USB Audio Driver (WDM) (usbaudio) Service Defaults in Windows 11

Default Settings

Startup type: Manual
Display name:USB Audio Driver (WDM)
Service name:usbaudio
Service type:kernel
Error control:normal
Path:%SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\usbaudio.sys
Registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbaudio

Default Behavior

USB Audio Driver (WDM) is a kernel driver. In Windows 11 it starts only if the user, an application or another service starts it. If USB Audio Driver (WDM) fails to start, the failure details will be recorded into Event Log. Then Windows 11 should boot up and notify the user about the usbaudio service startup failure.

Restore Default Startup Configuration of USB Audio Driver (WDM)

1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.

2. Copy the command below, paste it into the command window and press ENTER:

sc config usbaudio start= demand

3. Close the command window and restart the computer.

The usbaudio service is using the usbaudio.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.