Introduction
Upon returning home after a two-week holiday, the Windows 10 PC encountered issues. The first noticed problem was that the Windows audio service apparently wasn't running.
Symptoms
The audio service not running can manifest in various ways, such as no sound from the speakers, static noise, or intermittent audio issues. The Windows Audio Endpoint Builder service might also show as stopped in the Services window.
Causes
Several factors can cause the Windows audio service to stop working, including software conflicts, driver issues, and Windows updates.
Resolution
Method 1: Restart the Audio Services
1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type services.msc and press Enter.
3. Find the "Windows Audio" and "Windows Audio Endpoint Builder" services.
4. Right-click each service and select "Restart" from the context menu.
Method 2: Update Audio Drivers
1. Press Win + X and select "Device Manager" from the power user menu.
2. Expand the "Sound, video and game controllers" category.
3. Right-click your audio device and select "Update driver" from the context menu.
4. Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software" and follow the on-screen instructions.
Method 3: Perform a System Restore
1. Press Win + S and type "System Restore."
2. Click on "Create a restore point" or "System Restore" from the search results.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to choose a restore point and complete the system restore process.
- Restart the audio services.
- Update audio drivers.
- Perform a system restore.
References
- Microsoft Support: The Audio Endpoint Builder service is not running on my computer
- TechNet: Troubleshooting Windows Audio Services