You want to play a voice note on WhatsApp, but you get an error that says you need an “Opus Codec installed.” This usually means your system is missing something. That missing piece? It’s a codec—think of it like a translator for voice notes. No translator, no voice notes.
The detail error message as below:
You must have n Opus codec installed in order to do this.
Install it from the Microsoft Store
But it could be other things too. Maybe Windows isn’t letting the codec do its job, or the audio settings are a bit messed up. Whatever the cause, the key is to get the codec working right.
Table of Contents
First Things First: Restart
Before diving into solutions, try turning your computer off and on again. Or close WhatsApp in Task Manager, then open it again. Sometimes, the simplest fixes work best.
Solution 1: Install the Web Media Extensions
This is your first stop. The Opus codec is part of something called “Web Media Extensions.” Without this, WhatsApp won’t play voice notes properly.
- Click Start and type Microsoft Store.
- Open the Microsoft Store, search for Web Media Extensions.
- Install it.
- Done? Check if your voice notes play now. It’s a quick fix.
Solution 2: Enable UAC (User Account Control)
You might have turned off UAC at some point and forgot about it. Turning it back on might help even if it doesn’t seem connected. Here’s how:
- Press Windows + S, search for UAC.
- Open Change User Account Control Settings.
- Move the slider up to Notify me only when apps try to make changes.
- Click OK.
- Now try WhatsApp again.
Solution 3: Reset the Windows Mixer
Audio settings can get wonky. Windows Mixer controls sound for different apps. Resetting it might clear the issue.
- Right-click the sound icon (bottom-right).
- Select Open Volume Mixer.
- Hit Reset.
- This will bring audio settings back to default. Check WhatsApp again.
When All Else Fails
If none of that worked, here’s the final trick: uninstall WhatsApp and the Web Media Extensions. Restart your computer. Then reinstall everything. It’s a clean slate.
You’ve got options, so don’t worry. Voice notes are waiting for you on the other side of one of these fixes.