Fix YouTube Audio Renderer Error: “Please Restart Your Computer”
YouTube is the go-to website when you want to watch a video of anything. Most people will upload a video here over other platforms because it’s easy. Users who want to watch a video, go to YouTube because it a popular video platform and because playing a video on it is easy. Both the mobile and desktop version, as well as the mobile apps over a seamless playback experience.
YouTube: Audio renderer error: Please restart your computer
YouTube only needs a modern web browser and an active internet connection to work. The video will play and the audio will play with it. Video rendering and audio playback on YouTube, or on any other website, or app relies on your system to be configured correctly. If the video or audio drivers aren’t working correctly, you can play neither audio nor video.
If you’re playing a video on YouTube, and you see the Audio renderer error: Please restart your computer error message, run through the following checks.
- Quit and reopen the browser
- Try using a different browser, preferably Chrome
- Check if you’re able to play a local video in an app like TV & Movies or VLC player
- Check if you’re able to play videos on other websites e.g., Facebook
If the above does not fix the problem, and you’re able to play local video as well as videos on other websites, try the following to fix the error message on YouTube.
1. Restart the system
You should first and foremost restart the system. The error suggests this and you should try it. The problem should not persist after a restart however, if it does, try the other fixes we’ve listed.
2. Check/change audio devices
If you have an external audio device connected to your system, it may be experiencing problems or the system may not have been able to configure it correctly.
Switch to an internal audio device e.g., the built-in speakers. Try also to connect a different audio device e.g., a pair of wired or wireless headphones and check if YouTube is able to play the video.
3. Restart the sound card
Regardless of which audio device you use, it works via the sound card on your system. Restarting the sound card can fix the YouTube error.
- Open Device Manager.
- Expand Audio inputs and outputs.
- Right-click the sound card and select Disable device.
- Once disabled, restart the system.
- Open Device manager again.
- Expand Audio inputs and outputs.
- Right-click the sound card and select Enable device.
4. Run audio troubleshooter
Windows 10 comes with an audio troubleshooter. Run it and it may be able to resolve audio problems.
- Open the Settings app with the Win+I keyboard shortcut.
- Go to Update and security.
- Go to the Troubleshoot tab.
- Click Additional troubleshooters.
- Run the Playing audio troubleshooter and apply all fixes that it recommends.
5. Disable hardware acceleration in browser
Modern browsers now support hardware acceleration and it’s useful when you have to use power web apps, but it can also cause problems. Try disabling hardware acceleration in the browser and then play a video on YouTube.
You can disable hardware acceleration in both Chrome and Firefox.
6. Check add-ons and extensions
Make sure the add-ons and extensions you’ve installed are not causing problems. Disable them all and check if the video plays.
Conclusion
YouTube generally doesn’t cause problems. That said, sometimes these errors show up because of network problems. If you’re using a VPN, try disabling it and then play a video. You can also try reinstalling the browser you use and the problem should go away.
