Fix USB DAC 'Code 10' No Sound After a Windows 11 Update

If your USB DAC or headphone amp went silent after a Windows update and Device Manager shows “This device cannot start. (Code 10),” a January 2025 security update (KB5050009) broke audio for USB 1.0-based DAC devices. Microsoft shipped a fix, so the cleanest solution is to install the newer update; rolling the bad one back is the fallback.

Confirm it’s the Code 10 DAC bug#

Open Device Manager, expand Sound, video and game controllers (and Audio inputs and outputs), and look for your DAC with a yellow triangle; its Properties will read “This device cannot start. (Code 10).” This specifically hits DACs that present as USB Audio 1.0 devices — many headphone amps and older external DACs — while the PC’s built-in audio keeps working.

Step	What it does
Install the latest Windows update	Applies Microsoft’s fix (KB5050094+)
Uninstall KB5050009	Removes the update that broke it
Plug audio in directly	Temporary workaround, bypasses the DAC

Install the fix, or roll back#

First, install all pending updates: Settings, Windows Update, Check for updates. Microsoft’s out-of-band fix (KB5050094 and later cumulative updates) restores USB 1.0 DAC audio, so being current usually solves it outright. If you cannot update yet, remove the update that caused it: Settings, Windows Update, Update history, Uninstall updates, and remove KB5050009 — see uninstalling a Windows update for the steps and how to stop it reinstalling.

If sound is still missing#

After updating, unplug and replug the DAC, and set it as the default device in Settings, System, Sound. If Windows still will not start it, uninstall the DAC in Device Manager and scan for hardware changes to rebuild the driver. As a stopgap, plug headphones into the PC’s own jack to confirm the DAC is the only thing affected. For the broader checklist when nothing plays, see no sound on Windows 11.

Common questions#

What does “This device cannot start. (Code 10)” mean for a USB DAC?#

It means Windows could not initialize the device’s driver. After the January 2025 update it specifically affected USB Audio 1.0 DACs; installing Microsoft’s fix update clears the Code 10 and the DAC starts again.

Which Windows update broke USB DAC audio?#

KB5050009, the January 2025 security update, broke audio on USB 1.0-based DAC devices. The fix arrived in KB5050094 and subsequent cumulative updates.

How do I get sound back right now without waiting?#

Plug your headphones or speakers into the computer’s own audio jack to bypass the DAC, then either install the latest Windows update or uninstall KB5050009.

Is my DAC broken?#

Almost certainly not — if it works on another PC or after the fix update, the problem was the Windows update, not the hardware.