How to fix audio renderer error on YouTube? Despite making it this far into the 21st century, our digital space just doesn’t seem to get rid of bugs and errors popping up. Every now and then we find ourselves with a problem.
Luckily, there are solutions! One of the most common errors being reported by Windows 10 users is one related to the audio renderer. It appears while a video is playing on YouTube.
In this article, we’ll show you how you can fix YouTube playback issues and carry on with your entertainment without interruptions.
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Audio renderer error: please restart your computer
To start, let us make it clear that the problem isn’t necessarily with the browser you’re using or with your Windows installation.
The YouTube audio renderer problem has been reported by users worldwide from a variety of Windows versions and browsers, so uninstalling yours may not be the fix you’re looking for. The popular video-streaming website itself isn’t the problem either.
Note: Some users have reported that the error comes up when they had two or more external audio devices hooked up to their PC. If this is the case with your setup, your quickest solution is to just disconnect the secondary device and keep your primary or preferred audio system.
The most likely reason for that issue is a faulty connection or a problem with the audio driver. Many started to get that error after an update or connecting a different sound system to their PC.
Whatever the case may be, we’ll be telling you ways to get rid of it. Use any of the methods below, or keep trying different ones until one works for you. Doing the latter can also help you figure out exactly where the problem was.
- Disconnect and connect your Sound System
The classic “have you tried turning it off and on again” helps more often than not!
If you’re using an external audio device such as headphones or speakers, then you should try to unplug these devices and reconnect them again.
As a layer of added insurance, restarting your PC could also help solve the issue.
Note: There are cases where these have been widely reported as temporary fixes to a deeper problem. If your error persists, then you should try some of the other methods.
- Use the Troubleshooter
One of the greatest things about Windows 10 is the extent of automation it offers.
To get rid of the error, you can have Windows diagnose the problem and carry out solutions on its own.
The Troubleshooter may also advise you on potential actions you can take to resolve the error. Follow the steps below to run the Audio Troubleshooter:
- Go to the Start Menu (or hit the Windows key on your keyboard);
- Access Settings (can be directly put into the Windows Search Bar);
- Go to “Update & Security”;
- From the vertical menu on the left of your screen, select “Troubleshoot”;
- Now go to the “Playing Audio” heading and click on “Run the troubleshooter”.
Just wait for the program to run on its own and try to solve the problem. This usually works for faulty drivers. Alternatively, it might inform you that there are more up-to-date drivers available for installation.
- Reconfigure your Sound System
This method lets you roll back and update your audio device. In simpler terms, you’ll basically be making your sound system more compatible with your PC. Follow the below steps for this:
- Open up the Windows Search Bar;
- Type “Device Manager” and press the Enter key or run the program;
- Click on “Audio inputs and outputs” to expand the menu;
- Right-click on your sound system;
- Select “Disable device”;
- Count to 3 slowly;
- Right-click on the sound system, but this time click check “Enable device” from the pop-up menu.
There are a few other things you’re going to do now:
- After right-clicking on your sound system, select “Properties”;
- From this new menu, go to the “Driver” tab from the top;
- On the left side of this screen, you’ll see an option saying “Roll Back Driver”. This feature essentially takes away the latest update;
- Now close this menu and return to where you right-clicked on your sound system;
- From the pop-up menu, choose “Update driver”. A new window will come on your screen;
- Select “Search automatically for updated driver software”;
- Your system should now take over and complete the work.
Restart your PC once all is done!
If your error persists, you can perform this same method on the audio devices listed in the “sound, video, and game controllers” tab. This drop-down menu shows you devices that were previously connected to your PC and could be causing the problem.
- Reset Your Audio Devices
To reset your audio devices you will have to uninstall and reinstall your sound setup:
- Open the “Device Manager” and right-click on your audio device as explained in the previous method;
- From the pop-up menu, select “Uninstall device”;
- Carry out this step for all your connected sound systems. You can also try this method from the audio devices listed in the “Sound, video, and game controllers” tab;
- Restart your PC. All drivers will be reinstalled automatically when your PC boots up again.
Renderer error – Dell
By now you should have your problem solved. In the rare event that the error persists, you may be using a Dell laptop. If that is the case, you likely have an issue in your BIOS. It’s a bug that will hopefully be removed in upcoming updates, but until then you should follow the instructions on the Dell Support page to update your BIOS.
Note: Updating the BIOS is a sensitive task and should be done strictly as instructed, otherwise you risk serious harm to your system.
Wrap Up
As you’ve seen, there could be many causes for this error, each one with specific ways to solve it.
We hope these methods worked for you and you’re back to browsing YouTube without any further hassles.
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