Windows 10: Audio Service not running

After several trouble free years with my laptop I am now getting this message. I have tried all the recommended solutions on this and other forums but nothing seems to work. I am running Windows 10 and yes, my drivers are up to date. Could this possibly be a hardware problem?

:)

 

After running Audio troubleshooter error: 'one or more audio service isn't running'

Hi Peter,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community, we appreciate your interest in Windows 10.

As you receive the error message: 'one or more audio service isn't running', this might have occurred due to the audio services.

I suggest you to restart the service, set it to automatic and check if it helps.

Step 1: Stop the Windows Audio service.

• Press Windows Key + R on the keyboard and type
  services.msc, Services window gets opened.
• Search for Windows Audio service, right click on it and click on
  Stop.
• Restart the computer.

Step 2: Start the service and set it to automatic:

• Press Windows Key + R on the keyboard and type
  services.msc, Services window gets opened.
• Search for Windows Audio service, right click on it and click on
  Properties.
• Start the service, set
  Startup type to Automatic.

Hope it helps. Reply to the post with an updated status of this issue for further assistance.

 

The audio service is not running?!

Hello Abu,

Thank you for keeping us posted on the status of the issue. I would like to assist you further from here.

Please refer to the below steps to start the Audio service and cherck if it helps to resolve the issue

• Open Control Panel and select Administrative Tools, then View Local Services
• Look for "Windows Audio" NOT "Windows Audio Endpoint Builder"
  
  [Just click on any service, then press the letter "W" on your keyboard, it will take you to the services starting with the "w" letter]
• Right click on the "Windows Audio" service and choose "Properties"
• You will see 4 tabs, click on the last one, labeled "Dependencies"
• In that tab, you will see the "This service depends on the following system components" box, it displays 3 services.
  
  Beside each service there is a "+" icon, click on it to expand the list. The 2nd service will have 2 child services, the 3rd service will have 1 child service.
• Now make sure that all the 6 services (3 main, 3 child) have the "Started" status in the "Services" window you opened earlier.
• Most probably you will find one of those services are not running, just start all of them, then try to start the "Window Audio" service from the "General" tab.

However, if the issue is still unresolved, I would suggest you to
check if the same issue occur when logged in through a different user account.

Ref:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/getstarted-set-up-accounts

Hope this helps.

 

Audio Services are not running / responding.

Charlie,

The Audio services not responding problem is very likely due to an outdated, corrupted or incompatible audio driver on your Windows. I'd like to ask, what do you mean by "to
boot in safe mode and or clean boot / wipe the system and that wouldn't be possible in my current situation"? Are you connected via domain server? Are you getting any error messages when you try to boot into safe mode and perform a clean boot?

In the meantime, I suggest that you follow these steps:

Step # 1: Restart your audio services.

1. Press Windows key + R and then type services.msc and click OK.
2. Find and right-click on "Windows Audio", then click Restart.
3. Right-click on Windows Audio one more time, this time click Properties.
4. Set the Startup type to Automatic. Click Apply > OK.
5. Do the same thing to "Windows Audio Endpoint Builder".
   

Note: If the Restart option grayed out, your Windows Audio Endpoint Builder service is not running, click Start instead.

Step # 2: Uninstall the audio driver in the Device Manager. Open Device Manager> Sound, video and game controllers> Right click the driver> Properties> Driver tab> Uninstall Device> Restart
your PC, and Windows will attempt to reinstall the driver.

Note: If the same issue persists after reinstalling the driver, please contact the audio card manufacturer's website and find and download the correct drivers for your device. Then install it on your computer manually.

You may also refer to Fix sound problems article
for more information.