Fix Audacity Could Not Find Audio Devices [Solved 2024]

Audacity is a popular multi-track audio editor and recorder tool. Podcasters, vloggers, audio and video producers love to use it for its easy-to-use features.

Audacity detects your audio devices right after installing the program. It’s a very lightweight and user-friendly tool.

However, sometimes artists face problems with Audacity not finding any audio devices. This can appear for using an old version, disabling audio devices, not giving proper permission, a clash between drivers, and so on.

Though it offers promptness while editing, it seems pathetic if you face your Audacity not finding any audio devices.

In this article, I’ll explain the reasons behind this issue and how you can solve them pretty quickly.

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Why Audacity Could Not Find Audio Devices?

Audacity could not find the audio devices because of using an outdated version of Audacity, disabling playback and recording devices, not giving Audacity access to the microphone, and incompatible or conflicted audio drivers with Audacity and your operating system.

Additionally, more reasons can cause not finding audio devices in Audacity.

Here are the reasons behind Audacity couldn’t find audio devices:

Outdated Audacity

The outdated Audacity version can be incompatible with your current Windows version or microphone. The old Audacity version is not suitable for Windows 10.

Some microphones need the latest version of the application to work perfectly. Your microphone may not work correctly with your current Audacity version.

Disabled playback and recording devices

Disabling playback and recording devices from the sound setting can cause Audacity not to find audio devices. It can also lead to Internal PortAudio error.

Disabled microphone access permission

Windows 10 has a privacy setting to access the microphone. It can prevent some third-party apps from accessing the microphone.

Disabling the option or disabling Audacity from the privacy can cause not finding audio devices in Audacity.

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Incompatible audio driver

Your current audio driver can be old for Audacity. Old audio drivers may not work with every application, creating issues with not finding audio devices.

The audio driver you use can be incompatible with the playback or recording devices.

The conflict between Realtek and Windows update

After updating Windows, it’s a common issue with Realtek Audio Driver not working correctly. The conflict can happen between the old Realtek and the new Windows version.

Old Realtek Audio Driver can create some malfunctions with audio devices in Audacity.

Issues with other audio tools

If you are using other audio tools other than Audacity on your device, it can prevent Audacity from accessing audio devices.

It can mostly happen if the tools run in the background or conflict with the audio driver.

How To Fix Could Not Find Audio Devices in Audacity

Not finding audio devices in Audacity can be quickly fixed by restarting the PC. Besides, updating the apps, enabling playback and recording devices can fix the problem. Giving Audacity the access to use a mic, updating the old audio driver, and uninstalling the audio driver can resolve the case.

When you want to work with Audacity, this issue can prevent you from working. However, you can fix this problem very comfortably by following the procedure given below.

Here are the ways to fix could not find any audio devices in Audacity:

1. Restart PC

There can be some glitch or problem in the cache file that can cause Audacity not to find audio devices in your current session.

Restart your PC and see if your issue is fixed. In most cases, a restart works fine with the audio issue.

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2. Update Audacity

The old version of Audacity can be incompatible with your current operating system version. Some old versions are incompatible with Windows 10.

Update your Audacity and install it to make it compatible with the OS.

Here is a process to update the latest version of Audacity:

• Visit the Audacity website.
• Download the latest version for your OS.
• Locate the downloaded file.
• Double-click on the file to install.

Installing the latest version may solve the incompatibility issue with the operating system, playback, and recording devices.

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3. Enable playback and recording devices

Audacity can’t detect any audio device if they are disabled from the sound settings. Enable playback and recording devices from the sound settings to make them visible in Audacity.

Here is the process to enable playback and recording devices:

• Search and open the Control Panel from the Windows search menu.
• Press on Hardware and Sound.
• Tap on Sound.
• Right-click on the device from the Playback section.
• Tap on Enable.
• Click on the Recording tab.
• Right-click on the recording device.
• Press on Enable.

Enabling recording and playback devices from the sound setting will allow Audacity to access audio devices.

