If your computer is having trouble playing sound, and you encounter ‘Generic Audio Driver Detected’ problem, don’t worry. In this article, we have collected effective fixes to assist you in fix this error.
The generic audio driver detected is an error message generated by Windows Troubleshooter, which is commonly run when you are facing issues with your sound devices. This error means that your sound devices are not responding to your PC’s commands.
Method #1: Check the Status of Your Audio Services
If your audio services are disabled, you may face ‘Generic Audio Driver Detected’ error. First: ensure all your audio services are running normally. To check the status of your audio services:
1. Press Windows key + R on your keyboard to open Run.
2. Type services.msc then hit Enter or click OK.
3. In the Services window, scroll down to locate Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder. Check if their status is Running. If not, right-click on them and choose to start from the menu.
4. Double-click on the 2 services and ensure the Startup type is Automatic.
5. Click OK then end the Service window. Test by playing any audio. If you are still ‘Generic Audio Driver Detected’ problem, try solution 2.
Method #2: Update your Audio Drivers
Missing or outdated audio drivers can cause one or more audio service isn’t running error. You need to update your audio drivers to fix this issue. To do so:
1. Press Windows key + R on your keyboard to open Run.
2. Type devmgmt.msc then hit Enter or click OK.
3. In the Device Manager, expand Sound, video and game controllers then select your outdated driver.
4. Right-click on it and choose update driver.
5. When updating is finished, restart your computer to enforce the changes. If you are still facing ‘Generic Audio Driver Detected’ problem, try the next method.
Method #3: Reinstall Your Audio Driver
If upgrading outdated drivers does not fix ‘Generic Audio Driver Detected’ error, try reinstalling them.
1. Go to the taskbar, click the search icon or search bar then type device manager. Enter the first match.
2. In the Device Manager, select the problematic driver as shown below
3. Right-click on it and choose Uninstall device from the drop-down menu.
4. Repeat step 3 for other faulty drivers.
5. When uninstalling is done, restart your PC to enforce changes.
6. Go to Device Manager and select the name of your PC. It is usually the first name in the list. Right-click on it then select Scan for hardware changes.
This should fix the ‘Generic Audio Driver Detected’ problem.
Method #4: Turn off Audio Enhancements
Audio enhancements feature helps your sound card work at its best, but unfortunately, not all sound cards work effectively when it is turned on.
1. Press Windows key + R simultaneously to open Run. Now type control in the Run dialog and hit Enter.
2. In the Control Panel, search for Sound.
3. In the Sound window, right-click on your default device then choose Properties from the menu.
4. In the Properties window, select the Enhancements tab then check the checkbox next to Disable all sound effects.
5. If you are still encountering ‘Generic Audio Driver Detected’ problem, try repeating step 3 and 4 with your other sound devices.
Conclusion
That’s it, at least one of these solutions will fix your ‘Generic Audio Driver Detected’ problem. Feel free to leave a comment in the comment section below.
This helped immensely! The instructions were user friendly too! Thank you!