"Audio Passthrough Not Working on Windows 10 VMs"

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Sound Passthrough not working on Windows 10 VM via Remote Desktop: Despite verifying Remote Desktop settings on multiple affected devices, audio does not Passthrough to the VM.

Environment

VMware ESXi 7.x
VMware ESXi 8.x

Cause

This issue arises from the template used to create the affected Windows 10 VMs, due to the following misconfigurations:

• VM Virtual Hardware > Video Card was set to custom settings instead of default.
• "Remote Desktop Services UserMode Port Redirector" service was in a stopped state, preventing proper audio redirection.
• VMware Tools are not in sync, potentially affecting virtual hardware and service interactions.

Resolution

Workaround 1

Uninstall and Reinstall VMware Tools

Ensuring that VMware Tools are properly installed and in sync is critical for virtual machine functionality.

Uninstalling VMware Tools:

1. Log in to the affected Windows 10 VM.
2. Open Control Panel > Programs and Features.
3. Locate VMware Tools, right-click, and select Uninstall.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation.
5. Restart the VM once the uninstallation is complete.

Installing VMware Tools:

1. Log in to vCenter and open the VM Console.
2. Navigate to VM > Guest > Install/Upgrade VMware Tools.
3. Follow the installation wizard within the guest OS.
4. Restart the VM after installation to apply changes.

Workaround 2

Ensure Video Card is Set to Auto-Detect

1. Power off the VM.
2. In vCenter, go to Edit Settings for the VM.
3. Expand the Video Card section.
4. Set it to Auto-Detect Settings.
5. Save changes and power on the VM.

Workaround 3

3. Enable the "Remote Desktop Services UserMode Port Redirector" Service

1. Open Run (Win + R) and type services.msc, then press Enter.
2. Locate "Remote Desktop Services UserMode Port Redirector" in the list.
3. Right-click the service and select Properties.
4. Set the Startup type to Automatic.
5. Click Start to ensure the service is running, then click OK.

 

***Guest OS vendor should be engaged if the issue persists and if there is still no sound passthrough after following the above workarounds.