4. Allow Audacity to use a microphone

Privacy settings in Windows can block Audacity from accessing the microphone. There’s also a chance that the option to use a microphone is disabled on your PC.

Allow Audacity to use the microphone manually so that it can access your mic as a recording device.

Here are the steps to allow microphone access:

• Search and open Settings from the Windows search bar.
• Press on Privacy.
• Scroll down and find the Microphone on the left side.
• Tap on the Microphone.
• Enable Allow apps to access your microphone.

Manually changing the option will allow Audacity to use a microphone while recording audio.

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5. Update the audio driver

Using an old audio driver can be incompatible with Audacity and the audio devices. Update the driver manually to get the latest version.

Here are the steps to update the audio driver:

• Search and open Device Manager from the Windows search menu.
• Expand Audio inputs and outputs.
• Right-click on the audio driver you want to update.
• Press on the Update driver.
• Tap on Search automatically for drivers.
• After updating, restart your PC.

It will install a new version of the audio driver on your PC. After restart, check Audacity to see if the issue is fixed.

6. Reinstall Realtek Audio Driver

Issues with Realtek Audio Driver are common after a Windows update. It starts malfunctioning and doesn’t detect or work properly after a windows update. Uninstall the current Realtek version and freshly install a new one.

Here is the way to uninstall Realtek Audio Driver:

• Search Device Manager and open it.
• Scroll down and find Sound, video and game controller.
• Expand the option.
• Right-click on Realtek High Definition Audio.
• Press on Uninstall Device.
• Tap on Search automatically for drivers.

After uninstalling, you need to download and install the latest version of Realtek Audio Driver.

Here is the process to download and install the latest Realtek Audio Driver:

• Visit Realtek’s official website.
• Check mark on agreement and press on Download the file.
• Locate the downloaded program.
• Double-click on the file and install.

A fresh install should fix the issue if you have a problem with Realtek Audio Driver. Now, Audacity should be able to find the audio devices.

7. Disable or uninstall other audio tools

If you use other audio tools on your device, it can conflict with Audacity. Using it in the background creates problems in most situations.

Close other audio tools from the background. If the issue still occurs, disable or uninstall the audio tools.

Here is the process to uninstall an audio tool:

• Open Control Panel.
• Click on Programs.
• Press on Programs and Features.
• Find the audio tools you want to uninstall.
• Right-click on the apps and tap on Uninstall.
• Restart your PC.

Check Audacity after the restart of your issue is solved. If the problem remains, follow the step given below.

8. Reinstall Audacity

There’s a chance the Audacity application wasn’t installed or updated correctly on your device. Bugs or glitches can happen while installing. There could be a bug with the version you installed.

Reinstall Audacity properly to fix your issue.

Here is the process to reinstall Audacity:

• Search Apps & Features from the search bar.
• Find Audacity in the apps list.
• Tap on Audacity.
• Press on Uninstall.

After uninstalling Audacity, download the apps again and install them.

Here is the process to download and install Audacity:

• Visit and download the apps from the website.
• Go to the downloaded location.
• Double-click on the apps and install it.

A reinstall should fix your issue with not finding audio devices in Audacity.

FAQs

How to fix Audacity not having sound?

If the device is detected by Windows, open Audacity and go to Transport > Rescan Audio Devices from the menu bar.

How to fix Audacity not picking up my audio?

If the mic is not working, check from Sound > Recording. If it works fine, go to Audacity and from the toolbar, Edit > Preferences > Devices. Set 1 (Mono) from Recording Channel.

How to fix Audacity playback not working?

Go to Sound > Playback and right-click on speaker or headphone, and press on Set as Default Device.

Final Thought

Audacity is a handy software for recording and editing audio tracks. But it can bother you when audio devices are not detectable.

It can be worrying while working on a project.

I’ve presented the probable reasons behind this issue and how you can solve them. I expect you have fixed the matter effortlessly.

See you at the next one!