Microsoft Trusted Audio Drivers (drmkaud) Service Defaults in Windows 11
Default Settings
| Startup type: | Manual |
| Display name: | Microsoft Trusted Audio Drivers |
| Service name: | drmkaud |
| Service type: | kernel |
| Error control: | normal |
| Path: | %SystemRoot%\System32\drivers\drmkaud.sys |
| Registry key: | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\drmkaud |
Default Behavior
Microsoft Trusted Audio Drivers is a kernel driver. In Windows 11 it starts only if the user, an application or another service starts it. If Microsoft Trusted Audio Drivers fails to start, the failure details will be recorded into Event Log. Then Windows 11 should boot up and notify the user about the drmkaud service startup failure.
Restore Default Startup Configuration of Microsoft Trusted Audio Drivers
1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Copy the command below, paste it into the command window and press ENTER:
sc config drmkaud start= demand
3. Close the command window and restart the computer.
The drmkaud service is using the drmkaud.sys file that is located in the C:\Windows\System32\drivers directory. If the file is removed or corrupted, read this article to restore its original version from Windows 11 installation media.