You’re playing audio on your PC when the sound suddenly stops. Looking for what could be the issue, you discover the \u201cOne or more audio service isn’t running\u201d<\/i> error message. What do you do? If you have no idea, we do \u2013 and this post was written to help you out.<\/p>\n
First, let’s talk about this error and what causes it.<\/p>\n
There are two scenarios under which most users encounter the \u201cOne or more audio service isn’t running\u201d error in Windows 10. When audio playback suddenly runs into issues and the sound stops, a notification might appear on the desktop. The speaker icon on the taskbar may also become disabled and show a small x. Hovering the cursor over the icon will reveal a message saying that the audio service has stopped or isn’t running.<\/p>\n
Another scenario is when you decide to go troubleshooting what could be wrong with your sound devices and run the Playing Audio Troubleshooter on Windows 10. When the troubleshooter is done, it presents “One or more audio service isn’t running” as the problem found and offers some additional options, which may or may not resolve the issue.<\/p>\n
The error signifies that there is a problem with your sound devices. This can be a result of sound card errors, or maybe there is a problem with the sound drivers. Your audio devices stop responding to what the system tells them to do, which means you won’t be able to enjoy audio playback on the PC until the issue is fixed.<\/p>\n
Even though this problem is annoying, you can fix it easily. One of the four fixes given in this guide should be able to solve the problem for you.<\/p>\n
If you encounter the \u201cOne or more audio service isn’t running\u201d error<\/p>\n
while playing audio in Windows 10 or running the Playing Audio Troubleshooter, you can try the methods here one by one until you find the one that suits your situation best.<\/p>\n
Also Read:<\/strong> [FIXED] \u2018Audio Service Not Responding\u2019 error in Windows 10 and 11<\/a><\/p>\n How to fix audio in Windows 10 if it isn’t working properly? There is an inbuilt troubleshooter for sound devices known as the Playing Audio Troubleshooter. Only use this method if you get the \u201cOne or more audio service isn’t running\u201d error message on your desktop or as part of a notification. Skip this step if you got the error while running the troubleshooter.<\/p>\n Here are the instructions to follow:<\/p>\n Wait for the tool to fix whatever problem it discovers if possible. It may suggest additional fixes for you to carry out by yourself.<\/p>\n Related:<\/strong> [FIXED] How to Fix Sound Not Working in Windows 10\/11<\/a><\/p>\n When we do certain tasks on our Windows PCs, there are certain services and components that work in the background to ensure that those tasks get done. For example, updating Windows isn’t possible if the Windows Update service and associated services aren’t running or working properly.<\/p>\n In the same way, issues with services related to playing audio can stop sound from working in Windows. So, how to fix a Windows audio service if it is not running properly?<\/p>\n The message \u201cOne or more audio service isn’t running\u201d is an indication that at least one audio service might have stopped working. You need to figure out if this is the case and which audio service is affected. If it’s discovered that a service related to system sound has indeed stopped working, you can manually restart the service and everything should be fine again.<\/p>\n The three audio services to look out for are:<\/p>\n Let’s go to the Services app and check the status of the audio services:<\/p>\n You can now exit the Services window and test your audio. If problems with sound persist on the machine, try the next fix.<\/p>\n Further Reading:<\/strong> How to Fix Multimedia Audio Controller Driver Errors in Windows 10?<\/a><\/p>\n A device driver is software added to the operating system to make communication between the OS and hardware as smooth as possible. A faulty sound driver won’t be able to perform its role well, and this can lead to miscommunication with the sound hardware. This, in turn, can cause the \u201cOne or more audio service isn’t running\u201d error in Windows 10.<\/p>\n Usually, you don’t need to bother about drivers as the job of keeping the main ones up to date is done by the system via Windows Update. However, when errors like the current one arise, you may need to do it yourself so you can regain sound functionality on your PC.<\/p>\n You can update your sound drivers through<\/p>\n Also Read:<\/strong> How to Update Device Drivers on a Windows 10 PC?<\/a><\/p>\n Let’s go through each method one by one.<\/p>\n Using Windows Update<\/b><\/p>\n This method is as simple as updating Windows. However, not every Windows update contains a driver update. Moreover, not every Windows update that includes driver updates will contain an update for a faulty or obsolete sound card.<\/p>\n All the same, Microsoft does a pretty okay job of bundling the latest driver releases with its major updates. So, if a feature update is available, you can be fairly confident it includes driver updates.<\/p>\n If you can’t wait for updates to be automatically installed, you can download and install them yourself:<\/p>\n Also Interesting:<\/strong> Ultimate Guide: How to Manually Check and Install Windows Updates<\/a><\/p>\n Using Device Manager<\/strong><\/p>\n Device Manager allows you to control and manage the hardware attached to your PC. For example, you can uninstall and disable your PC components from there. You can also update, roll back, disable, or uninstall hardware drivers via Device Manager. An important function of Device Manager is showing you which devices have faulty drivers. A device that has a faulty or corrupt driver will have either a yellow exclamation mark or a yellow triangle besides its name.<\/p>\n Here is how to use Device Manager to update your sound drivers:<\/p>\n
\nRun the Playing Audio Troubleshooter<\/h3>\n
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\nMake Sure Audio Services Are Running<\/h3>\n
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Windows key and R<\/code> to open Run<\/em>.<\/li>\nservices.msc<\/code> and click OK<\/em> to open the Services<\/em> app.<\/li>\n
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\nUpdate Your Sound Drivers<\/h3>\n
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Windows key and X<\/code> to open the Power User<\/em> menu.<\/li>\n
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