RepairWindows

How to Fix Generic Audio Driver in Windows 10 Effortlessly

Jack

By Jack Lin

Update on

Generic Audio Driver

The sound device is the main component of the computer system. Sound devices play an important role when you want to play games, watch movies, or listen to music.

However, sometimes it may stop functioning due to various sound malfunctioning errors. Many users have a complaint about this problem in Windows 10.

If you are also facing this problem, then you are not alone. There could be many reasons for generic audio driver issues in Windows 10.

The users report that the sound device stops working. Even if they try troubleshooting and searching for errors, they get the generic audio driver-detected message. It is not possible for the users to detect issues manually one by one. 

It is frustrating to get the same error again and again, and it is hard to diagnose the cause of this error.

But no worries, we have covered all the possible reasons and solutions that will help you solve this problem.

Read this article and learn to generic audio driver fix in Windows 10 on your own.

1. What Is a Generic Audio Driver Error?

The generic audio driver detected is the error that troubleshoots display when it detects an audio problem in your computer system.

When you troubleshoot the audio error, a generic audio driver-detected message will pop up, indicating that the audio device is not responding to the command of your computer system. It is common to run into this problem because it is too generic. 

Generic Audio Driver Error

The worst part about this issue is that the generic audio driver is persistent and tough to diagnose.

It is a common problem, and many people ask questions related to this issue, like ‘how to fix generic audio driver detected’ or ‘ways to  generic audio driver fix.’ 

Nonetheless, some simple and effective methods have solved this problem for many Windows users. Read further to learn about various methods to help you solve this issue.

PS: if you are experiencing issues like audio codec not being supported, here are the top solutions.

2. Ways to Troubleshoot Generic Audio Driver Errors in Windows 10

In this part, we have mentioned some easy and quick methods to troubleshoot a generic audio driver and fix it. Troubleshooting is the best way to detect the cause of any problem in your computer system.

For example, it can detect issues like printers offline, cannot respond, unidentified networks, and so on.

Following are some solutions you can consider for solving the audio problem.

Method 1: Check the Status of Your Computer’s Audio Services

One of the main causes of generic audio driver-detected issues is when the audio services are disabled.

Hence, before taking any action regarding this problem, check the status of your computer’s audio services.

Following are the steps that will help you to do so.

#1: Press the Windows + R key combination to open a ‘Run’ dialog window.

#2: In the box, type in ‘services.msc‘ and click on the ‘OK’ button to execute the process.

type in 'services.msc'

#3: In a ‘Services’ window, scroll down and locate ‘Window Audio Endpoint Builder’ and ‘Window Audio’ and check whether their status is denoted as ‘Running.’ If it is not, right-click on each option and choose ‘Start.’

Check audio services status to fix Generic Audio Driver in Windows 10

#4: Click on both options and change the ‘Startup type’ section to ‘Automatic.’

change the 'Startup type' section to 'Automatic.'

#5: Click on the ‘OK’ button to save the changes. Check whether your audio services are working fine. 

Method 2: Update Auto Drivers

If the audio service of your computer is missing or outdated, you can encounter a generic audio driver-detected problem.

Follow the below steps for a generic audio driver fix.

#1: Again, you need to open a Run dialog box. Use Windows and R key combinations to open the window.

#2: In the box, type ‘devmgmt.msc‘ and click on the ‘OK’ button to run the program.

type 'devmgmt.msc'

#3: Open ‘Device Manager’ and press on the ‘Sound, Video, and Game Controller’ option to expand it. Then choose the ‘Outdated driver.’

Update Audio driver to Fix Generic Audio Driver in Windows 10

#4: Right-click on the outdated driver and choose the ‘Updated Driver’ option. 

#5: After completing the process, click on the ‘OK’ button to save the changes. Now, restart your computer system and check whether the audio problem persists.

Method 3: Reinstall Audio Driver

Consider reinstalling the audio driver if the above method fails to fix the generic audio driver detected problem.

The following steps will guide you through reinstalling your audio driver.

#1: Go to the ‘Start’ menu and search for ‘Device Manager’ in the taskbar. Click on the first option that matches your search. 

#2: In the ‘Drive Manager’ window, right-click on the ‘Driver’ option and then select ‘Uninstall Device.’ Follow the same process for all the divers that are faulty.

#3: After uninstalling ‘Driver’ from your computer system, restart your computer. 

#4: Again, go to ‘Device Manager’ and right-click on your computer’s name at the top-left side of the window. Now, click on ‘Scan for hardware changes’ and patiently wait for the reinstallation of the driver.

Reinstall audio driver

Method 4: Disable Auto Enhancements

Auto enhancement improves sound cards and boosts the quality of the sound. However, it sometimes creates a problem for the audio device, interferes with its program, and causes the generic audio driver-detected error.

