Audio Device Is Disabled on Windows 10/11 PC [BEST FIXES]
![Audio device is disabled on Windows 10 PC](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Audio-device-is-disabled-on-Windows-10-PC-.jpg)
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Audio is a big part of our multimedia experience, but audio problems can occur on Windows 10. Users reported the Audio device is disabled message on their PC, and today we’re going to show you how to fix this problem on Windows 10.
What to do if my audio device is disabled?
1. Use Command Prompt
Command Prompt is a powerful command-line tool that allows you to make changes to your system quickly. If you are getting Audio device is a disabled error message, you might be able to fix it by using Command Prompt.
To do that, follow these steps:
![command prompt win+x menu command prompt Audio device is disabled on Windows 10](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/audio-device-disabled-cmd-1.jpg)
- net localgroup Administrators /add networkservice
- net localgroup Administrators /add localservice
- exit
Once your PC restarts, the problem with the audio device should be resolved.
2. Use Registry Editor
According to users, you can fix Audio device is a disabled message by modifying your registry. Apparently, certain groups don’t have the necessary permissions to access some keys in your registry, and that can cause this error to appear.
Before you start modifying your registry, we have to warn you that modifying the registry can be potentially dangerous.
We strongly recommend to export your registry and use that file as a backup in case anything goes wrong. To edit your registry, do the following:
![regedit regedit run window Audio device is disabled](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/audio-device-disabled-regedit-1.jpg)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MMDevices\Audio\Render
![permissions registry editor permissions Audio device is disabled on Windows 10](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/audio-device-disabled-regedit-2.jpg)
![permissions for render permissions for render Audio device is disabled on Windows 10](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/audio-device-disabled-regedit-3.jpg)
![permissions full control permissions for render full control Audio device is disabled on Windows 10](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/audio-device-disabled-regedit-4.jpg)
![subkey registry subkey registry Audio device is disabled on Windows 10](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/audio-device-disabled-regedit-5.jpg)
Another way to fix this problem is to search your registry for MMDevices key and change the permission settings for all their subkeys. To do that, follow these steps:
![MMD devices permissions MMD devices permissions Audio device is disabled on Windows 10](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/audio-device-disabled-advanced-1.jpg)
![basic permissions basic permissions Audio device is disabled on Windows 10](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/audio-device-disabled-advanced-3.jpg)
After you’re done, close Registry Editor and restart your PC. Once your PC restarts, the issue should be resolved.
3. Make sure that your audio device is enabled
Your audio device can become disabled automatically if you’re installing certain software, therefore it’s important that you check if the audio device is actually disabled. To do that, follow these steps:
![playback devices playback devices Audio device is disabled on Windows 10](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/audio-device-disabled-playback-1.jpg)
![show disabled devices show disabled devices sound window Audio device is disabled on Windows 10](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/audio-device-disabled-playback-2.jpg)
![enable device enable device Audio device is disabled on Windows 10](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/audio-device-disabled-playback-3.jpg)
After enabling your audio device, check if the problem is resolved.
4. Check if the audio device is enabled in Device Manager
Device Manager allows you to disable your devices easily, so you might want to check in Device Manager if your device is disabled. To do that, follow these steps:
![device manager win + x menu device manager Audio device is disabled on Windows 10](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/audio-device-disabled-device-1.jpg)
![enable device device manager enable device Audio device is disabled](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/audio-device-disabled-device-2.jpg)
After enabling your audio device the problem should be completely resolved.
5. Uninstall your audio driver
If you’re getting the Audio device is disabled error message, you might be able to fix it by uninstalling your audio driver. Your audio driver can become corrupted, and that can cause this error to appear. To fix the problem, be sure that all external sound devices are disconnected. After that, you need to uninstall your audio driver. To do that, follow these steps:
![uninstall device device manager uninstall device Audio device is disabled on Windows 10](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/audio-device-disabled-uninstall-1.jpg)
After your PC restarts, the default audio driver will be automatically installed. Check if the default driver is working properly. If the issue still persists, go to your motherboard or sound card manufacturer’s website and download the latest driver for your audio device. After doing that, check if the problem is resolved.
Read more about this topic6. Perform a System Restore
Sometimes Audio device is disabled error can appear because you installed an update to your PC, or if you made a certain system change. If your computer started showing this error recently, be sure to use System Restore to restore it. To do that, follow these steps:
![create a restore point create a restore point Audio device is disabled on Windows 10](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/audio-device-disabled-restore-1.jpg)
![system properties system properties Audio device is disabled on Windows 10](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/audio-device-disabled-restore-2.jpg)
![restore points system restore window restore points Audio device is disabled on Windows 10](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/audio-device-disabled-restore-3.jpg)
After your system is restored, check if the problem is resolved.
7. Reset Windows 10
If the problem still persists, you might have to reset Windows 10. Reset is a similar procedure to clean install, so if you decide to do it, be sure to back up all important files.
To complete the reset process you might have to use Windows 10 installation media, so be sure to have one prepared.
To reset your system, do the following:
If the problem still persists, be sure to repeat the reset process, but choose to Remove everything option instead of Keep my files. For detailed instructions on how to reset Windows 10, we advise you to read our article regarding Windows 10 factory reset.
The Audio device is disabled error can prevent you from enjoying multimedia on your Windows 10 PC. However, you can easily solve this error by using one of our solutions.
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