How to Fix Windows 11 MIDI Device Registry Issue (midi10+ Problem in 25H2)

If you installed Windows 11 25H2 and your MIDI controller suddenly stopped sending data, you’re not alone. Many users report that Windows registers new MIDI devices as midi10 or higher, and older music production software fails to detect them.

Even though the driver installs correctly and the device appears in Device Manager, your DAW receives no MIDI input. This guide shows you exactly how to fix the Windows 11 25H2 MIDI registry issue safely.

Why Windows 11 25H2 Breaks MIDI Devices

Windows still uses a legacy MIDI registry structure that limits compatibility to the first 10 MIDI entries:

midi0 → midi9

Many older DAWs only recognize those first ten slots.

If Windows assigns your device to:

midi10, midi11, midi12...

Your software ignores it.

You may also see:

• midi0: Corrupted (wdmaud.drv)
• Ghost MIDI devices
• Installed drivers with no data transfer

Windows 25H2 does not always clear old registry mappings during installation. Hidden devices occupy the first 10 slots, forcing new hardware into higher numbers.

Step-by-Step Fix for Windows 11 MIDI Registry Problem

Follow these steps carefully.

Step 1: Remove Hidden MIDI Devices

1. Press Win + X → Device Manager
2. Click View → Show hidden devices
3. Expand:
   • Sound, video and game controllers
   • Audio inputs and outputs
4. Right-click and uninstall:
   • Greyed-out MIDI devices
   • Old USB MIDI hardware
   • Duplicate manufacturer drivers

Restart your PC.

This step frees reserved MIDI slots.

Step 2: Backup the Registry

Before editing anything:

1. Press Win + R
2. Type regedit
3. Click File → Export
4. Select All
5. Save the backup

Now you can safely proceed.

Step 3: Clean MIDI Entries in Registry

Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Drivers32

You will see entries like:

midi
midi1
midi2
...
midi10
midi11

What to delete:

• Delete entries from midi10 and higher
• If midi0 shows corrupted, delete that entry
• Leave wdmaud.drv untouched
• Do not delete unrelated audio entries

Restart your computer.

Windows rebuilds the MIDI list automatically.

Step 4: Clear Old MIDI Device Database (Advanced Fix)

If the issue persists, go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\MediaProperties\PrivateProperties\MIDI

Delete subkeys that reference:

• Old USB device GUIDs
• Unused MIDI hardware

Restart again.

Step 5: Reinstall Your MIDI Driver

Now:

1. Install the latest official driver from your manufacturer
2. Plug the device into the same USB port
3. Open registry again and confirm it registers under:

midi0 – midi9

Your DAW should now detect the device instantly.

How to Fix “midi0 Corrupted (wdmaud.drv)” Error

If you see:

midi0: Corrupted (wdmaud.drv)

It means the registry entry broke, not the driver file.

Delete the corrupted midi0 entry inside Drivers32 and restart.
Windows recreates it automatically.

Do Not Make These Errors While Fixing midi10 Problem

Avoid these mistakes:

• Do not rename MIDI registry numbers manually
• Do not replace wdmaud.drv
• Do not delete the entire Drivers32 key
• Do not copy drivers from another PC

Those actions can break audio completely.

Why This Happens in Windows 11 25H2

Windows 11 introduces modern MIDI improvements, but legacy registry mapping still exists for compatibility.

The system:

• Reserves internal routing slots
• Keeps ghost device entries
• Does not reset MIDI indexing cleanly

As a result, new devices start at midi10 or higher.

If you follow the steps above:

• Your MIDI device will register within midi0–midi9
• Your DAW will recognize it
• MIDI data will transfer correctly
• The corrupted entry will disappear

This fix works for KORG, Roland, Yamaha, Novation, and most USB MIDI controllers.