This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The update is "2023-03 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5023706)" and after I downloaded this update all my audio stopped functioning. Headset, monitor, everything. I have tried so many online suggestions including updating drivers, messing around with settings as per fix tutorial, ran a virus scan just in case but still nothing. Interestingly I found that the NVIDIA audio thing says disconnected. Not sure if that was like that before the update but I doubt it. Again, I tried various fixes including drivers, etc. Did anyone else have this problem and know a fix that actually works cause I am done wasting time on this frankly stupid and irritating problem.
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
first i Downloaded the zip file of the audio driver of my laptop(Lenovo ideapad).
I runned the uninstall execution file after extracting the zip file.
Now you will no more see any audio device in the laptop, since it will delete the old version audio driver.
Then i runned the official audio driver setup( downloaded from Lenovo support) and it worked .
I am having the exact same problem. Along with what the people above tried, I also tried deleting lower and upper filters, deleting driver and reinstalling it, advanced startup with option 7 to disable driver signature enforcement, and resetting my windows. Nothing works. What else can I try?
I too am having this same issue after the security update. Nothing fixed yet, I am trying to roll back the updates now
Did a system restore and still nothing. Anyone know any fixes?
TL:DR: Latest Realtek Audio Universal Service breaks audio services; System restore works.
Local Service account logged on to manage Windows Audio service does not seem to have proper permissions it requires.
Symptoms:
No Sound output devices present after restart.
Offending Driver:
Realtek Audio Universal Service
2023-05-09
1.0.616.0
HWID: SWC\VEN_10EC&SID_0001
Device:
Acer Nitro 5, Nitro AN515-58
OS: Windows 11, 22H2
OS build 22621.1848
Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22642.1000.0
Details:
In my case, what breaks my audio is when the Realtek Audio Universal service gets updated.
I saw that happen a few weeks ago - I was able to narrow it down to that driver. The problem since today is that the driver I avoid updating manually is now part of Windows update, which breaks my audio every time.
If your system has been installed for quite some time, the System Restore will work but at the expense of messing system defaults for some reason. If that happens, a workaround is to download a script that fixes some apps but you'll have to manually "fix" other apps by clicking on "Repair" in Settings. Based on what I've seen, there hasn't been any reliable solution to the issue since breaking. If you decide to reinstall Windows 11, just be sure that VMA is disabled (for some laptops) but you'll end up at the same situation every time the Realtek AUS is updated.
Just to add. I've also noticed that the Windows Audio service is in a non-restartable state since the Local Service seems to have lost permissions or that the driver that came with the update or maybe just that specific version has issues (just a guess). I changed it to local System account and having it interact with the desktop but even though that leads to a visible audio icon in the task bar there is no Audio.
Observations:
Audio icon visible when resolving the issues with the Logon Service account from Local Service to Local Systems account - no audio output from any output device.
