I have the latest 3.0.4 version yet still the interface freezes, I can play music into the programme, monitor the sound, press record and the wave is shown as usual. The recording can be played back via the transport buttons. However NONE of the other controls are working. I can’t use any of the file, edit etc commands, get into preferences, save the project, open a project…
The 3 series version is the problem as I used the previous version without any trouble whatsoever. Be really grateful if someone can tell what is going on. So frustrating not being able to use this great programme.
A friend is having exactly the same problem, he has a workround of uninstalling and then reinstalling each time! That can’t be right surely!!
Which version of Windows (including which language, and 64 / 32 bit)?
Are you using the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Audacity 3.0.4?
Which was the last “good” version that you used?
Do shortcut keys work? (Example, “Ctrl +P” to open preferences, “Ctrl + X” to cut, “Ctrl + V” to paste…)
Is Audacity installed in the default location on your C: drive?
Hi Steve
Windows 10 64 bit
64 bit Audacity
v 2.4.2 worked well all the time
Shortcut keys not working
The install is not on the C: drive. I have a SSD so prefer to use the data HDD drive for ancillary progs.
The v2.4.2 worked fine from here, in fact since I posted a short while ago I uninstalled the 3.0.4 version and reinstalled then 2.4.2 version onto the D: drive as before and it all worked fine.
Uninstalled that and reinstalled the 3.0.4. Worked immediately after install but after closing and reopening nothing working again.
Looks like my friend is correct in his odd workround!!
Do you think it may be because of the install location then, wired the 2 version is ok but not the 3 version?
I’ve not ruled that out.
Do you know where your friend installs Audacity?
Do you know what the disk format is on your D: drive?
Not sure where offhand, I’ll check with him, although believe it is the C: drive.
My D: drive is NTFS same as C: drive
Please do.
Have you tried resetting Audacity?
To do that:
- Ensure that Audacity is not running
- Open the hidden folder *Users<username>\AppData\Roaming\audacity*
- If necessary, make backup copies of any custom plug-ins / macros that you may have installed.
- Delete the entire contents of *Users<username>\AppData\Roaming\audacity*
If that makes no difference, then, as a test, reset again (as described above), then uninstall Audacity, then install Audacity to the default location. Does that work? (I’m not suggesting this as a permanent solution - we’re just trying to find what’s causing the problem)
Just tried your suggestions
Audacity was uninstalled anyway.
Deleted the files as suggested, see screenshot:
Installed 3.0.4 to default C: Drive
All looks ok at the moment
Have opened and closed a few times and so far so good.
Hopefully all sorted
Thanks
I’d be interested to know if Audacity will work on your D: drive (after clearing the "Users<username>\AppData\Roaming\audacity" folder).
I believe that “should” work, and if it doesn’t then it should be investigated by the developers as a possible bug.
Tried it on D: Drive, problem returned so reset as suggested and placed back on C: drive, now seems ok.
Lets see what happens in a day or two…
I have an HP Envy laptop running W10 with:
a) 256 MB SSD - C: drive
b) ITB onboard HD (spinning metal) - D: drive
I normally have the app and temp files on the C: drive and all 3.x versions have worked fine.
-
I installed 3.0.4 on my D: drove, but left the temp files on the C: drive
3.0.4 worked fine, ran smoothly and the shortcuts worked -
I then set the temp files to also be on the D: drive
Thiis time also 3.0.4 worked fine, ran smoothly and the shortcuts worked
So I cannot recreate this issue …
Peter.
Failed to open correctly again!
After a few days I have the same problem, to recap:
Take advice from contributors(Steve), after trying options…
Installed to default folder on C drive.
The prog worked ok last week when tested, opened today to record more LP’s. Interface frozen, no file menus options available, can’t use close X command etc, so closed by using right click on taskbar. Tried again and same problem.
Went to appdata/roaming/audacity and removed the folders/files inside as advised on earlier post.
Now works correctly.
The files present in the audacity folder and now deleted:
The Folders for Macro & Plugins also deleted (Not shown on screenshot)
The Error last log created today if it is useful is as below:
09:50:00: Audacity 3.0.4
09:50:00: Trying to load FFmpeg libraries…
09:50:00: Trying to load FFmpeg libraries from system paths. File name is ‘avformat-55.dll’.
09:50:00: Looking up PATH environment variable…
09:50:00: PATH = ‘C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Oracle\Java\javapath;C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;C:\Windows\System32\Wbem;C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0;C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\PhysX\Common;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\WINDOWS\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0;C:\WINDOWS\System32\OpenSSH;C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Acronis\SnapAPI;C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Acronis\VirtualFile;C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Acronis\VirtualFile64;C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Acronis\FileProtector;C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Acronis\FileProtector64;C:\Users\PDPC5b\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps;’
09:50:00: Temporarily prepending ‘;’ to PATH…
09:50:00: Checking for monolithic avformat from ‘avformat-55.dll’.
09:50:00: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘avformat-55.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
09:50:00: Loading avutil from ‘’.
09:50:00: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
09:50:00: Loading avcodec from ‘’.
09:50:00: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
09:50:00: Loading avformat from ‘avformat-55.dll’.
09:50:00: Error: Failed to load shared library ‘avformat-55.dll’ (error 126: The specified module could not be found.)
09:50:00: Error: Failed to load FFmpeg libraries.
09:50:00: Returning PATH to previous setting: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Oracle\Java\javapath;C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;C:\Windows\System32\Wbem;C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0;C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\PhysX\Common;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\WINDOWS\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0;C:\WINDOWS\System32\OpenSSH;C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Acronis\SnapAPI;C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Acronis\VirtualFile;C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Acronis\VirtualFile64;C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Acronis\FileProtector;C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Acronis\FileProtector64;C:\Users\PDPC5b\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps;
09:50:00: Error: Failed to find compatible FFmpeg libraries.
The only change I have made is to specify the save aup files folder to my D drive to avoid saving on the small SSD (C drive) the prog is installed to. Surely this can’t be the problem?
I see from the error log it mentions the FFmpeg libraries, as far as I know these are not used as I am on default installation?
Peter
lastlog31.txt (2.4 KB)
Ah Ha!
I have tried a few things to try and resolve the issue. Seem to have found the problem.
As part of the process I use for recording & editing, on previous versions (and the latest 3v) I drag some of the toolbars down into the main window for ease of access to both record & edit the waveforms. When closing the app the toolbars were left in the main window and when re-opened they re-appeared in situ in the main window where I had positioned them.
In the past there was no problem as all worked fine every time the app was re-used.
As documented in my posts this was not the case with v3, however if in the new versions I first re-dock all the toolbars into original positions at the top then close the app, when I re-open the app all the menu’s are working and available as they should be.
Perhaps this is a bug on the 3 versions not present on the previous ones?
Be interested to know if someone else could experiment to see if the issue occurs on their installation perhaps?
Peter
Please post a screenshot of that so that we can see exactly how you have it arranged.
See screenshot
I drag the 4 down and resize the lower two as shown for ease of use.
The menu commands work when set up like this until closed down. On re-opening the toolbars are where I left them but menu/commands are inoperable.
On Linux, most of the toolbars are malformed when un-docked (see below), but I don’t see Audacity freeze.
Glad Linux is functioning correctly.
Perhaps a Win 10 user can try?
I’d not call it “functioning correctly” 
(but at least it isn’t crashing).
The same thing happened to me. Audacity would open, but every item in the menu was non-functional. I uninstalled 3.0.4 then searched the registry for any reference to Audacity and nipped them out, did the same with old folders for preferences. Rebooted and done a fresh install. Fired up first time - no problems since.