When you use Windows, have you ever received the error message “This Device Is Being Used By Another Application”? When attempting to play video or audio while connected to a device by means of an HDMI cable, you will typically run into this typical error.
There are a lot of different things that could be causing this problem, including an issue with the audio device, problems with third-party applications, corrupted system files, and a lot of other things. In this article, we will walk you through the troubleshooting steps to help fix the issue in Windows where you see the message “This device is being used by another application.”
The contents demonstrate
Fix The message reads, “Another Application Is Currently Utilizing This Device.” Error
Are you getting the error message “This device is being used by another application” when you try to play audio or video on your personal computer? The following is a list of potential solutions to the problem:
1. Disconnect any peripherals that are connected to your computer.
Your first course of action should be to remove any and all peripherals connected to your personal computer. Disconnect any accessories, such as monitors, headphones, or other Bluetooth devices, and check to see if the problem persists after doing so. For instance, if you are using such accessories, you should see if you are still having this problem after doing so.
2. Ensure the Device Is Correctly Connected
If you are experiencing this problem while utilising some input/output device, then check to see that the device is connected to your computer in the correct manner. If it is a wired device, you must first disconnect the wire from the computer and then reattach it. If it is a Bluetooth device, then you can link it by following the steps that are outlined in the following paragraphs:
To open the Settings app, press the Windows key in combination with the I key.
To add a device, first select Bluetooth & devices from the sidebar on the left, then click the Add Device button.
Option for adding a device under Bluetooth and Devices.
Now, click on Bluetooth, and then follow the instructions that appear on the screen to successfully link the Bluetooth device to your personal computer.
3. Start the Audio Troubleshooter programme.
One more thing that you could try doing is operating the audio troubleshooter on your device. To accomplish this, proceed as described in the following steps:
To begin, launch the Settings app for Windows 11 on your device.
To troubleshoot an issue, select the Troubleshoot option from the System menu.
Next, select Other Troubleshooters from the drop-down menu.
Various other problem-solvers
At this point, you need to click the Run button that’s located next to the Playing Audio.
Run beside Playing Audio
To fix the issue, run the audio troubleshooters by following the instructions displayed on the screen.
4. Determine which application is making use of the sound
You might run into this problem if the sound is being used by another app, which is another possibility. You are able to accomplish this with the assistance of the volume mixer.
To open the Volume Mixer, press the Windows key in combination with the R key, then type sndvol, and finally press OK.
sndvol
You will now be able to view all of the applications that are making use of the speaker. You will need to exit any apps that are using the speaker that you do not want to use because you will need to close those apps.
The Task Manager can be accessed by using the key combination Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
Check to see that you are currently on the Processes tab.
Right-click on the application that was making use of the speaker, and then select End Task from the context menu to terminate the app even though it is still running in the background.
5. Prevent applications from assuming executive control of the device by disabling this setting.
If you are having trouble with the message “This device is being used by another application” on your personal computer, you can try disabling applications so that they cannot take executive control of the device. To accomplish this, proceed as described in the following steps:
You can launch the Settings app on your personal computer by pressing the Windows key and the I key simultaneously.
Click on the Sound option that is located to the left of the System tab in the sidebar.
The More Sound Settings button can be found in the Advanced section, which can be accessed by scrolling down to that section.
Additional Sound Configurations
Now, give your speaker or headphones a right-click, and after doing so, select the Properties option.
Select the Properties menu option.
Remove the checkmark from the box labelled Advanced under the tab. Make it possible for applications to assume complete control of this device. Make it possible for applications to take complete command of this device.
Now, to save the changes, click the Apply button, and then the OK button.
6. Make your Speakers or Headphones the Default Device in Your Device Settings
To solve this problem, you can try making the speaker or headphones that you are currently attempting to use the default device instead. You can accomplish this by following the steps that are outlined below:
You can access the Settings app by first pressing the Windows key and then clicking its icon.
Select System from the list of options on the left sidebar, and then select Sound from the list of choices on the right.
Next, select the “More Sound Settings” option found in this menu.
Additional Sound Configurations
After right-clicking on the device you want to use, select the Set as Default Device option from the context menu.
Set as Default Device 7. Begin Again the Audio Service.
Problems with the audio service are likely to be the source of the majority of occurrences of this issue. You are able to restart the audio service by carrying out the procedures as outlined below:
Combo-press the Windows and R keys together, then type Services.msc and hit the Enter key.
services.msc
Search for Windows Audio in the window that displays the services, right-click on it, and then select the option to Restart to restart the service.
Look for Windows Audio 8 on the search engine. Restore Corruptions in the System Files
When you run the SFC scan, it will repair all of the corrupted system files and all of the issues that have been caused as a result of those files. To accomplish this, proceed as described in the following steps:
On your personal computer, launch the Command Prompt while logged in with administrative privileges.
In the window for the terminal, type the following command and then press Enter to carry it out: sfc /scannowsfc scan
When the scan is finished, any corrupted files will automatically have their errors fixed.
9. Update Audio Drivers
You need to check that the audio drivers have the most recent updates. This is simply to ensure that audio devices continue to function normally. To ensure that your audio drivers are always up to date, follow the steps given below:
After pressing the Windows key in combination with the X key, click the Device Manager option on the menu that appears.
start menu device manager
To expand the list of audio inputs and outputs, double-click the Audio inputs and outputs option.
A variety of sonic inputs and outputs
Now, right-click on the audio device that you want to update the driver for, and select the Update Driver option.
In the new window that has appeared, select the option to Search Automatically for Drivers. This will download the most recent drivers available on the internet and install them on your personal computer.
10. Check to see that the Device is Enabled on your Computer.
If you have a Windows computer and you keep getting the message “This device is being used by another application,” it’s possible that the problem is caused by the fact that the device is not authorised to be used on your computer.
Check to see if the device is permitted to be used on your computer; if it is not, you will need to grant permission for its use. You can accomplish this by following the steps that are outlined below:
Launch the Settings application on your personal computer.
After selecting the System tab, select the Sound option from the menu that appears.
system sound
In the section labelled “Output,” choose the media player from which you want the audio to be played.
You will find a setting referred to as Audio under the General heading. The presence of the button labelled “Don’t Allow” indicates that the device in question is permitted to play audio. If you do not see the Allow button, then the device is permitted; if you do not see the Allow button, then the device is not permitted.
Closing Remarks
This article will assist you in resolving the issue if you are unable to play audio or video on your device because of the error that states “This device is being used by another application” on your personal computer. The steps for troubleshooting that we have outlined for you should be able to assist you in fixing the problem that you have been experiencing. If you run into problems while attempting any of the steps outlined in the previous paragraph, please let us know in the section below labelled “Comments”