Fix NS_E_NOT_CONFIGURED (0XC00D0BBC) Audio Error

What triggers this error

You'll see this error when you try to play audio or record something, and Windows throws up NS_E_NOT_CONFIGURED (0XC00D0BBC). It means the audio device you're using isn't fully set up. I see this most often on Windows 10 and 11 after a driver update or when you plug in a new microphone or speaker.

Cause #1: Wrong default audio device

This is the number one reason. Windows picks the wrong device as default. For example, you plug in a USB headset, but Windows still uses your monitor's speakers. The error shows up because that monitor doesn't have audio hardware ready to go.

Fix: Set the correct default device

1. Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar (bottom right corner).
2. Select Open Sound settings.
3. Under Output, look at the dropdown that says Choose your output device. Click it.
4. Pick the device you want to use. If you're using speakers, pick Speakers (Realtek Audio) or whatever yours is called. If it's a headset, pick that.
5. Then scroll down to Input and do the same: pick the microphone you want to use.
6. After you change it, you should see the sound test button light up. Click Test next to the output device. You'll hear a tone if it works.

That's it for most people. On Windows 10, after step 2 you might see a page that says Sound Control Panel on the right. Click that, go to the Playback tab, right-click your device, and pick Set as Default Device. Then click Apply and OK.

Cause #2: Audio driver is corrupted or outdated

If the default device is set right but the error still shows up, the driver is likely messed up. This happens after a Windows update or if you install some driver update tool that breaks things.

Fix: Reinstall the audio driver

1. Press Windows Key + X and pick Device Manager.
2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
3. You'll see your audio device listed, like Realtek Audio or Intel Smart Sound Technology. Right-click it and pick Uninstall device.
4. A popup will ask you to confirm. Check the box that says Delete the driver software for this device. Then click Uninstall.
5. Wait 10 seconds. Then restart your computer.
6. After the restart, Windows will automatically find and reinstall the driver. You'll see a notification saying Installing device driver software. Let it finish.

If Windows doesn't automatically install the driver, go back to Device Manager, right-click the same spot, and pick Scan for hardware changes. It'll pick it up.

Cause #3: Audio services are stopped

Sometimes the Windows Audio service just stops running. This is less common, but I've seen it after a crash or a power outage. The error shows up because the service that manages audio devices isn't running.

Fix: Restart the Windows Audio service

1. Press Windows Key + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
2. Scroll down to Windows Audio. Right-click it and pick Restart.
3. After it restarts, right-click it again and pick Properties.
4. In the General tab, make sure the Startup type is set to Automatic. If it's not, change it.
5. Click Apply, then OK.

Also check Windows Audio Endpoint Builder in the same list. Restart that one too. Set its startup type to Automatic.

Quick-reference summary

This error is annoying but not hard to fix. Try the fixes in order. The first one works for 8 out of 10 people I help. If none of these work, you might have a hardware problem—try a different speaker or microphone to test.