At times, the audio service responsible for delivering sound gets stopped and then does not starts automatically, it prompts a warning message stating, “The Audio Service is not running.” It is one fairly common issue with Windows 10 operating systems, where the Computer begins to function without audio.

Fix For “The Audio Service is not running” on Windows 10

“The Audio Service is not running”  warning message displayed on the screen indicates that the users can play any audio recording, they will not be able to hear any sound either on speaker or through the headsets. A lot of users also reportedly examined a little red mark with the alphabet “x” over the sound icon on their taskbar in a similar situation. Any such situation indicates that your sound system is corrupt and you require to fix it soon. Have a look at the list of fixes below if you are experiencing the same issue.

FIX 1: Increase or decrease your Computer’s volume:

To begin with, use the most straightforward method, which means, try to increase or decrease your Computer’s volume. It has worked for quite a lot of suffered users, and thus we recommend you to do the same. For doing so, follow the steps given below:

  • Firstly, click on the Soundbar icon (the one that has the red X mark) at the taskbar of your desktop screen. It will display a small volume slider.
  • Now with the help of the Volume slider, either try to increase or decrease the volume.
  • Increasing or decreasing the volume slider will instantly resolve the “The Audio Service is not running” issue, and you will be able to hear any audio by the time.

FIX 2: Restart the Windows Audio service and all of its dependencies:

Another resolve to the “The Audio Service is not running” issue is restarting the Windows Audio service and all of its dependencies. Users have to ensure that all of these services are set to start automatically when their computer boots up. For doing so, follow the steps given below:

  • Firstly, launch the RUN prompt by pressing WINDOWS + R altogether.
  • Now type “services.msc” on the empty dialogue box within the RUN prompt and then click on OK.
  • On the Services window, locate:

Windows Audio

Windows Audio Endpoint Builder

Multimedia Class Scheduler

and right-click on each of them to select Properties.

  • Further on the Properties window, under the General tab, set the Start-up type as Automatic. Follow the same for all three entries.
  • Further right-click on the following services:

Windows Audio Service

and then click on the option Restart.

  • Once all the three entries will get restarted; the “x” red mark and “The Audio Service is not running” issue will get resolved within no time.

FIX 3: Changing Log-On Settings:

As per a lot of suffered users, changing the Log-On settings has helped them resolve the “The Audio Service is not running” issue. At times Services are allowed to log on to a particular account on the Computer but are not configured to log on to a particular user account. Thus, changing the log-on settings is required here. For doing so, follow the steps given below:

  • Firstly, launch the RUN prompt by pressing WINDOWS + R altogether.
  • Now type “services.msc” on the empty dialogue box within the RUN prompt and then click on OK.
  • On the Services window, locate the option Windows Audio, right-click over it and select the option Properties.
  • Further on the Properties window, navigate to the Log on tab from the vertical menu. Here click on the circular button before the option Local System Account. Make sure the option This Account not selected for now.
  • Further, click on OK and check if it resolves the issue or not.
  • If yes, further click on the circular button before the option This Account and type Local Service in the text box adjacent to it.
  • After that, create a Password and Confirm the same.
  • Further, click on Apply and then click on OK.
  • Once done, check whether the “x” red mark got disappeared and whether the “The Audio Service is not running” issue got resolved or not.

FIX 4: Troubleshooting Audio:

At times with the installation of any program or due to an automatic and manual change, the audio configurations of a computer can get messed up. In such cases, it is advisable to troubleshoot the Audio settings. For doing so, follow the steps given below:

  • Firstly, press WINDOWS + I and launch the Settings window.
  • Now on the Setting window, click over Update & Security and then further select the option Troubleshoot from the left-pane menu.
  • On the right-pane menu, click on the option Additional troubleshooters.
  • Further on the next window, click and expand the option Playing Audio and then click over the Run the Troubleshooter Let it function and resolve the issue automatically for you.
  • Once done, check whether the “x” red mark got disappeared and whether the “The Audio Service is not running” issue got resolved or not.

FIX 5: Scan for Changes:

Sometimes, the Sound Driver might obtain some corrupt configurations or files, which can lead to some glitch further affecting the communication between the Driver and the hardware. In any such scenario, it is advisable to uninstall and then again reinstall the Driver using the Device Manager window:

  • Firstly, launch the RUN prompt by pressing WINDOWS + R altogether.
  • Now type “Devmgmt.msc” and then click on OK. It will launch the Device Manager window for you.
  • On the Device Manager window, expand the option Sound, Video and Game Controllers.
  • Here locate the Audio Driver you are using, right-click over it and then select Uninstall.
  • Once the Driver gets uninstalled, again click on the option Sound, Video, and Game Controllers and then select Scan for Hardware Changes from the sub-menu. The device manager will then further reinstall the missing Driver automatically.
  • After that, check whether the issue got resolved or if it still persists.
  • If it isn’t resolved yet, further right-click over the same drive and then select the option Properties.
  • Now navigate to the Driver tab from the vertical menu and then click over the Rollback Driver tab. It would help you to resolve the issue. However, other option also available, select the driver Properties option (repeat the above same steps), click over Update Driver and let it process.

It will indeed resolve the current audio issue for you. You can further check and confirm.

FIX 6: Run a few commands on the Command Prompt window:

Some local account configurations, if messed up, can cause the “The Audio Service is not running” issue. Thus, in such cases, it is advisable to run a few commands on the Command Prompt window. For doing so, follow the steps given below:

  • Firstly, launch the RUN prompt by pressing WINDOWS + R altogether.
  • Now type “cmd” and then click on OK. It will launch the Command Prompt window for you.
  • Further, on the Command Prompt window, type or Copy + Paste the following Commands and then press Enter after each of them:

net localgroup Administrators /add networkservice

net localgroup Administrators /add localservice

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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 done, check if the issue got resolved or not.

Above were some of the tried and tested fixes that will possibly rule out all the causes for the “The Audio Service is not running” issue. However, if none of them works in your case, it is a sign that the problems lie with your hardware or a faulty sound card.

Further, in case of hardware issues, it is advisable to connect with your nearest service center and get the situation resolved by the professionals. We hope you will find the information mentioned in this article helpful and relevant. If you have any queries or feedback, please write down the comment in the below comment box.