Although Windows includes a dedicated audio troubleshooter that can help resolve most audio-related issues, it may not always be effective. At times, the Windows audio troubleshooter may fail to resolve the underlying issue and display the “Audio services not responding” error.

If the audio services on your Windows computer have become unresponsive, don’t fret. This guide packs some useful troubleshooting tips that should help you resolve the issue in no time.

1. Restart the Windows Audio Service

Typically, the Windows Audio service starts automatically when your computer boots. However, if the service encounters any problems during startup, it may malfunction. If it's just a one-off glitch, restarting the Windows Audio service should fix the issue. Hence, you should start with that.

To restart the Windows Audio service:

  1. Press Win + S to open the search menu.
  2. Type services in the text box and press Enter.
  3. In the Services window, scroll down to locate the Windows Audio service on the list. Then, right-click on it and select Restart.
    Restart Windows Audio Service

2. Make Sure the Supporting Audio Components Are Running

Windows Audio service relies on several system components to function properly on your PC. If one of these components is not running, audio services may stop responding.

Here’s how to check if the required services are running.

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type services.msc in the Open field and press Enter.
  3. Locate the RPC Endpoint Mapper service on the list and double-click on it to open its properties.
  4. Click the drop-down menu next to Startup type to select Automatic.
  5. Click Apply followed by OK.
  6. Similarly, change the startup type for Remote Procedure Call (RPC) and DCOM Server Process Launcher services as well.
    Remote Procedure Call Service in Windows

Restart your PC after this and check if the issue is still there.

3. Add Local and Network Services Using Command Prompt

Another thing you can do to resolve this issue is to register local and network services on Windows using Command Prompt. Here are the steps for the same.

  1. Right-click on the Start icon or press Win + X to open the Power User menu.
  2. Select Terminal (Admin) from the list.
  3. Select Yes when the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears.
  4. Type the following command in the console and press Enter to register network services on your system. 
            net localgroup Administrators /add networkservice
  5. Now run the following command to register local services: 
            net localgroup Administrators /add localservice
  6. Exit the Command Prompt window and then restart your PC.
    Add Local and Network Services Using Command Prompt

Like using Command Prompt? Check our guide to learn how to master Command Prompt on Windows.

4. Update Audio Drivers

Outdated or incompatible audio drivers on your PC can also cause the audio services to malfunction. If that's the case, updating the audio drivers on your PC should do the trick. If you need help with that, check our guide on how to update audio drivers on Windows and follow the steps outlined there.

If updating audio drivers manually sounds like a tedious task, you can get one of the best driver updater for Windows to ease the process.

5. Switch to the Default Sound Drivers

Your Windows computer comes with its own set of sound drivers. If updating your current audio drivers does not help, you can switch to Windows' default sound drivers and see if that works. To do so, use the following steps:

  1. Click the magnifying icon on the taskbar or press Win + S to open the search menu.
  2. Type control panel in the text box and select the first result that appears.
  3. Navigate to System > Advanced System Settings.
  4. In the System Properties window, switch to the Hardware tab and click the Device Installation Settings button.
  5. Select the No (your device might not work as expected) option and click Save Changes.
  6. Select Yes when the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears.
    Device Installation Settings on Windows
  7. Now use one of the many ways to open Device Manager.
  8. Expand the Sound, video, and game controllers.
  9. Right-click on your sound driver and select Uninstall device.
  10. Select Uninstall to confirm the action.
  11. In the Device Manager window, click the Action menu at the top and select Scan for hardware changes from the list.
    Uninstall Sound Driver

6. Run the SFC and DISM Scans

Corrupt or damaged system files on Windows can also cause audio services to stop responding. System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) are two Windows tools that can help you identify and repair such system files.

The SFC scan will check your computer for missing or corrupt system files, whereas DISM will repair the Windows system image. You can run these tools using Command Prompt. To know more, check our guide on how to repair corrupt Windows files with Windows built-in tools and follow the steps outlined there.

7. Perform a System Restore

System Restore is a useful feature on Windows that creates a backup of your entire system at predefined intervals. It can help you restore your system to the point before the problem occurred.

System Restore will undo any recent changes made to your computer and resolve the issue for good. Don’t worry, this process won’t affect any of your personal data.

To perform a system restore on Windows, use these steps:

  1. Right-click on the Start icon and select Run from the list.
  2. Type sysdm.cpl in the box and press Enter.
  3. In the System Properties window, switch to the System Protection tab.
  4. Click on System Restore.
  5. Click Next.
  6. Select a restore point before the issue first appeared and hit Next.
  7. Review all the details and click Finish.
    System Restore Dialog on Windows

Wait for Windows to restart and revert to the specified restore point. After that, the audio services should work fine.

Fixing Audio Services on Windows Is Easy

It can be confusing if the audio services on Windows suddenly become unresponsive. In most cases, manually restarting the audio services should resolve the issue. If not, you may have to go through the trouble of scanning the system files or performing a system restore.

That said, if none of the above solutions work, you can consider resetting your Windows computer or performing an in-place upgrade as a last resort.