Fix Voice Recorder Renamed to Sound Recorder and Broken After Update on Windows 11

The Windows 11 Voice Recorder app may change its name to Sound Recorder and stop working after a system update. This problem typically occurs when the update corrupts the app’s registration or replaces it with an outdated version. The app may fail to launch, record, or save audio files. This article explains why this happens and provides step-by-step methods to restore the correct app name and fix its functionality.

Why Voice Recorder Renames and Breaks After a Windows 11 Update

A Windows 11 update can replace the Voice Recorder app with an older version named Sound Recorder. This happens because the update package may include a legacy app package that overwrites the current installation. The newer Voice Recorder app relies on a specific package identity and app manifest. When the update installs an older package, the app’s display name reverts to Sound Recorder, and its features may stop working.

The broken app may show error messages such as “This app can’t open” or “Something went wrong.” The microphone may not be detected, or recordings may fail to save. The core issue is a corrupted or mismatched app package registration. Resetting or reinstalling the app resolves these problems by restoring the correct package files and registry entries.

Steps to Reset Voice Recorder Through Windows 11 Settings

The quickest fix is to reset the app using the Settings app. This clears the app’s cache and data without removing the app entirely. Follow these steps:

1. Open Settings
   Press Win + I to open the Settings app. Alternatively, click the Start button and select Settings from the menu.
2. Navigate to Installed apps
   Go to Apps > Installed apps. Wait for the list of installed applications to load.
3. Find Voice Recorder
   Scroll down or use the search box to locate Voice Recorder. If the app shows as Sound Recorder, select it anyway.
4. Open Advanced options
   Click the three-dot menu next to the app name and choose Advanced options.
5. Reset the app
   Scroll to the Reset section and click the Reset button. A confirmation dialog appears. Click Reset again. Wait for the process to complete. A check mark appears next to the button.
6. Launch the app
   Close Settings and open Voice Recorder from the Start menu. Check if the app displays the correct name and records audio properly.

If Resetting Does Not Work: Repair the App

In the same Advanced options page, you can try the Repair button before resetting. Repair attempts to fix the app without deleting user data. Click Repair and wait for the process to finish. Then test the app again. If the name or functionality remains broken, proceed to the next method.

Steps to Reinstall Voice Recorder Using PowerShell

If resetting does not fix the issue, remove the broken app package and reinstall it from the Microsoft Store. This method uses PowerShell to delete the app package completely.

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator
   Press Win + X and select Windows Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin). Click Yes on the User Account Control prompt.
2. Get the app package name
   Type the following command and press Enter:
   Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsSoundRecorder
   This displays details about the installed app package. Note the PackageFullName value for verification.
3. Remove the app package
   Run this command to uninstall the app:
   Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsSoundRecorder | Remove-AppxPackage
   Wait for the command to complete. No output means success.
4. Close PowerShell
   Type exit and press Enter to close the terminal.
5. Reinstall Voice Recorder from the Microsoft Store
   Open the Microsoft Store from the Start menu. Search for Voice Recorder (published by Microsoft Corporation). Click Get or Install. Wait for the download and installation to finish.
6. Launch the reinstalled app
   Open Voice Recorder from the Start menu. The app should now display the correct name and function normally.

Steps to Update Voice Recorder Through Microsoft Store

Sometimes the update fails to install the latest version. Manually updating the app through the Microsoft Store ensures you have the current release.

1. Open Microsoft Store
   Click the Start button and select Microsoft Store from the app list.
2. Go to Library
   Click the Library icon in the left sidebar. It looks like a stack of books.
3. Get updates
   Click the Get updates button at the top right. The Store checks for available updates for all installed apps.
4. Install the Voice Recorder update
   If an update for Voice Recorder appears, click Update next to it. Wait for the download and installation to complete.
5. Restart the app
   Close the Store and open Voice Recorder. Verify that the app name is correct and recording works.

Common Issues After the Fix

Voice Recorder Still Shows Sound Recorder After Reset

If the app name does not change after resetting, the app package may still be corrupted. Follow the PowerShell removal and reinstallation method described above. This removes all traces of the old package and installs a fresh copy from the Microsoft Store.

Microphone Not Working in Voice Recorder

The update may have changed microphone permissions. Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone. Ensure that Microphone access is turned on and that Voice Recorder is allowed to access the microphone. Toggle the setting off and on again to refresh permissions.

Recordings Not Saving or Missing

Resetting the app deletes its local data, including saved recordings. If you have important recordings, back them up before resetting. The default save location is Documents > Sound recordings. After the fix, recordings save to this folder again.

Reset vs Reinstall: Which Method to Use

Item	Reset via Settings	Reinstall via PowerShell
Time required	1-2 minutes	5-10 minutes
Preserves recordings	Deletes local recordings	Deletes local recordings
Effectiveness for name fix	Fixes in most cases	Guarantees fresh install
Requires internet	No	Yes, for Store download
Administrator rights needed	No	Yes

Resetting is the faster option and works for most users. Reinstalling via PowerShell is the more thorough fix when resetting fails.

You can now restore the Voice Recorder app to its correct name and full functionality after a Windows 11 update. Start with the Reset option in Settings. If that does not work, use PowerShell to remove the app and reinstall it from the Microsoft Store. After the fix, consider enabling automatic app updates in the Microsoft Store under Settings to prevent this issue in the future.