Contents
Methods to fix Audio Service Not Responding error

Since you are here, we can safely infer that you are struggling with a problem that prevents your audio device from functioning normally. Your sound device is probably in an unresponsive state because it is not responding to your (audio) input or not playing sounds. You are also likely to have seen a notification in this form:

Problem found. Audio Services not responding. Not fixed.

In most scenarios where users saw the error above, they reported that their struggles started after they upgraded to Windows 10.

Why does the Windows Audio service keep stopping?

The Windows Audio service regularly stops because something is interfering with or disrupting its operations. Or your computer may be using the wrong configuration or settings for the Windows Audio service, so the service’s processes struggle to function for prolonged periods.

If you – like many other users – started experiencing problems defined by the Audio services not responding error after Windows 10 got installed on your computer, then downgrading your computer back to whatever Windows version you came from may not be an option. Fortunately, there are proven solutions to the Audio service issue, so you must look to them for some reprieve.

How to fix the Audio Service on Windows 10?

We will now proceed to the primary part of this guide, where we get to show you how to resolve the Audio Services not responding error in Windows 10. We advise you begin your troubleshooting tasks with the first procedure on the list and (if necessary) continue with the rest of the solutions in the order we arranged them below.

  1. Restart the Audio Service:

From the error description, you probably already figured out that something is wrong with the Audio Service. So, here, we intend to show you how to restart the Audio Service. The Audio Service is the service that manages important audio processes and handles sound tasks on behalf of programs or the Windows operating system itself.

By restarting the Audio Service, you get to push through serious shakeups in the service’s setting and setup. The changes resulting from the service restart operation may do enough to eliminate the inconsistencies or discrepancies responsible for the Audio Services not responding issue.

These are the instructions you must follow to restart the Audio Service:

  • Use the Windows logo button + letter R key combination to launch the Run application on your computer.
  • Once the Run dialog or window appears on your display, you must typeservices.msc into the text box provided.
  • Now, to initiate the run task for the inputted text, you must tap the Enter button on your PC’s keyboard (or click on the OK button on the Run window).

Your computer is supposed to fire up the Services application now.

  • Here, you must carefully go through the services on the program window. Locate Windows Audio and then double-click on this service.

Your computer is supposed to bring up the Windows Audio Properties (Local Computer) window now.

  • Now, you must check the Service status.
  • If it reads Running – which indicates the service is currently active – you have to click on the Stop button, wait for a while (to let Windows terminate proceedings for the service), and then click on the Start button (to force Windows to initiate proceedings for the service again).
  • If it reads Stopped – which indicates the service is currently inactive – then you have to click on the Start button (to force Windows to initiate proceedings for the service), wait for some time to let Windows do its job, and then check the that the Service status now reads Running.
  • Here, you must go to the Startup type field. Click on the drop-down menu there to see the options available.
  • Click on Automatic (to choose this option).
  • Now, you must click on the Apply button and then click on the OK button.
  • Assuming you are back to the program window, you must now close the Services app.

We have just shown you how to enable the Windows Audio service again (to ensure it functions as it is supposed to).

  • Close other programs (if necessary) and then restart your computer.
  • After the reboot, you must check things to confirm that the Audio Services not responding issue has been fixed.

  1. Check other audio components; restart other services:

If the Audio Services not responding problem continues to bother you even after you fixed issues affecting the Audio Service (the primary service for audio operations), then you have to consider the possibility that something is wrong with dependent services. The Audio Service relies on a couple of audio components or other services to do its job, so it is only logical that inconsistencies or irregularities affecting those services translate to problems with the primary service.

Here, we will walk you through operations to examine a couple of services. While checking the services, if you discover an issue affecting a specific service, then you will have to restart the service to force through useful shakeups in that service’s code or settings to resolve issues. You do not have to restart all the services, especially if some services appear to be functioning normally.

These instructions cover everything you have to do here:

  • Here too, you have to open the Services application:
  • Tap the Windows button on your device’s keyboard or click on the Windows icon around the bottom-left corner of your display.
  • Assuming you are now on the Windows Start screen, you must input Services into the text box that shows up the moment you start typing.

Your computer is supposed to run a search task using the inputted keyword as the query.

  • From the entries on the result list, you must click on Services (Application) to open this program.
  • Assuming you are now on the Services window, you must carefully go through the services listed there. This time, you must locate RPC Endpoint Mapper and then double-click on this service.

Your computer is supposed to bring up the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Properties (Local Computer) window now.

  • Now, you must check the Service status.

Note: The same instructions and guidelines (from the previous procedure) apply here too.

  • If the Service status reads Running – which indicates the service is currently active – you have to click on the Stop button, wait for a while (to let Windows terminate proceedings for the service), and then click on the Start button (to force Windows to initiate proceedings for the service again).
  • If the Service status reads Stopped – which indicates the service is currently inactive – then you have to click on the Start button (to force Windows to initiate proceedings for the service), wait for some time to let Windows do its job, and then check the that the Service status now reads Running.
  • Here, you must go to the Startup type field. Click on the drop-down menu there to see the options available.
  • Select Automatic (to choose this option).
  • Here, you must click on the Apply button and then click on the OK button to affirm things.
  • Now, assuming you are back to the Services window where the services are listed, you must perform the same verification and correction task (if necessary) for these services:
  • Windows Audio Endpoint Builder
  • DCOM Server Process Launcher
  • Here, assuming you are done with your work with the services, you can now close the Services application.
  • Close other applications (if necessary). Restart your computer.
  • Run a quick test to check if the issues defined by the Audio Services not responding message are still in play.

