Windows 10 app specific audio

Question

I use two different chrome installations and use the Windows 10 app specific audio options to assign each to a different audio device, on board and my sound card.

This has worked flawlessly until recently, (1-2 weeks) where suddenly it is struggling to differentiate between the two installations and is sometimes playing sound from the secondary chrome via my primary device/sound card (despite being assigned to the on board). If I assign it to default and back to on board, it generally fixes the issue.

I was using stable+canary but have switched to stable+beta. Same issue.

Anyone have any insights into what's happened and how to fix?

Thanks! :)

Answer 1

Hi BlueTalon

I am Vijay, an Independent Advisor. I am here to work with you on this problem.

Please try these steps and check after each step. If these don't work, let me know. I will provide further troubleshooting steps.

1. Run Troubleshooter

Windows Key+i > Update & security > Troubleshoot > Playing Audio > Run the troubleshooter

2. Take actions related to Audio Driver

Windows Key+X > Device Manager > View tab > Show hidden devices > Sound, Video & game controllers > Right Click on the entry below (if more than one, then you will have to repeat the steps for all) > Properties > Driver Tab >

A. Roll Back - If Roll back driver is enabled, roll it back

B. Update - Update driver

C. Download and reinstall the driver from computer manufacturer's website - If you face issue, let me know your computer make and model?

3. Check Speaker / headphone is not disabled and is set as default

Type Sound in Windows Start Seach box > Click Sound > Under Playback tab, right click on an empty space and select, Show disconnected devices and Show disabled devices > Select Speaker and click on Properties and make sure that it is is enabled > You may also check if the Speaker that you are using is set as default.

4. There are two other actions which you can undertake. You can try them one by one and check after each.

a. Restore from a system restore point to a point when things were working fine

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12415/...

b. If the issue has been caused due to recent Windows update - I would suggest that you uninstall the latest KB update and hide it so that it doesn't install it automatically and wait for new update to come which will be installed automatically.

To know which update got installed

Windows Key+i to invoke Settings > Update & Security > Click View installed update history. These KBs should be from the below list. Don't uninstall any other KB

For 1809 - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4464619

For 1803 - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4099479

Make note of KB and uninstall and block it.

Uninstall

Windows Key + R > Type: appwiz.cpl > Enter > Click View installed updates > Select the required updates, right click, uninstall.

Block

Microsoft has provided a tool Show/Hide Updates tool to block the update

Download the tool from below link

http://download.microsoft.com/download/f/2/2/f2...

When you run this troubleshooter, it will search for available updates and list them

Select the update which you want to hide. Click Next and follow on-screen directions

Answer 2

Still a problem.

Answer 3

Potentially useful scenario:

If I open the secondary chrome install (beta) on it's own, sound will come through the primary/default device (Asus sound card). This is despite it showing in the app volume and device preferences as being correctly set to the on-board device (realtek). 

If I open and play audio in the primary chrome install (stable), audio from the secondary chrome will begin correctly playing through the on-board device. 

Thanks

Answer 4

Depending upon your KB, you need to see in the below list

For 1809 - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4464619

For 1803 - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4099479

Answer 5

1. Run Troubleshooter

Suggested disabling enhancements. Did not work.

2. Take actions related to Audio Driver

Drivers are up to date and haven't changed in nearly a year. Problem arose recently.

3. Check Speaker / headphone is not disabled and is set as default

Neither are disabled. One is set to default, the other is not. This is how it should be and was like this before when the problem wasn't occurring.

4. There are two other actions which you can undertake. You can try them one by one and check after each.

a. Restore from a system restore point to a point when things were working fine

Don't have any restore points available.

b. If the issue has been caused due to recent Windows update - I would suggest that you uninstall the latest KB update and hide it so that it doesn't install it automatically and wait for new update to come which will be installed automatically.

I have 33 recent updates, is there anything I can do to narrow down which to uninstall/hide?

Thanks