Wondering how to fix ‘Windows could not start the Windows Audio service on Local Computer’?
Most of us like to have a little audio in the background while working to stimulate the senses and get the creative juices flowing. And this is not just when we’re doing tasks that are less intensive – Dr. Strange can perform an entire surgery while listening to music.
Imagine being ‘in the mood’ when Windows Audio service fails to start, leaving you unable to listen to anything on your computer. Would be disappointing and annoying, wouldn’t it?
Recently, several users reported that upon booting up, they find a red cross on the volume mixer located on the taskbar. When they attempt to start the Audio service via Windows Services, their screens display the error code at hand. This typically happens when the Audio service does not have enough permissions to run on your device.
If you are facing a similar issue, you are in the right place because, in this guide, we will walk you through the relevant troubleshooting steps in detail.
Let’s get started!
1. Change Windows Audio Service Log On Settings.
You might be facing the issue because the relevant service is not configured to use the local system account. If you have multiple user accounts, then it is likely that the Windows Audio Service is using another account to operate.
The solution is simple. You just need to configure the service to log on as a local system account to resolve the issue.
Here is how you can do that:
- Press Windows + R keys simultaneously on your keyboard to launch a Run dialogue box.
- In the text field of the dialogue box, type ‘services.msc‘ and hit Enter. This will launch the Services window.
- In the Services window, locate the Windows Audio service and right-click on it.
- Select Properties from the list of options available and in the Properties window, navigate to the Log on tab.
- Now click on Local System account to enable it.
- Finally, hit Apply and then OK.
- Close the Properties window and in the Services window, click on the Start button to start the service as shown below.
If the issue was being caused by the configuration of the service, following the steps mentioned above will resolve it. However, if the service was already configured to log on as a local system account, then proceed to the next troubleshooting method below.
2. Try Using CleanMyPC.
When bugs and corruptions within the operating system occur, Windows services can become inoperable. Corrupted files are typically created by junk files on your computer, which is why if you haven’t deep-cleaned it in a while, you need to do so now.
If you want to thoroughly clean your PC, you must use an efficient cleaner. CleanMyPC is our favorite, and we highly recommend downloading it!
The efficient tools found in CleanMyPC make it more than just a PC cleaner. It can also be used to troubleshoot a broad range of system-related issues. CleanMyPC is the best solution for operating systems that are slow or have privacy concerns.
Install CleanMyPC now and get your PC up and running like new in no time!
3. Modify Windows Registry.
There is also a chance that the user account you are using does not have proper audio permissions from the Windows Registry.
Windows Registry is a database of low-level information about Windows programs and processes. Your operating system refers to this information when performing relevant operations.
The Registry Editor is also used by the administrators to customize the operations of their operating system. Information here is stored in the form of Registry keys and by modifying the relevant keys, you can control your operating system the way you like.
In this method, we will give the user account full audio permissions, which hopefully will resolve the issue at hand. Before proceeding, however, we would like to mention that you must perform the steps below carefully, as even a slight mistake can cause serious issues within the Registry Editor.
Here is what you need to do:
- Press Windows + R keys simultaneously on your keyboard to open a Run dialogue box.
- In the text field of your dialogue box, type ‘regedit‘ and hit Enter to launch Windows Registry on your PC.
- Once you are inside the Registry Editor, navigate to the location mentioned below.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MMDevices
- Right-click on the MMDevices folder and select Permissions.
- Now click on the Add button and then hit the Advanced button.
- Next, click on the Find Now button.
- Choose Everyone from the list of options available.
- Hit OK and in the Permissions window, choose Everyone under Group or user names.
- Checkmark the box against Full Control and hit Apply.
- Finally, click on OK and close Windows Registry.
Hopefully, this will resolve the error in no time.
This wraps up our guide on fixing the ‘Windows could not start the Windows Audio service on Local Computer’. We hope that one of the methods mentioned in this guide did the trick for you. If you have any questions regarding the methods listed above, please let us know in the comment section below.
If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂
