Uninstallation

Before starting VAC uninstallation, make sure that VAC driver is not used by applications and/or system services. Cable device usage is shown by the Control Panel application. If you attempt to uninstall the driver while it is in use, the uninstaller will fail to properly remove the driver from the system and to delete its files and folders. So it is recommended to close all applications that may access audio endpoints (including those hidden in the tray and web browsers), make sure that "Listen" mode for all VAC endpoints is disabled, and close all system multimedia-related windows.

Since uninstallation requires privileged actions, you must explicitly log to the Administrator account if UAC is not enabled in your system (by default, UAC is enabled).

Before you start uninstallation, open the Audio Properties applet. If a Virtual Cable device is selected as a default device for the recording and/or playback, select any other devices instead. Also check if the "Listen" mode is enabled. Then close the properties page.

To start removing VAC software from the system, open the installed application list. In Windows 10-11, it is located in Settings - Apps and Features. In Windows 7, it is under Control Panel - Programs and Features. Dependent on your system, left- or right-click the "Virtual Audio Cable" item, then click Uninstall. Alternatively, you can open the Virtual Audio Cable folder in the Start Menu and select the Uninstall item.

If UAC is enabled in your system, you will be prompted to elevate your privileges to run the uninstaller.

If you have accidentally deleted your VAC Start Menu folder, you can start the uninstaller manually. Click Start - Run or press Win-R to open the Run Application dialog, click Browse, locate a directory where VAC is installed (by default, it installs to "C:\Program Files\Virtual Audio Cable"), and double-click setup item; a path to the uninstaller application will be inserted in the command line. Then append a space character and "-u" option to the command line (outside of the quotes, if any). Resulting command line should look like this:

"C:\Program Files\Virtual Audio Cable\setup.exe" -u

Then click OK, the uninstaller should start.

After successful uninstallation, you will receive a confirmation message.

If some driver files, services and other objects are currently in use by the system or by , they cannot be deleted immediately. In such case, the uninstaller creates a "delayed delete requests" for them and prompts you to restart Windows. If you don't want to restart immediately, you must not try to reinstall VAC in this Windows session otherwise severe errors may occur.

Uninstallation troubleshooting

If the uninstaller fails to properly remove software components from the system, try advanced setup mode that allows you to over-install the software. In some cases, after successful over-installation you will be able to successfully uninstall the software. As a last chance, you can try to remove the driver manually:

1. Log in with the Administrator account.
2. Open Device Manager.
3. Expand the "Sound..." device category by clicking on the "+" sign.
4. Right-click the Virtual Audio Cable device and choose Uninstall.
5. In Windows 6.x+, check the Delete the driver software item.

This sequence deletes only VAC driver and its devices but driver service may not be automatically deleted. To manually delete kernel-mode service, locate VAC installation folder (usually "C:\Program Files\Virtual Audio Cable") right-click "delete_service" or "delservice" file and select "Run as administrator". Service will be deleted immediately if it is stopped, or marked for deletion (in such case, you need to restart Windows, the service will be deleted during next system startup).

If VAC installation folder does not exist (for example, has been deleted manually), unpack VAC distribution package into an empty folder and locate "delete_service" or "delservice" file there. Don't open the file right from the archive, it won't work.

After removing system references, you can delete driver file vrtaucbl.sys from Windows installation folder (usually C:\Windows\system32\drivers).

VAC program folder and its Start Menu folder can be deleted using any Windows file management utility (i.e., Explorer).

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