Realtek audio admin background is preventing shutdown" and after a few seconds the pc shuts down

[shane143]

Realtek audio admin background is preventing shutdown" and after a few seconds the pc shuts down, only just started happening 

[Max3Aj]

Hello @shane143, and welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for posting your question. I'm here to help you get things back on track.

The message "Realtek audio admin background is preventing shutdown" typically indicates that a Realtek audio process is delaying or interfering with Windows shutdown. This can happen due to a recent driver update, background service hang, or audio device misconfiguration.

Here are steps to resolve the issue:

Update Realtek Audio Driver

Outdated or buggy drivers can cause shutdown delays. HP has released updated Realtek drivers to fix such issues.

• Visit the HP Drivers page: Official HP® Support
• Enter your notebook model and download the latest Realtek High Definition Audio Driver.

Roll Back Audio Driver (if issue started recently)

If the issue began after a Windows or driver update:

• Press Windows + X → Device Manager
• Expand Sound, video and game controllers
• Right-click Realtek Audio → Properties → Driver tab → Roll Back Driver

Disable Realtek Audio Background Task (Temporary Workaround)

You can disable the Realtek background task to prevent shutdown interference:

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
• Go to Startup tab
• Locate Realtek HD Audio Manager or similar
• Right-click → Disable

Then restart your PC and check if shutdown proceeds normally.

Use HP Audio Check Tool

HP offers an automated diagnostic tool to detect and fix audio-related issues:

• Launch HP Audio Check: HP Sound Issues Troubleshooter
• Follow the prompts to test and fix audio services.

HP Support Assistant | HP® Support

Optional: Reset BIOS to Defaults

Corrupted BIOS settings can sometimes interfere with hardware shutdown:

• Restart your PC and press Esc repeatedly → Startup Menu
• Press F10 → BIOS Setup
• Go to Exit tab → Select Load Setup Defaults → Save and Exit

HP Notebook PCs - Advanced sound troubleshooting in Windows | HP® Support

I hope the information shared has been useful and resolves your concern.

Wishing you a smooth and hassle-free experience ahead!

If this solution helped, please click “Accepted Solution” so others can benefit too. Don’t forget to hit the “Yes” button if you found this helpful!

Warm regards,

Max3Aj

HP Support