Audacity Error opening recording device, Error 9999 Unanticipated host error

Audacity is a popular and free-to-use digital audio editor and recording application. But while using it on Windows PC, users have reported coming across Audacity Error opening recording device, 9999 Unanticipated host error. If you face this issue, then this post will help you.

The problem occurs while trying to record something on Windows PC. Thankfully, like any other issue, it can be eliminated as well with some simple fixes. Let’s check them out one-by-one.

What causes Audacity Error code 9999 Unanticipated host error?

Audacity throws Error code 9999 Unanticipated host error while trying to record something on the application. There are multiple reasons behind the culprit. Some of the most common ones are listed below.

1. The problem in the question will occur if Audacity is not allowed to access the Microphone.
2. If any other audio recording application is running in your system’s background, you will most likely face the problem.
3. Different third-party anti-virus programs can interfere with the smooth functioning of Audacity and cause problems.

Now that you have prior knowledge of different reasons causing the issue let’s check out how to fix them.

Audacity Error code 9999 Unanticipated host error

Here are all the effective solutions to try to get rid of Audacity Error code 9999 Unanticipated host error.

1. Restart the application
2. Allow the application to access Microphone
3. Close similar applications
4. Set the Microphone as the default device
5. Disable third-party antivirus software
6. Troubleshoot in Clean Boot

Now, let’s check out all these fixes in detail.

1] Restart the application

Before trying any of the below technical solutions, the first step you should take is to restart the application. As it turns out, for most users, the problem resulted from a temporary glitch and was fixed upon restarting the application. So, restart Audacity and check if it fixes the problem. If yes, you are good to go. But in case the problem continues, try the next solution on the list.

See: Fix Audacity FFmpeg error on Windows PC

2] Allow the application to access Microphone

As mentioned, one of the primary reasons behind the problem in question is that you haven’t allowed Audacity to access the system microphone. You will have to allow Audacity to access the Microphone to fix the problem. Below are the steps you need to follow to fix the problem.

1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I shortcut key.
2. Click on the Privacy & security options present on the left panel of the screen.
3. Click on Microphone.
4. In the following window, enable the toggle present next to Microphone access.

That’s it. Now reboot your Windows PC and launch Audacity. Check if you are still encountering the error message while trying to record.

See: Fix Audacity FFmpeg error on Windows PC

3] Close similar applications

Another primary reason behind the problem is the similar running applications in the background. As it turns out, different applications with Audacity-like functionalities running in the background can cause the issue in question. You will have to close all such applications to fix the problem.

To be very precise, the problem results from applications like Skype, Zoom, or Google Meet. So, open the Task Manager > Right-click on Audacity-like applications > Click on End task from the context menu. Once the process is complete, launch the application and check if the problem continues. If yes, try the next solution on the list.

4] Set the Microphone as the default device

The next solution on the list is to set the Microphone as the default device. Below are the steps to do it.

1. Open Settings.
2. Navigate to System > Sound > More sound settings.
3. Switch to the Recording tab.
4. Select the Microphone.
5. Click on the Set Default option.
6. Click on Apply > OK.

Launch the application and check if the problem is solved.

5] Disable third-party antivirus software

Different third-party anti-virus programs can interfere with the smooth functioning of Audacity and cause the problem in question. As a solution, disable any such application installed on your system and check if it solves the problem. If yes, then you know what is causing the issue. From the next time, temporarily disable such application before running Audacity.

Read: How to split and merge Audio files using Audacity in Windows

6] Troubleshoot in Clean Boot

If none of the steps were helpful, you could consider troubleshooting in clean boot. The system boots up with a pre-selected minimal set of drivers and startup programs in the clean boot state. So, troubleshoot in Clean Boot and check if it fixes the problem.

How do I fix unanticipated host on Audacity?

One of the best ways to eliminate an anticipated host error on Audacity is to rescan the Audio Devices. You can do it by opening Audacity> Clicking on Transport, and then Rescan Audio Devices. Wait until the process is complete and check if it fixes the problem. If not, you will have to recheck the Audacity settings.

Read Next: Reduce or Remove Background Noise using Audacity for Windows PC