How to fix audio crackling and sound distortion issues in Windows 11?

Crisp and clear sound is crucial for all users, but is non-negotiable for those in the recording or editing world. But several users have reported issues with sound distortion in Windows 11. This issue can affect speakers and headphones, whether built-in or external. And since Windows 11 is relatively new, the chances of encountering this issue are higher. We browsed several such forums where users shared their problems but could not find many effective solutions. Therefore, we specifically introduce to you the Windows 11 sound distortion issue and how to fix it. Why am I facing sound distortion issue in Windows 11? This is one of those problems with an endless list of root causes, which makes troubleshooting even more difficult. Incorrect connection remains one of the most common causes of Windows 11 USB audio not working issue. In addition to this, if you start experiencing problems immediately after upgrading to Windows 11, it is possible that your current set of audio drivers are not compatible with the latest version. In this case, updating them seems to be the ideal solution. Misconfigured settings are also known to cause poor sound quality in Windows 11. This problem is usually faced by people who keep reconfiguring their settings to get the best output and end up screwing things up. Sound Settings in Windows 11 Some users have also reported that the issue started when they updated Windows 11, indicating a bug in the current version of the operating system. This basically covers the most common root causes of sound distortion in Windows 11. Now let’s take a look at the most effective fixes. How to fix audio crackling and sound distortion in Windows 11? 1. Check the Connection (External Speakers) If you are using a set of external speakers or headphones, your primary approach should be to check if there is an issue with the connection itself. Many users continue to make changes to their settings, only to later realize that the connection is incorrect. Disconnect the speakers or headphones, clean the jack or USB, blow air into the port, and then reconnect. Now, check if the sound is still distorted in Windows 11. If so, connect the peripheral to another system and verify. If it works fine on the other computer, reconnect the speakers or headphones to the first system and perform the fixes listed below to eliminate the error. However, if the problem persists, it's likely that the headphones or speakers are faulty and you'll have to replace them. But before you do that, we recommend you give the methods listed below a try. 2. Run the Play Audio Troubleshooter Press Windows I to launch the Settings app and click Troubleshooter on the right side of the System tab. Click Additional troubleshooters on the right. Next, find the Play Audio Troubleshooter and click the Run button next to it. Follow the on-screen instructions and choose the appropriate response when prompted. The built-in troubleshooter provided by Microsoft is not only capable of identifying and fixing a wide range of errors, including Windows devices and connected peripherals. After running the playback audio troubleshooter, check if the Windows 11 sound distortion issue has been resolved. 3. Update the sound card driver Press Windows S to launch the search menu, enter Device Manager in the text field at the top, and click on the relevant search results that appear. Double-click the Sound, Video, and Game Controllers entry to view the devices beneath it. Right-click on the speaker or headphone that is producing crackling or distorted sound and select Update Driver from the context menu. Next, select Search for drivers automatically in the Update Driver window. Windows will now scan for the best driver available on the system and install it for the device in question. Drivers play a key role in the efficient operation of every piece of hardware by passing commands between the hardware and the operating system. Therefore, it is recommended that you keep it updated. If Device Manager cannot find an updated version of your peripheral, you can check for the latest driver version in Windows Update or download the installer from the manufacturer's website and install it on your computer. Updating the relevant drivers should eliminate the Windows 11 sound distortion issue. If audio playback does not improve, try the next method. 4. Modify sound settings We will make some changes to the playback device here. If your device is missing some options or tabs, just skip that step and move to the next. Press Windows I to launch the Settings app and click Sound on the right. Scroll down to the bottom and click More Sound Settings. Now right-click on the speaker producing poor audio and select Properties from the context menu. Go to the Levels tab and drag the volume slider all the way to the right. Next, navigate to the Enhancements tab and tick the Disable all enhancements checkbox. Now, go to the Advanced tab, click on the Default format drop-down menu, select a different format from the list of options, and check whether the sound distortion issue in Windows 11 has been fixed. Be sure to check out the various options listed here. Uncheck the Allow applications to take exclusive control of the device checkbox. Finally, click OK at the bottom to save changes. Even though you may not have manually modified the properties, making some changes here will get it up and running as before. After saving the changes, check if the Windows 11 poor sound quality issue has been fixed.5. Reconfigure audio services Press the Windows R Start Run command, enter services.mscEnter in the text field, and then tap or click OK to start the services application. Now, scroll down to find Windows Audio Service, right-click on it and select Properties from the context menu. Click the Startup type drop-down menu and select Automatic from the list of options. Now, if the service is not running, click on the Start button under Service Status to run it. After making your changes, click OK at the bottom to save these and close the window. Likewise, make these changes to two other key services in Windows 11 that are responsible for audio output. After the Remote Procedure Call Windows Audio Endpoint Generator completes, restart the computer for the changes to take effect. 6. Uninstall recent Windows 11 updates Press Windows I Launch Settings and select Windows Updates from the list of tabs in the left navigation pane. Next, click Update History on the right. Scroll down to the bottom and click Uninstall updates. Find and select the problematic update and click Uninstall. Click Yes in the confirmation prompt that pops up. If you start experiencing distorted or poor-quality sound in Windows 11 after an update, it may help to uninstall that specific update, as it could be a bug in the update itself. However, please conduct thorough research to determine whether the update actually caused the error. If this is the case, other users should be facing this issue as well, and you'll find them posting about it on several dedicated forums. 7. Restore or Reset Windows 11 If none of the fixes listed above work, you have no choice but to perform a system restore in Windows 11. The idea here is to take your computer back to a point in time where the error didn't exist. This is achieved by making certain modifications to the system based on restore points, i.e. deleting applications and reconfiguring settings. The System Restore recovery process in Windows 11 does not affect the files stored on the drive. Also, learn how to undo System Restore in case it fails to fix Windows 11 sound crackling error. If System Restore isn't working either, most likely because the restore points don't exist or they were created after you first encountered the error, you can always reset Windows 11 to its factory settings. Keep in mind that a reset will wipe all data on your system, whether it's apps or settings, and once the process is complete, your computer will be as good as new. What are the best headphones, headphones and speakers for high-quality audio output? The methods listed above are sure to eliminate issues causing crackling or sound distortion in Windows 11. However, you may still need to upgrade your headphones or speakers to get high-quality audio output. So, check out the best earbuds and headphones available in the market and choose the ones that suit your requirements and budget. For those planning to get a new set of speakers, check out our curated list of the best speakers. Some of them may even be available at discounted prices, so be sure to check them out.

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