This would not be much puzzling to say that 80% of the computer users inclined to internet streaming would have encountered the error message “audio renderer error, please restart your computer” while using YouTube.
Being specific to a streaming niche, the problem has been reported more prominent within n YouTube. However, the users using iTunes or any other media player are also inevitable to this error.
The audio renderer error YouTube is prevalent in the Windows 10 operating system. Still, there is no definitive statement in favor of its occurring in only YouTube or windows 10 as this can arise in any version of the windows 10 operating system.
If you are using YouTube or any other audio player, you may experience this error irrespective of the browser you are using; all browsers are at an equal risk of getting this error message.
Before proceeding to the list of effective fixes to audio renderer error windows 10, here we have stated the most common & expected causes that trigger this audio renderer error. This will assist you in figuring out the actual cause of this error in your case.
Causes of Audio renderer error
These are the most common causes of Audio renderer error.
- Outdated or incompatible version of audio drivers
- Outdated or bugged BIOS
- Outdated window or browser
- Sampling rate synchronization issue
- Audio drivers’ bug
Fixes to Audio renderer error windows 10
If you are going through this discussion, that clearly means that one of those users is experiencing the audio renderer error and are searching for a way to get out of this error. Given this concern, we have analyzed this critic thoroughly & finally; we are here with the most effective strategies to assist you in overcoming this annoying situation.
Restart the computer
The restart option works in many situations to get the issues resolved readily. Though restarting the computer is not a long-lasting fix in various problems, we can not ignore it. This should be your first priority if you are experiencing an “audio renderer error, please restart your computer” situation, as it is even the only recommended solution mentioned in the error message also.
You need to close your particular windows interface in which you encounter a specific error and then restart your computer system.
Unplug & re-plug the headphone
Sometimes the very little yet quick tactic can overcome the most significant problems. Still, such quick tactics should not be considered the ultimate solution to any issue as their result only lasts for a limited duration. We have found a similar kind of tactic in many users’ reports to resolve the audio renderer error and is as simple as just unplugging & plugging the headphones from your computer system.
For this, you need to unplug the secondary audio playback device attached to your system, either it is a pair of headset or earphone and plugs it again after few seconds. Then check that the error has been resolved or not.
Clear cache & cookies
Each time you access any webpage, the few quickest associated with that webpage get automatically saved in your device cache storage. For instance, if we consider the error in YouTube, such cookies can also cause the audio renderer error if there is any corrupted cookie of file. So, clearing the saved cookies & cache can overcome this error.
- Click on the three-dotted icon available on the top-right edge of your browser.
- Select the settings from the displayed list.
- Navigate to the “privacy and security” tab.
- Click on the “Clear browsing data” option to remove the cookies & cache.
Browser settings> Privacy and security> Clear browsing data.
Note: the deletion of cache & cookies doesn’t affect the system in any way if it was not the cause of the problem.
Troubleshoot the Audio
The troubleshooter is an efficient built-in feature available with each application in Windows 10 that is capable enough to detect & resolves the fundamental issues associated with the particular software or application.
So, if your audio system encounters such an issue that triggers an audio renderer error, this troubleshooter will automatically detect the issues with the Audio system. If there is any issue in actuality, then the troubleshooter will proceed to a list of available audio devices. You’ll need to select the specific audio output device for repairing.
- Access the Windows settings.
- In the settings menu, click on “Update & security” settings.
- Choose the “troubleshoot” option from the left panel.
- Select the “Playing Audio” option.
- Click on “Run the troubleshooter.”
- Select the audio output device and click on the repair option.
- Restart your PC to implement the changes.
Settings> Update & security> Troubleshoot> Playing audio> Run the troubleshooter> Select audio device> Select repair> Restart PC
Rollback or uninstall the audio driver
Each time you face this kind of issue, considering an outdated driver as the cause of the problem, you initially go for the drivers’ updates option. But if the audio drivers in your system are already updated to the latest edition, then maybe the problem is within driver’s edition compatibility.
