# midisrv.exe

Windows Process: Microsoft Corporation

Also called midisrv, windows midi service, midi service

Windows, System Component

Windows MIDI service host. Apps use it for MIDI devices. audiodg.exe is the audio engine graph, not this service.

## What you need to know

midisrv is the MIDI service, not audiodg.

midisrv.exe hosts Windows MIDI Service. audiodg.exe isolates playback enhancements and the mix graph. Ending midisrv does not mute speakers the way ending audiodg does.

- **Safe?**: Yes, with MIDI

  **Same as audiodg?**: No. audiodg is the audio graph

  **Should I end it?**: MIDI apps can lose devices

Feex says

If a keyboard vanished and midisrv is gone, I start Windows MIDI Service. I do not disable enhancements on audiodg as my first MIDI step.

## What is midisrv.exe?

midisrv.exe is the MIDI service, not audiodg.exe. The audio engine graph mixes speakers and enhancements. This host talks to MIDI devices and clients.

## What does it do?

It enumerates MIDI ports and brokers MIDI messages. It does not run APOs. Windows Audio starts audiodg.exe for that.

## Why is it running?

A DAW, a piano app, or a MIDI device opened a client. A PC that never uses MIDI may still start the service after a device plug-in.

## Is it safe?

Usually safe

System32 midisrv.exe is Microsoft. A midisrv.exe in a VST folder is not the Windows MIDI service. audiodg.exe is still the graph.

A legitimate copy normally runs from:

`C:\Windows\System32\midisrv.exe`

- Windows MIDI Service host
- Audio graph: audiodg.exe
- Expected publisher: Microsoft Corporation

## Can I end it?

MIDI devices can drop

Ending midisrv.exe disconnects MIDI clients until the service starts again. Speakers can keep working through audiodg.exe.

## Can I remove it?

No

Do not delete midisrv.exe. Disable a MIDI device in Device Manager if you want that port gone. Do not delete audiodg.exe to "fix MIDI."

## Should it start with Windows?

Windows MIDI Service can start on demand. It is not a music Startup shortcut.

## Normal resource behavior

These are contextual labels, not universal averages.

- **CPU**: Low except while devices flood events

  **Memory**: Small

  **Disk**: Low

  **Network**: None for a local cable

## File information

| Executable name        | midisrv.exe                     |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| Common legitimate path | C:\Windows\System32\midisrv.exe |
| Publisher              | Microsoft Corporation           |
| Signature expectation  | Signed by Microsoft Windows     |

## Common problems

### No sound from a soft synth, MIDI still lights up

The synth output is audiodg / the audio device. This service only carried MIDI.

### People end audiodg to reset a keyboard

Unplug the MIDI device and restart Windows MIDI Service. The graph is playback.

## Troubleshooting

Diagnose before you change anything destructive.

### services.msc > Windows MIDI Service

Start it, then reopen the DAW. Ending audiodg.exe is a sound test, not a MIDI repair.

### Device Manager on the MIDI interface

Update that device. Do not replace midisrv.exe.

## Technical details

Technical details

| Image name | midisrv.exe          |
| ---------- | -------------------- |
| Service    | Windows MIDI Service |

## Related

These entities connect to this article. Type is shown on every link.

[audiodg.exe: Windows Process](https://feex.it/wiki/process/audiodg.exe)[Process vs service: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/software/system/process-vs-service)

## Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. [How we research](https://feex.it/wiki/research).

- [Microsoft Learn: About MIDI ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/win32/multimedia/about-midi)· Windows MIDI APIs and MIDI services
- [Microsoft Learn: MIDI Services ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/win32/multimedia/midi-services)· MIDI service layer versus playback
- [Microsoft Support: sound problems ](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/fix-sound-problems-in-windows)· audiodg is the graph, not MIDI
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

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Quick facts

The short identity of this page. Specs, sources, and the full story stay in the article.

- **Type**: Windows Process

  **Publisher**: Microsoft Corporation

  **Executable**: midisrv.exe

  **Typical path**: C:\Windows\System32\midisrv.exe

  **Mapped by Feex**: Seen on Windows PCs in Foxhole

  **Related process**: [audiodg.exe](https://feex.it/wiki/process/audiodg.exe)

  **Related service**: Windows MIDI Service

Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026

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Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/process/midisrv.exe/)

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