Windows 10: Videos Won't Play Until I restart the Windows Audio Service

On a Windows 10 computer, videos will suddenly stop playing (Just get a spinning hourglass). This happens in Chrome, IE, and Firefox. I usually had to reboot my PC to make them play again. Did a search online and someone recommended restarting the Windows Audio service which, if I start it, the videos will suddenly start playing.


I have to restart this service some fifteen times a day on average. Does anyone know why this might be happening and how to fix it?


Thank you.

:)

 

Videos and audios Won't Play

Hi David,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

I regret the inconvenience caused to you. I will be glad to assist you with your issue.

It would be grateful if you can reply to this question in order to assist you further:

• Are you able to play videos and audios using Windows Media player or other application with in your system?
• Which browser are you using?
• Does this issue occurs using different browser?

I suggest you to follow the below steps and check if it helps:

Step 1: Follow the steps to run the troubleshooter:

1. Press Windows key on your keyboard

2. Type Troubleshooting and click Troubleshooting..

3. Click on view all (on the left panel)

4. Select Playing Audio troubleshooter

5. Follow the prompted steps to troubleshoot this issue.

6. Follow the same steps to troubleshoot
Video playback.

Step 2: Also try to update drivers and check.

Follow the steps from the below link:

How
to: Install and Update drivers in Windows 10

Let us know the results. We will be glad to assist you further.

Thank you.

 

My PC Will Not Play Any Video or Audio Files

Hi Adam,

The issues with accessing audio and video might have occurred due to corrupted/ outdated drivers on your computer.

Provide us additional information to assist you better with this issue:

• What is the make and model of your computer?
• Have you tried to access videos on different browser (Internet Explorer) and check?
• Were you able to access any other audio from your computer?

Let us try the below troubleshooting steps and check if it helps.

Method 1: I suggest you to run the Audio troubleshooter and check if it helps.

try the audio troubleshooter.

Method 2: I suggest you to change the properties of Windows Audio services and check if it helps.

Steps:

• 
  Click Start, type
  Services.msc in the Start Search box.
  
• 
  Scroll down the list of services, right-click
  Windows Audio and select Start.
  
• 
  Select Properties for
  Windows Audio and set its Startup Type to
  Automatic.
  

Method 3: I recommend you to update the audio drivers and check if it helps.

• Open Start, enter
  Device Manager, and select it from the list of results.
  
• Under Sound, video, and game controllers,
  select your sound card, open it, select the Driver
  tab, and select Update Driver.
  

Method 4: I recommend you to install all the pending updates on your device and check if it helps.

Steps:

• Connect to the internet.
• Press Windows key and type updates.
• Click on Check for updates.
• Under Windows Updates, click on Check for updates.
• Try to install the updates being shown.

Hope it helps. Reply to the post with an updated status of accessing audio and video on your computer for further assistance.

Thank you.

 

No sound while playing audio and video files.

Hi,

I appreciate if you could answer to a few questions to narrow down to the issue.

• Which is the application that you are using to play the files?
• Did you try the same on a different player?
• Did you perform any troubleshooting steps?

As an initial troubleshooting step, I suggest you to check if the volume is set low or in mute state in Volume Mixer.

• Right click on sound icon.
• Open Volume Mixer check for the application that you are playing the files with and increase the volume and check.

If the issue still persists, I would suggest you to run “Playing audio” troubleshooter to diagnose and fix the issue.

Follow these Steps to run Playing Audio Troubleshooter in Windows 10.

1. Type troubleshooting in the search bar.

2. Select Troubleshooting.

3. Select View all on the top left corner.

4. Click on Playing audio.

Also refer: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/fix-sound-problems#v1h=tab01

Hope the information helps in resolving the issue related to the sound issue. Let us know if you need further assistance. We will be happy to help.

Thank you.