What should I check first if I notice crackling sound?

First, proceed with the ‘Mute and check the correct output device’ steps. It is common for Windows to send sound to other devices such as HDMI, monitor, or Bluetooth. We recommend that you avoid changing multiple settings at once and check to see if your symptoms change after each step.

How do I check the possible cause ‘driver/sampling settings’?

If there is no change in the first step, compare in order ‘Check cable, jack, and Bluetooth connection.’ If symptoms disappear immediately after certain actions or the conditions for their occurrence change, this can be an important clue in narrowing down the cause.

Cracking or cracking sound: When do you need a professional inspection?

Even if you follow the above solution steps in order, if the crackling sound symptom recurs or hardware abnormal signals such as a burning smell, abnormal noise, overheating, or failure to recognize parts appear together, we recommend backing up important data and having a professional inspection.

PC FIX

Computer Troubleshooting Guide

Audio

Audio crackles or sounds distorted

When troubleshooting crackling or broken sound, it is important to rule out the causes one at a time. Based on the “sound crackling” symptom, check the driver/sampling settings and audio enhancement features before proceeding to the next step. Check everything in order, from output device selection and volume mixer to problems with drivers, cables, and the device itself.

Solving Order
We've organized the methods starting with the simplest and least expensive ones. Please check the solutions one by one, starting from the top.

Do you have these symptoms?

The sound crackled
audio crackling
robot sound
stuttering sound

main causes

Driver/sampling settings
Audio Enhancements
DPC delays or connection issues

How to solve

Please check them in order from the top. If the issue is resolved, you do not need to proceed to the next step.

Mute and check the correct output device

It is common for Windows to send sound to other devices such as HDMI, monitor, or Bluetooth.

Difficulty Easy time 2-5 minutes cost 0 won

1Check the taskbar speaker icon to see if it is muted.
2Select Physical Speakers/Headphones from the list of output devices.
3Also check the app-specific volume mixer.

confirmation point

After these steps, see if the “crackling” symptom decreases or disappears. If there is no change, check the possibility of driver and sampling settings in the next step.

Check cable/jack/Bluetooth connection

First rule out physical connection and device profile issues.

Difficulty Easy time 5 minutes cost 0 won

1For wired devices, plug them back in and test in a different jack.
2USB audio uses a different port.
3Bluetooth disconnects and then pairs again.

Run Windows Audio Troubleshooting

You can automatically check for incorrect default device, service, and driver settings.

Difficulty Easy time 5-10 minutes cost 0 won

1Run Audio Troubleshooting from Help/Get Help.
2Apply the recommended fixes.

Update or reinstall audio drivers

Outdated or corrupted audio drivers may be causing the symptom.

Difficulty Moderate time 10~30 minutes cost 0 won

1Check the device in Device Manager.
2Check your PC or component manufacturer's site for audio drivers for your current model.
3If the problem started immediately after an update, consider rolling back to the previous stable version.
4After installing the driver, restart your PC.

Compare audio enhancements and default formats

Cracking, low volume, or app-specific issues may be due to enhancements or sampling format conflicts.

Difficulty Moderate time 10-15 minutes cost 0 won

1Temporarily turn off audio enhancements in the sound device properties.
2Compare the base type by replacing it with other supported values.
3After making changes, restart the app.

Cross-test with other headphones and speakers

Distinguish between PC output issues and issues with the audio device itself.

Difficulty Easy time 10 minutes cost 0 won

1Connect another known working audio device.
2Even existing headphones are tested on other devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

We've put together a list of things we frequently check regarding this issue.

Related issues

If the symptoms do not match exactly, please check the issue below.

Audio

No sound at all from speakers or headphones

If “no sound” repeats, it is better to narrow down the problem to the wrong output device, mute, or volume rather than changing several settings at once. Check everything in order, from output device selection and volume mixer to problems with drivers, cables, and the device itself.

View solutions →

Audio

The sound is too low even when the volume is maximised.

This guide is designed to categorize the volume/output level and communication attenuation items for each app in a safe order in “low volume” situations. Check everything in order, from output device selection and volume mixer to problems with drivers, cables, and the device itself.

View solutions →

Audio

No sound problem after Windows update

If the current symptom is close to “no sound after update,” first check whether to replace or disable the audio driver or change the output device. Check everything in order, from output device selection and volume mixer to problems with drivers, cables, and the device itself.

View solutions →

Audio

System sounds work, but one app has no audio

If you see the “No sound for a specific app” symptom, possible causes include app-specific volume mixers and app output device settings. Check everything in order, from output device selection and volume mixer to problems with drivers, cables, and the device itself.

View solutions →

Look for other symptoms too

If you enter the symptoms you are currently seeing in the PC FIX search box, we will find the related problem.

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