The Geek Solutions | Fix Windows Errors, Android & Software Issues

You built a new PC or updated Windows, and you plugged in your headphones. You try to open the Realtek Audio Console to change the equalizer or enable “Loudness Equalization,” but the app refuses to load.

Instead of the controls, you see a spinning circle that lasts forever, or a blank screen with a terrifying error message:

“Can not connect to RPC service.”

Sometimes, it simply says “Realtek Audio Console is not supported on this machine” even though you have a Realtek chip on your motherboard.

This is one of the most annoying errors in modern Windows because the old “Realtek HD Audio Manager” (the orange icon) has been replaced by this new Microsoft Store app, and it breaks constantly.

In this guide, I will show you how to fix the RPC communication error and get your audio controls back.

🛑 My Opinion: Why This App is a Nightmare

Let’s be honest for a second. The move from the old, reliable “Legacy” drivers to the new “UAD” (Universal Audio Driver) system has been a mess for users.

The “RPC Service” error happens because the App (from the Microsoft Store) is trying to talk to the Driver (in your System32 folder), but the communication line is dead. Usually, this isn’t your fault—it’s because Windows Update silently updated the driver component without updating the software component, creating a version mismatch. The fixes below essentially force them to shake hands again.

Method 1: The “Service Restart” (Most Common Fix)

The error explicitly mentions “RPC Service.” Often, the specific background service required for the app simply hasn’t started.

Right-click the Start button and select Task Manager.
Go to the Services tab (the puzzle piece icon on the left).
Click Open Services at the top (or press Win + R and type services.msc).
Scroll down and look for these two services:
- RtkAudioUniversalService
- Realtek Audio Universal Service
Double-click RtkAudioUniversalService.
Change the Startup type to Automatic.
If the Service status says “Stopped,” click Start.
Crucial Step: Do the same for the standard “Windows Audio” service just to be safe.

Now, try opening the Realtek Audio Console again. If the spinning circle is gone, you are done!

Method 2: Reset the App Data

If the service is running but the app is still stuck, the app’s cache might be corrupted.

Press Win + I to open Settings.
Go to Apps > Installed Apps.
Search for Realtek Audio Console.
Click the three dots next to it > Advanced Options.
Scroll down to the “Reset” section.
Click Repair. Wait a moment and test.
If it still fails, click Reset. (Note: This will delete your saved equalizer presets).

Method 3: The “Driver Cleanup” (The Sniper Fix)

If Methods 1 and 2 failed, your drivers are mismatched. You cannot just “Update” them—you must nuke them and let Windows reinstall the correct match.

Right-click Start > Device Manager.
Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
Right-click Realtek(R) Audio and select Uninstall device.
Check the box: “Attempt to remove the driver for this device.”
Click Uninstall.
Do NOT restart yet.
Click Action (top menu) > Scan for hardware changes.

Windows will detect the sound card and install the default “High Definition Audio” driver. Now, run Windows Update immediately. It will pull the perfectly matched UAD driver for your specific motherboard. Once the update finishes, restart your PC.

Method 4: Disable “Fast Startup”

It sounds unrelated, but “Fast Startup” saves the state of your drivers to the hard drive instead of shutting them down completely. Sometimes, the Realtek service gets stuck in a “zombie” state during this hibernation.

Open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
Click “Choose what the power buttons do”.
Click the link at the top: “Change settings that are currently unavailable”.
Uncheck the box “Turn on fast startup (recommended)”.
Click Save changes and restart your computer properly.

⚖️ Final Verdict

If you are just trying to get sound and don’t care about “Audio Effects” or “Room Correction,” you might not even need this app.

However, if you need the equalizer:

Try Method 1 first. It takes 30 seconds and fixes 80% of cases.
If nothing works: Consider installing a third-party equalizer like Equalizer APO. It is free, more powerful than Realtek, and doesn’t rely on the buggy Microsoft Store.

💡 Read Also on The Geek Solutions:

Driver Issues? 5 Best Free Driver Updaters (Safe & Fast)

System Crashing? Fix CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED Blue Screen

Did restarting the Service fix the RPC error for you? Let us know in the comments!