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Another App is Controlling Your Sound: How to Fix it

Make sure to end tasks that might be using your audio

5 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

We all usemultimediaapps on our PCs, but sometimes users can’t start their favoritemultimediaapps due toAnother app is controlling your sounderror.

This can be a problem, and it can even cause issues such asRealtek sound not workingon your PC. However, today we’re going to show you how to fix this issue.

Why does Can’t play, another app is controlling your sound message appear?

How do I fix Another app is controlling your sound error?

1. Pause MS Office Upload Center

Alternatively, you can also download Office updates right fromMicrosoft’s website.

2. End audiodg.exe

3. Check if Windows Audio services are running

After starting the Windows Audio service, the problem should be fixed. Few users claim that you can fix this problem simply by stopping the Windows Audio service and restarting it, so feel free to try that as well.

4. Disable your audio driver

After doing that, the problem with yourmultimediaapps should be resolved. Keep in mind that this is just a workaround and you’ll have to repeat it every time this problem appears.

5. Watch an online video

This is a crude workaround, but it works according to users, so feel free to try it. If thiserrorappears in othermultimediaplayer instead of Groove Music, just follow this solution and use your preferred player instead of Groove Music.

6. Disable applications from taking over your audio

Once your PC restarts, other applications won’t be able to take control over your audio device and the problem should be resolved.

7. Remove the problematic updates

After removing the updates, check if the problem is resolved. If removing the updates fixed the issue, you need to prevent the problematic updates from installing again.

To do that, you’ll need todownload Show or hide updates troubleshooterfrom Microsoft. The tool is simple to use, and you can use it to prevent the problematic update from being installed, so feel free to try it.

8. Restore default Sound settings

After doing that, yourSoundsettings will restore to default and the problem should be fixed.

Another app is controlling your sounderrorcan prevent you from enjoying inmultimediaon your PC. As you can see, this isn’t a seriouserror, and you should be able to fix it by using one of our solutions.

In case you’re having further problems, we have a great guide on how to fixno sound on Windows 11, so be sure to check it out.

Another App is Controlling Your Sound: How to Fix it#

Why does Can’t play, another app is controlling your sound message appear?#

How do I fix Another app is controlling your sound error?#

1. Pause MS Office Upload Center#

2. End audiodg.exe#

3. Check if Windows Audio services are running#

4. Disable your audio driver#

5. Watch an online video#

6. Disable applications from taking over your audio#

7. Remove the problematic updates#

8. Restore default Sound settings#