Following are the steps that will help you to turn off auto enhancement. 

#1: Once again, open the Run dialog box and type Control in the box.

#2: In the Control Panel, locate the Sound option and right-click on it. Now click on the Properties option.

click on the Properties option

#3: Click on Enhancements and the Disable all sound effects box in a Properties window to check it. Click on OK to save the changes.

Disable Auto Enhancements to Fix Generic Audio Driver in Windows 10

3. Use Recoverit to Recover Missing Data from Windows 10

Data loss is a common problem for Windows device users. Although several methods are available in the market to recover the data, they still are ineffective.

If you are facing a data loss problem, this section will help you recover data.

Therefore, you just need to follow a few easy steps to recover your lost data. With the help of the Recoverit data recovery program, you can recover around 100MB of data without spending any money. Before diving into the steps, let’s first know what Recoverit data recovery software is.

It is the best software to recover missing files from the drive. Recoverit can recover data from any storage device, including an external storage device and your computer hard drives like SD cards or USB flash drives.

It can effectively diagnose up to 1000 different file formats, including audio, video, images, documents, etc.

Plus, Recoverit can recover data from under any situation given. For example, recovering lost data due to a crashed computer system or virus attack or any other such situation.

You must use this software to easily and quickly recover missing data from your computer system. 

Below is a Simple Guide Which Will Walk You Through Recovering Your Lost Data with Recoverit.

Step 1: Install Recoverit on Your PC

  • Firstly, you need to visit the official download page of Recoverit and download this program to your computer system. Install the software and locate its icon on your Desktop to launch it successfully. 

Step 2: Choose a Location

  • After successfully installing and launching the program, you must choose the data drive you want to recover. All the drives with the data are located in the main window of Recoverit. 
  • Select the drive with the lost data and click on the ‘Start’ button to continue the process. 
Recoverit Data Recovery

Step 3: Scan the Location

  • After clicking on ‘Start,’ Recoverit immediately scans the drive for lost data. The scanning process can take time, depending on the size of the data drive. Wait patiently till it completes its process successfully.
  • You can ‘Stop’ or ‘Pause’ the scanning process if you do not want to discontinue the scanning process. 
Scan the location

Step 4: Preview and Recover the File

The below guide will help you to preview and recover data files.  

  • In a new window, you can see all the lists of the files. To preview a particular file, just click on that file, and on the right side of the panel, a thumbnail will appear.
  • After that, click on the Preview option and preview the file you want to recover.
  • Click on the Recover option to save the previewed file.  
Preview and Recover the file

Also read: How to reduce background noise on mic on Windows 10.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How can I check if my audio drivers are outdated?

To check if your audio drivers are outdated, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Device Manager by pressing Windows + X and selecting Device Manager.
  2. Expand the Sound, video, and game controllers category.
  3. Right-click on the Generic Audio Driver and select Properties.
  4. In the Properties window, go to the Driver tab and check the driver version and date.

Q: Can I manually download and install audio drivers?

Yes, you can manually download and install audio drivers from the manufacturer’s website. Visit the website of your computer or audio device manufacturer, locate the drivers section, and download the appropriate audio driver for your device. Then, follow the installation instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Q: Why is my microphone not working in Windows 10?

There could be various reasons why your microphone is not working in Windows 10. Some possible causes include incorrect microphone settings, outdated audio drivers, hardware issues, or microphone privacy settings. You can try the following steps to troubleshoot the problem:

  1. Check if the microphone is properly connected.
  2. Ensure the microphone is not muted or disabled in the sound settings.
  3. Update your audio drivers.
  4. Adjust microphone privacy settings.
  5. Test the microphone on another device to rule out hardware problems.

Q: How often should I update my audio drivers?

It is generally recommended to update your audio drivers whenever new updates are available. This ensures that you have the latest features, bug fixes, and compatibility improvements. You can check for driver updates periodically or enable automatic driver updates through Windows Update.

Q: Is it necessary to restart my computer after updating audio drivers?

In most cases, it is recommended to restart your computer after updating audio drivers. Restarting allows the changes to take effect and ensures a smooth transition to the new drivers.

Q: What should I do if none of the solutions work?

If none of the solutions provided in this article work, you may consider seeking further assistance. Contacting the support team of your computer or audio device manufacturer can help you troubleshoot the issue more effectively.

Final Thought

In this post, we have covered almost all possible reasons and solutions that will help you fix generic audio drivers detected.

To fix this issue, a basic understanding of the problem is necessary. Here, we have tried to explain every detail regarding the generic audio driver fix.

If the above solutions cannot solve your problem, comment below and let us know about the issue.

Jack
Jack

10 years of experience in information and computer technology. Passionate about electronic devices, smartphones, computers, and modern technology.

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