Fix Skype cannot access the sound card in Windows 10

2 September 2018 By karan

Any device that uses the microphone or speaker must access the sound card. The same goes for Skype. However, sometimes, users report the problem where they get the following error while trying to use Skype:

Skype cannot access the sound card

Cause

The cause of this error is that some Windows updates have messed up something due to which Skype was facing sound card connection issues. Another reason is when you change the version of Windows on your system while keeping the files in the same place (eg Upgrading from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10). This causes permissions to ruin access to and from the system.

The problem could also be if we don't update the sound card drivers when updating Skype to a later version.

We could solve the problem step by step to solve it:

Solution 1] Allow apps to use the microphone

Sometimes, the setting that allows apps to use the microphone is turned off. We have to turn it back on before anything else.

1] Click Home and then the gear symbol to open the settings page.

2] Go to Privacy and then Microphone from the left menu ..

3] Turn the setting Allow apps to access your microphone to OVER IT.

Solution 2] Use the Hardware and Device Troubleshooter

Since the issue is related to accessing the sound card, the hardware and device troubleshooting may be helpful in identifying and resolving the problem.

1] Click Home and then the gear symbol to open the settings page.

2] Go to Updates and security and then al Troubleshoot Tab.

3] Select the file Troubleshoot hardware and devices e run it.

4] Restart the system.

You can also try running the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter for Skype app issues.

Solution 3] Update Windows

As mentioned above, one of the causes of the error is a messed up Windows update. If Microsoft were aware of this fact (or whenever it did), the company could perhaps find a solution to this problem and push it in the form of a Windows update. Here is the procedure to update Windows.

Solution 4] Update your audio input and output drivers

If the drivers haven't been updated in time, updating them could help a lot with the resolution. Here is the procedure for updating the drivers. Make sure you update your audio input and output drivers.

Solution 5] Perform a clean reinstall of the Skype application

A clean uninstall of Skype means removing all traces of Skype from the system. Although it is a complex process, proceed step by step to get it right:

1] Quit Skype and that doesn't just mean closing the application. A better idea would be to press CTRL + ALT + CANC to open the security options window and select Task Manager. Find the Skype process, right click on it and select Last task.

2] Press Win + R to open the Run window and type the command appwiz.cpl. Press Enter to open the window.

3] Find Skype in the application list. Right-click on it and click uninstall to remove the Skype application from the system. Restart your system.

4] Now press Win + R to open the Run window again and type the command %appdata%. Press Enter to open the window.

5] Right-click on Skype folder and then click Delete.

6] Now go to C: Programs or C: Programs (x86) location and check if the Skype or SkypePM folder exists there. If so, right-click and delete them.

7] Restart the system.

8] Re-install the Skype application from the Skype download site.

Hope it helps!