WhatsApp audio speed bug: Opus codec must be installed

Do you see the message? «An Opus codec must be installed» on WhatsApp ? This bottleneck primarily affects WhatsApp Web and the app Windows, when the Opus audio codec is not enabled on your computer.

Result: the listening to voicemails stalls or won't start.

There are two quick solutions: restart the app, or enable the codec with just a few clicks.

Solution 1: Restart WhatsApp

A problem with audio speed is often caused by a temporary bug in the app. The first thing to do is to restart WhatsApp to clear the memory and force a restart listening to voicemails.

On computer, that's where the error message usually appears.

On Android

If the sound of your voice messages is read the wrong way speed on your smartphone android, follow these steps in order.

Force close :

1. Open the multitasking menu by tapping the’icon in the shape of a square or two rectangles stacked on top of each other, depending on your design.
2. Drag the preview of WhatsApp Swipe up to close the app.

 Empty cache :

1. Go to your device's Settings, then to Apps > WhatsApp.
2. Tap «Storage,» then tap « Empty cache ".

Restart the phone :

If the problem persists, keep the side button Press, select «Restart,» then reopen WhatsApp and launch the reading a voice message to check the audio speed.

Reinstall WhatsApp:

1. First, back up your conversations so you don't lose anything, including your WhatsApp media.
2. Hold down the icon for WhatsApp Tap it and select «Uninstall.».
3. Reinstall the app from the Play Store.

Warning: Reinstalling the app may cause you to lose your chats. Always back up your data first, especially if you want to recover any deleted messages.

On iPhone

On iOS, the process is similar when the voice message playback speed derails into WhatsApp.

Force close :

1. Swipe your finger from the bottom to the top of the screen to open the multitasking menu (or double-tap the Home button (on older models).
2. Check out the overview of WhatsApp, then swipe up to close it.

Restart iPhone :

1. Keep the side button and a volume button until the screen turns off.
2. Swipe to turn off the device.

3. Press the side button again to turn it back on.

Reinstall WhatsApp:

1. Back up your conversations first and foremost.
2. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > WhatsApp.
3. Tap «Delete App» to uninstall it.
4. Open the’App Store, search WhatsApp, then download and install the app.
5. Follow-up WhatsApp from the home screen and try the reading a voice message.

On PC

Start by force-closing the app, whether you're using Windows Where Mac.

On Windows :

1. Open Task Manager using the keys Ctrl + Shift + Escape.
2. Identify the process WhatsApp and right-click on it.
3. Select « End of Task » to force it to close.

On macOS :

1. Close the app as usual by Cmd + Q.
2. If that doesn't work, press Cmd + Alt + Esc to open the «Force Quit Applications» panel.
3. Select WhatsApp in the list, then click « Force quit ".

Once WhatsApp Resume, start a discussion, and listen to a voice message. If the audio speed If it is still incorrect, move on to the next solution.

Solution 2: Install the Opus codec

If the bug persists after restarting WhatsApp, the problem stems from the codec Opus missing from your computer. WhatsApp uses it to read the voice messages. Without him, the reading plant or the audio speed becomes incorrect.

What is the Opus audio codec?

The codec Opus is the audio format used by WhatsApp to encode and play your voice messages. It combines two technologies: SILK for the voice and CELT for low latency.

Defined by the standard RFC 6716 in 2012, it offers good sound quality at low bitrates. On mobile devices, it is built into the system. On computer, it sometimes needs to be enabled manually so that the audio playback works properly in WhatsApp.

Install the Opus codec on Windows

Here are the steps to follow to find the listening to voicemails on Windows-PC and WhatsApp Web :

1. Update Windows and the app WhatsApp (codec support Opus has been a native of Windows 10, version 1809). An update often resolves the issue of audio speed without installing anything else.
2. If the listening to voicemails If it gets stuck, download the official library from opus-codec.org/downloads/ and install it according to the instructions on the site.
3. Restart WhatsApp and listen to a voice message to verify that the speed has returned to normal.

What about on Mac, Android, or iPhone?

On Mac, a simple update to macOS and of WhatsApp solves the problem in most cases. On android and iOS, the codec Opus is already integrated into the system.

Restarting the app is therefore almost always enough to restore a audio playback normal and listen to your voice messages received at the correct speed.