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If sound stopped after KB5015878, Microsoft’s Known Issue Rollback (KIR) is not a universal repair: Microsoft says it prevents the problem on devices that have not installed the update, but does not fix devices already affected. First check whether Windows selected the wrong output or muted it; if the problem persists, troubleshoot the affected device, port, app, or driver. For managed enterprise devices, an administrator can deploy Microsoft’s KB5015878-specific KIR Group Policy.
What audio problem did KB5015878 cause?
In its July 26, 2022 release notes, Microsoft reported that some Windows devices could lose audio after installing KB5015878. The affected Windows 10 builds were 19042.1865, 19043.1865, and 19044.1865. The failure could affect all audio or be limited to a particular port, audio device, or application.
Microsoft said the issue was more likely on devices whose audio drivers had enhancements disabled before the update, or whose drivers had compatibility problems with the audio-enhancements feature. The cited release notes give no incidence count or percentage, so they do not establish how often the problem occurred across Windows devices.
Will Microsoft’s Known Issue Rollback restore sound?
It depends on the device’s state and how it is managed. Microsoft describes KIR as a way to roll back a problematic non-security change delivered through Windows Update; for this issue, its documented effect depends on whether the device was already affected.
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| Device state | Management | Documented action and effect |
|---|---|---|
| KB5015878 has not been installed | Consumer or other non-managed device | KIR can arrive automatically and prevent the issue. Microsoft says propagation may take up to 24 hours; restarting may help it apply sooner. |
| KB5015878 is installed and audio is affected | Consumer or other non-managed device | Microsoft says the KIR “will have no effect” on devices already affected. Use symptom-specific troubleshooting instead. |
| KB5015878 is installed and audio is affected | Enterprise-managed device | Microsoft instructs administrators to install and configure the special KB5015878 KIR Group Policy for the applicable Windows 10 version. The release notes say this policy is required for that managed-device path. |
Those distinctions are from Microsoft Support’s KB5015878 release notes. They matter because waiting for an automatic rollback or restarting is not a documented way to restore sound on a computer that is already affected.
How to troubleshoot sound that is already broken
Work from the narrowest checks to broader changes. This helps distinguish a Windows output-selection problem from a failure limited to one app, port, or device.
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- Test the scope. Play audio in more than one application. If available, try the built-in speakers, headphone jack, and another output device. Note whether all sound is missing or only one route or app fails.
- Check the selected output and volume. In Windows sound settings, confirm that the intended output device is selected and that its volume is up and not muted. If sound is missing only from one app, check that app’s own volume and output selection, if it has one.
- Restart Windows. Restarting is a reasonable first check for a temporary audio problem. If the device was not previously affected and is waiting for automatic KIR, Microsoft says a restart may help the rollback apply sooner; it is not a promised repair for an already-affected device.
- Inspect the audio driver if the issue began after the update. Open Device Manager and locate the audio device. Depending on what is available for that device, update the driver, roll it back, or reinstall a compatible driver. Microsoft’s general audio support guidance notes that incompatible or partially installed drivers can prevent audio from working after an update. The appropriate choice depends on the device and driver state; the cited KB release notes do not prescribe one driver for every affected computer.
- Isolate a limited failure before changing system-wide settings. If only a port, device, or application fails, focus on that route or app first. Microsoft’s mitigation depends on the symptoms and whether KB5015878 was installed.
Should you uninstall KB5015878?
Microsoft’s cited release notes do not present uninstalling KB5015878 as a universal fix. They describe KIR and symptom-dependent mitigation instead. Because the issue can be limited to one output path or application, check those possibilities and the driver before treating update removal as the answer for every case.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should an IT administrator do?
For an enterprise-managed device that has KB5015878 installed and is already experiencing the audio issue, Microsoft directs administrators to install and configure the KB5015878-specific KIR Group Policy for the applicable Windows 10 version. Follow Microsoft’s Group Policy deployment instructions and the release notes for the relevant version; this is separate from the automatic KIR path described for non-managed devices.
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Microsoft’s references for the issue and general audio troubleshooting are its KB5015878 release notes and Fix sound or audio problems in Windows. The release notes identify the affected builds, symptoms, and KIR behavior; the general support article covers Windows audio and driver troubleshooting.
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