The latest audio driver edition installed on your system may not be compatible with your device; in this case, you would need to roll back the driver to the previous version by following ways.
- Launch the control panel on your PC.
- Navigate to device manager.
- In the device manager menu, select the Audio inputs & outputs option.
- Select the specific audio output device and right-click on it to access its properties.
- In device’ properties, choose the “Driver” tab.
- Click on the “rollback driver” option.
Control panel> Device manager> Audio inputs & outputs> Select audio output device> Properties> Driver tab > Roll back driver
In other cases, the audio drivers being installed on our system may contain any corrupted file, which may also cause audio renderer error windows 10. In such cases, you will need to reinstall the Audio driver by uninstalling the already existing one.
To uninstall the audio drivers on windows 10:
- Launch the device manager from the control panel.
- In the device manager menu, select the Audio inputs & outputs option.
- Right-click on “Audio inputs & outputs” and select the “uninstall device” option.
- After the successful uninstallation process, restart your PC.
Windows 10 will automatically reinstall the audio drivers after uninstallation of already installed drivers.
Control panel> Device manager> Audio inputs & outputs> Select audio output device> Uninstall device> Restart PC
Disable & reenable audio drivers
Sometimes the Audio devices may also get affected by specific system files that may lead to an “audio renderer error; please restart your computer” situation. The most effective way to avoid such states is to reenabling the audio drivers of your system.
Initially, you would have to disable the drivers then again enable them a few moments later.
- Launch the device manager from the control panel in your system.
- Click on the Audio inputs & outputs option.
- Select the particular audio playback device.
- Right-click on the selected device and then click on the “disable device” option.
- Wait for few seconds and then enable it again by clicking on the “enable device” option.
Control panel> Device manager> Audio inputs & outputs> Select audio output device > Disable device > Re- enable device
Synchronize the sampling rate of the ASIO driver & sound driver
In a case, if the Cubase is open and the “YouTube audio renderer error” occurs, then the most common cause might be the variant sampling rates in windows sound drivers & ASIO (Audio stream input-output) drivers.
In such a situation, the error that occurred can be dismayed only by synchronizing the sample rates. So, you would have to set the same sample rate manually on both drivers by following ways.
To set sample rate on Audio driver:
- Open the “Hardware and Sound” settings from the control panel on your system.
- Click on the “Sound” option.
- Select the particular audio playback device and click on its properties.
- Navigate to the “Advanced” tab in properties.
- Set a specific sample rate below the default format.
- Apply the changes & click on Ok.
Control Panel> Hardware and Sound > Sound > Select output device > Properties > Advanced > Set sample rate > Apply > Ok
To set sample rate on ASIO driver:
- Launch the ASIO driver and access its settings.
- Select the audio devices from the “Audio” tab.
- Set the sample rate. (same as you set in audio driver first)
- Restart your PC and check whether the problem is resolved or not.
ASIO driver> Settings > Audio devices> Audio tab> Set sample rate > Restart PC
Update the BIOS (Dell computers)
If you are a dell computer user, the most likely cause of YouTube audio renderer error might be the bugged BIOS version installed on your system. It has been reported by many users encountering a similar issue that they have successfully eradicated the audio renderer error by updating the BIOS version of their Dell computers.
So, updating the BIOS version is also a recommended way to get out of this error. You can update the BIOS version from the official Dell website. It is to be noted that the BIOS update process must be performed precisely; you can access a complete related guide also on the Dell support page.
Conclusion
“Audio renderer error please restart your computer” is a pretty common error that users often encounter on playing any audio file either on YouTube or using the sound system for any other purpose. As it is more on YouTube, that’s why most users know it with the name “audio renderer error YouTube”.
It usually occurs due to few technical causes, and you can overcome this error simply by fixing those technical errors first. As the issues are associated with Audio, the most likely cause would also be linked to the audio driver.
This article has covered few significant fixes to this error, such as reenabling audio drivers, Audio driver troubleshooting, BIOS update, computer restart, reconnecting externally attached audio playback devices, etc.
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