Table of Contents
Fix: ‘Audio/Sound Crackling’ issue in Windows 11/10: When listening to music or playing games in Windows 11, it’s not unusual for the speakers or headphones to make a crackling sound. The first assumption is that crackling or bursting sounds in Windows 11 come from the source of the audio output. Most of the time, the problem with distorted sound comes from outside sources, like broken hardware, bad ports, or even the transmission medium itself. This isn’t always true, though.
When listening to music or playing multiplayer games in Windows 11 or Windows 10, it’s not unusual for speakers or headphones to make a crackling sound. Most of the time, the first thing people think is that there’s something wrong with the hardware, but that’s not always the case. Today, we’ll show you how to Fix ‘Audio/Sound Crackling’ issue in Windows 11/10, starting with some basic hardware troubleshooting.
What is Audio/Sound Crackling?
Audio or sound crackling is when sharp, popping, or static-like noises are heard when audio is being played. It’s usually an annoying sound problem that can happen with speakers, headphones, microphones, and computer sound systems, among other things. Your computer is a way to have fun. There are a lot of audio and video things you can do on it.
But what will happen if the sound from your Windows 11 computer is not clear? Several Windows 11 users have said that the sound crackles. In this guide, we’ve given you a number of ways to fix the problem with your Windows 11 PC’s audio crackling. Audio is important. You won’t be able to enjoy your game or movie without it. So let’s start right away. If you want to know more information about this issue so you can visit Microsoft Official Website.
Causes of Audio/Sound Crackling issue in Windows 11/10
- Audio driver corruption or incompatibility: One of the most common reasons for this problem is that the audio driver is wrong or only works partially. Most people have this problem when they update to Windows 11 instead of installing it from scratch.
- Hearing drive selection is not set to default: If the user is using a headset that can switch between mono and stereo channels based on the task, this problem is likely to happen. This way of switching channels is known to cause trouble on Windows 11.
- Because sound enhancement got in the way: Another likely cause of this problem is a bug in the software that “improves” the sound but causes it to pop or crack as it does so.
- Insufficient Quality of Format stream: When a user connects the headset to a high-end sound system, they might hear crackling sounds when trying to play high-quality audio content if the format stream is set to a lower value than what the playback device can handle.
- MME is used by Voicemeter instead of WDM: If users are using the default MME or ASIA audio driver with Voicemetrer or other applications that use Virtual Audio I/O, they may hear these audio artifacts. This problem can be fixed by changing the preferred audio driver for Voicemeter or similar software to WDM.
Fix: ‘Audio/Sound Crackling’ issue in Windows 11/10
Configure the Sound Sample rate
- Find the Control Panel in the Windows start menu and click on it to open it.
- Go to Sound under Hardware and sound.
- Click on the button that says Properties.
- Open the tab for “Advanced.”
- Choose 24-bit 480000 Hz (studio quality) from the list under “Default Format.”
- Save the alterations.
Run the Audio troubleshooter
- Pressing the Windows and I keys at the same time will open the settings.
- Go to Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooters under the System settings.
- Click on the Run button next to the option to Play audio.
- Once the troubleshooter is done with its work, wait for a while. Play some audio to see if the problem is still there. Unless it does, move on to the next step.
Disable Handsfree Telephony
- Press the Windows key and the R key at the same time to open the Run box.
- Copy and paste the following command to open the window for the Device and Printer.
- shell: shell::A8A91A66 is 3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A.
- Right-click on the Bluetooth device you want to connect to and then click the Properties button.
- Open the Services tab and uncheck the “Handsfree telephony” box.
Disable Spatial sound
- Press the Windows and Q keys together to open the Windows start menu, then type “Control panel” into the search bar and open it.
- Go to Sound under Hardware and sound.
- Click on the Properties button after you’ve chosen your output device.
- Open the tab called Spatial sound.
- Check the box in the drop-down menu to turn off the spatial sound.
- Save the adjustments.
Select the correct output device in the sound settings
- Open the Settings app, press the Windows and I keys at the same time.
- Click on Sound >. Choose where the sound will play.
- Pick out your headphones.
- Play an audio track to see if the problem is still there.
Conclusion
When you watch a movie, play a game, or listen to music on your Windows 11 PC, the sound needs to be clear. But if you can hear a crackle from your speakers or headphones all the time, it can really ruin your fun. With a little bit of know-how, the problem is easy to fix. Here are nine troubleshooting steps to help you figure out why your Windows 11 audio keeps crackling.
Questions and Answers
Open the Start menu, type “services,” and then click on the Services result. Scroll down until you find the Windows Audio service after the Services app comes up. Right-click on Windows Audio and choose “Restart” from the menu that shows up. You should also make sure that the startup type for the service is set to Automatic.
The Windows operating system is always being updated to add new features and fix security holes. But these updates can sometimes cause problems for the people who use them. Many Windows 11 users have recently said that their audio has been acting up since they installed the latest update.
Most of the time, the problem is caused by an old Realtek audio/sound driver. The best way to fix the problem is to update the Realtek audio driver by hand or use a tool called Advanced Driver Updater, which is a Driver Updating tool.
You need this driver for your audio device to work on the PC, so removing it would cause serious problems with the sound. You can download the Realtek High Definition Audio Manager if you want to change your sound even more, but you can also just plug in new speakers or use your system’s sounds.