[WIN] "SoundID Reference has stopped working" crash

Hello. I've just fully deleted and then ReInstalled the SoundID Reference after crashing on Win 11.  I also saved my presets, but the new installed App does not see all my Custom Target presets. Even after moving back to th default folder… Could you please help me?

Cheers

Hi. Having followed this advice I'm now trying to run the installer but it doesnt do anything. Please advise

I just did everything exactly how described and now I cannot start the Sound ID installer exe? I am getting this error message popping up: 

ok it seems like you have to re-install the Microsoft Visuals pack yourself first before installing Sound ID again. I don't know why this is not shown in the instruction. However, I still get the error message “Sound ID Reference stopped working”…

Philipp Hagmann I've created a support ticket for you and we'll be in touch! 

@Nykyta Bogdanov  and Peter May It looks like we've addressed your inquiries in a support ticket already. 

Philipp Hagmann the Microsoft Visual Library C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64/x86) library will be automatically reinstalled as a part of the SoundID Reference installer package. I have added this clarification in the article above too, thanks for noting! 

I've uninstalled Sound ID Reference along with all instances of MS Visual C++ packages and tried to reinstall SoundID reference, without any luck. The installer starts, requests permission, then stops. The only thing that I've "achieved" is that all the other software installed on my computer, relying on those C++ libraries crashed too. Now I'll be searching for libraries and try to reinstall them one by one to be able to use my other software. And of course I'm still unable to run SoundID

Hi all, 

I wanted to inform you that we have released a Beta build with a fix for this issue. To try it out, please follow the instructions in these articles: 

1. [WIN] How to uninstall SoundID Reference
2. SoundID Reference Beta software releases

If everything goes as expected, the fix will be available in the upcoming release (TBD). We appreciate your feedback! 

I did everything and I'm still getting the same issue. when I try to click dismiss nothing happens so I'm stuck on this screen 

update I was able to bypass it and get it working again

Dominick Mills very glad to hear that, thanks for letting us know! 

I should clarify that this APO error message is a different issue (not the article subject above). If you're getting any further issues with APO, please see this article instead: [WIN] "APO can't be applied" error
 

STILL NOT WORKING!!!!! PLEASE HELP!!!!!

I am having the same problem: SoundID crashing at startup. Followed all the instructions, but after reinstalling ALL the C++ redistributable libraries from 2005 up to 2025  (lot of work!!!), restart, reinstall…  I still have the problem SoundID crashes at start. Frustrating!!!!!! Please HELP !!!! It was ok last week.

And now I have some programs asking for the redistributable C++ libraries !!!!!!!!

It seems this process is not helping anyone.  I have submitted a ticket and these were the instructions given to me, which I have done twice to no avail.  Sonarworks keeps crashing immediately and will not load.  Has anyone found a fix for this?

Hello,

Any news on this from the team? I have the same issue and re-install is not working.

Hi, you have to delete all the configuration files. Even if you uninstall, the config files are left on the disc. You have to delete them manually and this resolved the problem. I was able to find this solution after the Sonrwork tech support contacted me and suggested a list of troubleshooting articles.

https://support.sonarworks.com/hc/en-us/articles/360020091400-How-to-uninstall-SoundID-Reference#h_01K630211QBRB8VV8Y0D2J2D9E

I do not understand why Sonarwork Support Team keep not looking at the threads where users keep saying that the  problem is not resolved. They marked this one like RESOLVED, but users said: 6 out of 38 found this helpful

This means 32 customer are not happy !!! They paid for something that is not working as expected.

I have an UA Apollo that can run SoundID in the UA DSP: perect. Very stable. 

On an iMac, SoundID crashes continuously and I have to restart it two times a day. I gues the Sonarwork Support receive few crash log from me every week. Nothing happen. I was asked"Are you satisfied by the Sonarwork Support?" I exlained why i am not happy, but nothing happend after.

On PC based DAWs I have problems from time to time. (Windows 11).

The plugin version to be used in the DAW are stable: ProTools, Reaper, Logic Pro are ok, but you have to remember to disactivate it when you print files (bounce files).

Sound ID Reference running on GPU is more stable than on CPU in Windows 10 and 11.

Hope this information will help.

I do not know what is your config (op system, DAW, etc) but if you end up with this problem, the solution is to clean ALL and install it from scratch. The standard uninstaller do not clean all the files. If you use a “wise” uninstaller it may resolve the problem.

Follow instructions in the link:

https://support.sonarworks.com/hc/en-us/articles/360020091400-How-to-uninstall-SoundID-Reference#h_01K630211QBRB8VV8Y0D2J2D9E

Why Sonarwork uninstaller do not clean completely the system? I do not know. They should look at this problem.

Bye.

Here is what the AI bot here answer to my question:
 

AI agent says:You're totally right—our standard uninstaller doesn't wipe out every single file. To fully clean out SoundID Reference, you need to manually delete leftover drivers, plugins, and user data folders. It's a bit like cleaning out your garage—sometimes you have to dig into the corners to get everything out.

Generated by AI

https://support.sonarworks.com/hc/en-us/articles/360020091400-How-to-uninstall-SoundID-Reference?auth_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJhY2NvdW50X2lkIjoiNjczMzcyIiwiYnJhbmRfaWQiOjM2MDAwMjI1ODAwMCwicHJlZGljdGlvbl9pZCI6IjAxS0pHRktSWU1ZUUpNUDFQMUc5WjUzRzNHIiwidmlhX2lkIjo3MCwiYXJ0aWNsZV9pZCI6IjM2MDAyMDA5MTQwMCIsInRva2VuX3R5cGUiOiJnZW5lcmF0aXZlX3JlcGx5X2FydGljbGVfY2xpY2siLCJsb2NhbGUiOiJlbi11cyIsImFydGljbGVfcmVjb21tZW5kYXRpb25fcmFuayI6MSwiZXhwIjoxNzc0ODE5MjU3fQ._0C98fJBBMB4Lj3_WvnNDuwUPgDKfNzyi-4KmrbjNCc&is_gr_tracking=true

Thats funny! He knows about this problem.