  1. Run some commands on an elevated Command Prompt window:

If the previous tasks involving the services failed to deliver the needed results to make the Audio Services not responding error disappear, then you may as well run some commands on a Command Prompt window with administrative privileges to resolve the problem. Here, your computer is likely to use top-level permissions to execute the proposed operation, so you stand you a better chance of fixing things this way.

First, before you go through the steps below, you will do well to check and confirm that you are currently logged into your system with an admin account. A local account or regular profile won’t cut it this time. If you are currently inside Windows with such a low-level account or profile, then you have to quickly sign out and then come back in using the administrator account.

These are the instructions you must go through to perform the task here:

  • Use the Windows logo button + letter S key combination to fire up the Search function from the Windows Start screen.
  • Now, you must input CMD into the text box that appears the moment you begin to type.

Windows is supposed to run a search task automatically (where the inputted keyword serves the query).

  • From the list of results, once you see Command Prompt (Application), you must right-click on this entry to see its menu options.
  • Select Run as administrator.

Your computer is now supposed to bring up the admin Command Prompt window.

  • Now, you must run these commands:
  • net localgroup Administrators /add localservice
  • SC config Audiosrv start= auto
  • REG ADD “HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Audiosrv” /V start /T REG_DWORD /D 2 /F
  • secedit /configure /cfg %windir%\inf\defltbase.inf /db defltbase.sdb /verbose
  • Once you finish executing the commands on the Command Prompt window, you have to close the app.
  • Close other programs (if necessary). Restart your PC.
  • Now, you must verify that the Audio Services not responding problem has been resolved for good.

  1. Reinstall the sound driver on your computer:

In Windows, drivers are the useful programs (or ‘piece of code’) that define and manage operations involving hardware devices (the sound or audio device in your machine – in this case) and software (programs or Windows itself – in this case). Therefore, drivers play an important role in audio output or input processes and similar activities. The Audio Service not responding issue may be connected to driver problems.

Here, we are assuming the setting or setup being used for your sound driver is in disarray. If this assumption about your sound driver holds true, then you are likely to benefit from reinstalling the driver itself. By reinstalling your sound driver, you get to push through some shakeups in its configuration or code to get rid of irregularities, errors, and similar inconsistencies.

The driver reinstallation procedure is safe and can be performed quickly. We want to walk you through the process in stages to ensure every task gets performed correctly. First, you have to disable the automatic driver update setup (that forces your computer to install updates for drivers automatically), uninstall the sound driver, and then allow Windows install the sound driver (as it is programmed to).

These instructions cover the entirety of the driver reinstallation operation:

  • Use the Windows button + letter S keyboard combination to bring up the Search function for the Windows Start menu.
  • This time, you must type Advanced into the text box provided to run a search task using this word as the query.
  • From the list of results displayed, you must click on the primary entry, which should be View advanced system settings (Control Panel).
  • Your computer is supposed to bring up the System Properties window now.
  • Click on the Hardware tab (to go there).
  • Now, under the Device Installation Settings section, you must click on the Device Installation Settings button.
  • The Device Installation settings window will be brought up.
  • Click on the radio button for No (your device might not work as expected).
  • Now, you must click on the Save Changes button to go with the new confirmation.

Well, with the new settings in place, Windows Update will no longer fetch and download drivers for your computer automatically – and yes, you need this setup. You must now proceed to the uninstallation task for the driver. Continue with these steps:

  • Press (and hold down) the Windows button on your keyboard and then tap the letter X key.

Your computer is supposed to bring up the Power User menu applications and options list now.

  • Click on Device Manager (to fire up this application).
  • Once the Device Manager app window appears, you have to carefully go through the categories listed there.
  • Locate Sound, video, and game controllers and then click on the expansion for this category to see its contents (devices under it).

Your sound device should be visible now.

  • Right-click on the sound device to see its context menu. Now, you must select Uninstall device.

Windows is likely to bring up confirmation prompt for the driver uninstallation task.

  • Click on the checkbox for Delete driver software (if you see it).
  • Click on the Uninstall button to affirm things.

Your computer will now get on with the driver uninstallation task.

  • Now, assuming the uninstallation process for the sound driver is complete, you must right-click on any spot free of objects on the Device Manager window.
  • From the list presented, you must click on Scan for hardware changes.

Your computer is now supposed to detect that an important driver got removed recently, so Windows will work to find and install the needed driver software to make things right. You see may see the relevant processes on your screen. In any case, after everything gets done – which means the sound driver has been reinstalled – you must check things (as usual) to see whether the Audio Services not responding error is still in play.

If the problem persists, then we recommend you redo the driver reinstallation task. Here, all you have to do is follow the same steps (above): Open Device Manager, locate the sound driver, uninstall the driver, close the Device Manager app once you finish removing the driver, and then restart your computer to finish things. This way, your computer will notice that the sound driver is missing only after the reboot and then act to get and install the driver software.