[WIN] "APO can't be applied" error

If you encounter the "APO can't be applied" error in the standalone app, this guide details the issue and provides solutions to resolve it.

In this article:

 

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What this error message means

The SoundID Reference app is unable to detect a working APO processing mode for the selected output device. As a result, the regular Virtual Windows audio driver is being applied for output as an alternative.

Apart from the APO driver not being available, this can also cause some problematic behavior - for example, some features and GUI elements being unresponsive after dismissing the error. 

If you are encountering this error, the issue is most likely previously installed APO instances, which have been corrupted and are no longer usable (APO installs a new format of sound processing instance directly in the Windows Audio Engine, not the virtual output device we've used to with other driver types). Removing the previously installed APO instances should solve the issue.

 

How to remove previously installed APO instances

  1. Quit SoundID Reference fully: right-click on the SoundID Reference tray icon > Quit 
  2. Delete the config file: Deleting the config file in SoundID Reference standalone app
  3. Click on the Windows dock icon () to open Windows Search
  4. Type "CMD" in Windows Search to find Command Prompt
  5. Click on the Run as administrator (or right-click on Comand Prompt to access this option)
  6. Execute the two commands shown below: copy-paste each command into the Command Prompt window one by one; hit Enter to execute each command:
    cd C:\Program Files\Sonarworks\SoundID Reference\Systemwide\APO
    APOConfigService /remove-drivers
  7. Close Command Prompt and relaunch the SoundID Reference app. You should now be able to create a new APO output preset successfully!

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Restart SonarworksAPOConfigService:

  1. Press Win key+R

  2. In Run, type in: services.msc
  3. Locate SonarworksAPOConfigService
  4. Right-click on the service and select Restart
  5. Close Command Prompt and relaunch the SoundID Reference app. You should now be able to create a new APO output preset successfully!

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