right? But we bet you wish you relationship with this app were a little less eventful. For instance, the error message ‘Problem with playback device’ is something you definitely want to vanish as soon as possible. Luckily, this matter is 100 % solvable – just make use of the tips below.

Note: If your issue is ‘problem with playback device Skype Windows 7’, you may still find this article useful, since most of the fixes described below work well both in Win 10 and Win 7.

Here are 10 easy ways to resolve your playback device issue:

Disable audio programs running in the background
Restart your Skype
Make sure the correct playback device is set as default
Disable the ‘Automatically adjust speaker settings’ option
Reinstall your audio device
Re-enable your audio device
Re-enable your speakers
Reset Skype configuration files
Update your drivers
Reinstall Skype

We will walk you through all of them:

1. Disable audio programs running in the background

The “Problem with Playback Device” error can crop up due to some other app hogging the limelight. Thus, go to your Task Manager and see if any other program is running in the background of your system. Do not hesitate to disable any active audio programs. Then check if the issue has gone.

2. Restart your Skype

This fix is pretty simple: quit your Skype and then open it again. If this manoeuvre has been to no avail, proceed to the following method – your triumph is just around the corner.

3. Make sure the correct playback device is set as default

The thing is, you might have accidentally set the wrong device in your Skype.

If you use the classic Skype app:

Open your Skype -> Go to Tools -> Navigate to Options
Move to Audio Settings -> Go to Speakers -> Select the device you need -> Save

If you use the new version of Skype:

Open your Skype -> Go to your Settings section
Navigate to Speakers -> Make sure the right device is set as default

4. Disable the ‘Automatically adjust speaker settings’ option

This one is often reported to be an effective fix for playback device issues. So, if you use the classic Skype app, give this method a try:

Open your Skype -> Go to Tools -> Open Options
Navigate to Audio settings -> Speakers
Turn off Automatically adjust speaker settings -> Save you changes by clicking on Save

5. Reinstall your audio device

If the “Problem with Playback device” issue persists, try reinstalling your audio device. Here is how to do that in Windows 10:

Press Windows logo key + X -> Select Device Manager from the list
Go to Sound, video and game controllers -> Find your audio device -> Right-click on it -> Choose Uninstall

Use Device Manager to reinstall your audio device

After the device has been uninstalled, reboot your PC. Then your Win 10 will install the device automatically.

6. Re-enable your audio device

No luck so far? There is no need to despair. Just do the following:

Press Windows logo key + X -> Select Device Manager from the list
Go to Sound, video and game controllers -> Find your audio device -> Right-click on it -> Choose Disable
Right-click on the device again -> Choose Enable

7. Re-enable your speakers

Here is another trick worth a try:

Right-click on your Speaker icon (the bottom right corner) -> Select Playback devices from the list of options
The Playback devices window will open -> Right-click on the empty space there -> Make sure the Show Disabled Devices and Show Disconnected Devices options are enabled
Locate your audio device -> Right-click on it -> Disable
Right-click on your device again -> Enable
Apply -> OK

Re-enable your audio device to fix your Skype issues

8. Reset Skype configuration files

Resetting Skype configuration files may help you get your Skype app back on track. Here is what the manipulation implies:

Close your Skype -> Make sure it is not running in the background, using Task Manager
Press Windows logo key and R to open the Run box -> Insert %appdata% -> Hit Enter
Find your Skype folder -> Change its name to Skype.old (You will be able to find your Skype history there)
Open your Skype and see if the problem has been fixed.

9. Update your drivers

Out-of-date playback device drivers can turn using Skype into a nightmare. In fact, the sooner you update them, the better.

Here is a list of the options to consider:

Use Device Manager:
Win + X -> Device Manager -> Right-click on a device -> Select the Update driver option
Update your drivers manually:
go to your vendor’s website, download the latest driver versions and install them on your PC.
Employ Auslogics Driver Updater to fix all your driver issues in one click.

You should keep your drivers up to date to keep Skype problems at bay

10. Reinstall your Skype

Your Skype app might be the culprit itself, so reinstall it to fix your ‘Problem with playback device’.

To reinstall Skype in Windows 10, follow the instructions below:

First, let’s back up your Skype history:

Press Windows logo key and R simultaneously to open the Run box -> Type ‘%appdata%\skype’ (without quotes) -> Hit Enter
Copy the following folders: ‘My Skype Received Files’, ‘Your Skype Name’ and paste them to another location.

Now follow the steps below to uninstall your Skype:

Press Windows logo key + R to open the Run box -> Type ‘appwiz.cpl’ without quotes into it
Go to Programs and features -> Locate Skype -> Right-click on it -> Select Uninstall/Change -> Uninstall Skype
Then move to C:\Program Files -> Locate and delete the Skype and the SkypePM folders

Then install the latest version of Skype.

You can retrieve your Skype history now:

Press Windows logo key + R to open the Run box -> Type ‘%appdata%\skype’ (no quotes) -> Press OK
Take the ‘My Skype Received Files’ and the ‘Your Skype Name’ folders to this folder

We hope you can make and receive Skype calls now.

Do you have any ideas or questions regarding this issue?

We are looking forward to your comments!

Solving Skype problem with playback device on Win 10

Here are 10 easy ways to resolve your playback device issue: