Crackling or Popping Audio Problem on Windows 11 FIX [Tutorial]

Crackling or Popping Audio Problem on Windows 11 FIX [Tutorial]

Crackling and popping sounds from your audio output device are usually caused by external interference such as faulty hardware, faulty ports, and sometimes even the medium of connection.

Issues addressed in this tutorial:
crackling audio windows 10
crackling audio windows 11
audio crackling windows 11 headphones
laptop audio crackling windows 11
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Bluetooth audio crackling windows 11
Realtek audio crackling windows 11
Bluetooth audio crackling windows 10
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pc audio crackling windows 10
crackling sound windows 10 Realtek
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Bluetooth crackling sound windows 11
airpods crackling sound windows 11

Crackling, popping, and other sound problems can occur for a variety of reasons. You may be able to fix the problem by adjusting your audio device settings, updating your sound driver, or pinning down another hardware device that’s interfering. Here are some things to try.

Before you start messing with settings, it’s worth checking your hardware itself. If a cable connection is loose, this could cause some sound problems. Ensure all your audio cables are connected securely. If the problem persists, here are a few potential solutions.

This tutorial will apply for computers, laptops, desktops, and tablets running the Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems (Home, Professional, Enterprise, Education) from all supported hardware manufactures, like Dell, HP, Acer, Asus, Toshiba, Lenovo, Alienware, Razer, MSI, Huawei , Microsoft Surface, and Samsung.

[danzka]

who else had to listen to this with crackling audio

[Lloyd.B.]

1:06
You can click the + sign and go into the power settings and show them, it's not going to bite lol...

[phonix-]

I've had so many issues with Windows 11 in just under two days

[mashopotatomashopotato]

I had this issue but found out it was the USB C cable going to my dock. It wasn't a TRUE thunderbolt cable and probably couldnt handle all my stuff that I had connected, causing the crackling. I replaced it with good thunderbolt 20Gbps cable and the crackling went away.

[arnob]

Thanks so much!!!! I had a small heart attack when my headset started crackling loud and this video helped with just switching back and forth the audio formats

[worldbridgerodesa]

I've been looking for this problem's solution for two weeks.
And thanks to your first advice I'm at last happy to leave it behind!

[editfazekas]

It worked when I disabled sound enhancement... then 5 hours later the popping returned.

[eugenechen]

My audio still crackles in games when I'm in calls while playing games or some games that just crackle. I have a ASRock B550M Steel Legend motherboard and I'm not sure if it has to do with the drivers, because I updated them, but still got no luck.

[phonix-]

I tried all of this... nothing works so far. The sound works as per normal just using my laptops' own speakers, but when I plug-in my headphones the audio suddenly crackles like crazy. Any ideas for a solution?

[CTimmerman]

Lowering audio quality works on low-spec machines to fix crackling while playing audio, but to fix pops while going to/from idle you need to disable power state D3 for your audio driver in the Windows registry.

[redragongaming]

None of the options worked for me, what did the trick was me going into BIOS and select Disable for both Above 4G Decoding and Resizable Bar, now the audio plays properly most of the time instead the usual stutter that it happened before.

[clonegoat]

Thank you! This solved my issue while specifically clicking through a youtube video somewhat rapidly to try to find a certain part. The popping was awful and this eliminated it!

[MOYT]

i dont have the option to change the quality, its just greyed out...

anyone know how to fix it ?

[arnymon]

I dont have option to go on cd quality??

Littke update, solved problem by plugin in usb 3.1 port.

[elevatorium]

Wow, outstanding! First tip fixed everything! Thank you!

[bennyloppo]

You are magnificent. I'm currently using ifi Zen DAC v2 and Zen CAN, and when I updated(?) my laptop to windows 11 this poppoing and cracking noise came up from nowhere.
After reducing the Hz down to 96k it's all fixed. (Now I'm thinking that Windows 11 may not have auto audio format configuration function)

[tian]

wont let me change the speaker quality, I use a laptop so that may be why but I haven't been able to find a fix. if you know anything else that might help please let me know. also whenever I restart my laptop it stops the crackling for around 5-10 minutes

[vokesy]

I'm down from 96000 Hz to 44100 Hz, which seems to be the sweet spot for my setup. Solved the horrid YouTube sound crackle! Thanks!
Edit: had to go to 48000 Hz to stop the crackle

[gmfreya]

OMG thank you SOOO much!!! I was going nuts!!! What fixed it for me was the first tip - Power Option. I was in energy saver mode even on a Tower. I got the HP Omen with windows 11. Thank you!!

[sendlocation]

What sound card do you have that was experiencing these pops n clicks?