Audio went away after i booted my pc for some reason and hasn’t came back. Red cross ❌ on the speaker symbol

Troubleshooting Audio Issues on Windows: When the Sound Turns Off Unexpectedly

Have you ever experienced a sudden loss of audio on your Windows PC, only to find that the sound icon displays a red cross and the speaker symbol indicates no sound? Such problems can be puzzling, especially when the audio was working perfectly just moments before. If you’re facing a similar issue where your audio has disappeared after rebooting, here’s a comprehensive guide to help you diagnose and resolve the problem.

Understanding the Issue

In some cases, users report that their audio stops working unexpectedly following a system restart. The typical symptoms include:

The speaker icon displaying a red cross or “no sound” indicator
The Windows troubleshooter indicating that one or more audio devices are not functioning properly
An inability to start the Windows Audio service, often accompanied by error messages such as “Error 0x86” and “Access Denied”

Common Troubleshooting Steps Taken

Many users attempt standard solutions to fix audio problems, including:

Deleting and reinstalling audio drivers
Following tutorials on platforms like YouTube
Running the Windows troubleshooter

Despite these efforts, if the issue persists, more advanced troubleshooting may be necessary, especially if the Windows Audio service cannot be started.

Advanced Troubleshooting: Addressing Services and Permissions

When standard solutions fail, consider the following steps:

Check the Windows Audio Service Status:
Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
Locate “Windows Audio” in the list.
If the service is not running, right-click and select “Start.”
If you encounter an error such as “Error 0x86” with “Access Denied,” it indicates a permissions or configuration issue.
Verify Permissions and Dependencies:
Ensure that the Windows Audio service has the necessary permissions.
Check the “Dependencies” tab in the service properties to verify related services like “RPC Endpoint Mapper” are running.
Check System File Integrity:
Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
Run sfc /scannow to scan and repair corrupt system files.
Reset Windows Audio Components:
Manually reset audio services and related components.
Use Command Prompt to stop and start associated services:
net stop audiosrv net start audiosrv
Also, reset the