How to Fix Sound Crackling Issues After Upgrading to Windows 11

After upgrading your system to Windows 11, you may encounter audio crackling or popping noises that can disrupt your listening experience. This issue can be frustrating, but fortunately, several potential solutions can help resolve these audio problems. Let’s walk through each troubleshooting step carefully.

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🌟 Before you start:

• Close all unnecessary programs: Audio issues could sometimes be caused by CPU-heavy tasks.
• Back up files: Although these fixes are safe, backing up before any significant update or setting modification is a good practice.
• Create a Restore Point: Type "Create a Restore Point" in the search bar and follow the prompts as a safety measure.

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🛠️ Step 1: Restart Your PC

Sometimes Windows update components and drivers don’t completely settle until after restarting your computer.

1. Click the Start button.
2. Select Power.
3. Click Restart.

After restarting, check if your audio issue persists. If it does, continue to the next steps.

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🔈 Step 2: Verify and Adjust Sound Properties

Incorrect audio settings can cause crackling. Let’s check your playback device settings.

✔️ To do this:

• Right-click on the speaker icon in the System Tray (beside the clock).
• Click Sound settings.
• Scroll down, and under Advanced settings, select More sound settings (or Sound Control Panel).

✔️ In the Sound window:

1. Under the Playback tab, right-click your default speaker/headphone device, choose Properties.
2. In the Properties window, click the Advanced tab.
3. Under Default Format, select a different audio bit-depth and sample rate (e.g., "16 bit, 44100Hz" or "24 bit, 48000Hz").
4. Click Apply > OK, and test multiple settings to find the stable one.

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🔧 Step 3: Update or Roll-back Your Audio Drivers

Drivers are common culprits for crackling audio. Updating or rolling back drivers often helps.

✔️ Update Audio Driver:

1. Press Win + X and click on Device Manager.
2. Locate Sound, video, and game controllers.
3. Expand it and right-click your audio device (e.g., Realtek High Definition Audio).
4. Select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
5. Follow on-screen instructions and restart your PC afterward.

✔️ Roll-back the Audio Driver (if updating caused the issue):

1. In Device Manager, expand Sound, video, and game controllers.
2. Right-click your audio device and select Properties.
3. Under the Driver tab, choose Roll Back Driver. (If not available, move to the next step.)
4. Restart the computer afterward.

✔️ Alternative method for drivers:

• Visit your PC or motherboard manufacturer’s website.
• Go to their Support or Drivers section.
• Enter your device model to find your specific audio drivers.
• Download and install them manually.

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⚙️ Step 4: Run Audio Troubleshooter

Windows 11 has a built-in troubleshooter specifically for audio problems.

✔️ To run audio troubleshooter:

1. Press Win + I to open settings.
2. Select System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
3. Find the Playing Audio Troubleshooter and press Run.
4. Follow the instructions provided by this troubleshooter.

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🔍 Step 5: Check and Disable Audio Enhancements

Windows audio enhancements may interfere with sound quality.

✔️ To turn off enhancements:

1. Right-click on the speaker icon in the system tray.
2. Go to Sound settings > More sound settings.
3. Select your default playback device, click on Properties.
4. Go to the Enhancements tab (if available).
5. Check the box that reads "Disable all enhancements", then click Apply → OK.

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💻 Step 6: Change Sound Quality via Windows Communication Settings

Windows 11 periodically adjusts sound when detecting communication apps.

✔️ Adjust communication settings:

• In Sound Properties (right-click speaker icon → Sound settings → More sound settings):

  1. Click on the Communication is tab.
  2. Click Do Nothing and then OK.

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🔌 Step 7: Check for Hardware Issues

Loose physical connections or faulty accessories (headphones, speakers, audio jack) can cause crackling.

• Replug connectors: Disconnect and reconnect your audio cables or headsets.
• Check with other devices or ports: Test headphones or speakers with a different computer or audio source.
• Clean connectors: Ensure connectors and ports are clean, with no dust or debris inside.

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⚡ Step 8: Adjust Power Management Settings

Power-saving scenarios can reduce the quality or stability of audio signals. Changing advanced Windows power settings sometimes helps.

✔️ To do this:

• Search for Control Panel from the start menu and open it.
• Go to System and Security > Power Options.
• Select High performance plan (or Balanced if High performance isn’t viable).
• Click Change plan settings → Change advanced power settings.
• Expand the Processor power management option and ensure it’s at least minimum 50–100% for Minimum and Maximum state.
• Click Apply and OK.

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📡 Step 9: Disable Exclusive Mode

Programs might grab exclusive control, causing conflicts in some scenarios.

✔️ To disable:

1. Go to the Sound properties again (Playback devices → Properties).
2. Under the Advanced tab, un-check "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device."
3. Click Apply → OK.

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🛠️ Step 10: Install All Windows 11 Updates

Updates often include driver fixes and stability patches.

✔️ To update Windows:

1. Go to Settings (Win+I).
2. Select Windows Update on the left.

3. Click on Check for updates and install all available updates, including driver updates under Advanced options → Optional updates if available.

4. Restart the computer afterward.

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📞 Contact Manufacturer or Microsoft Support

If none of the above methods works, the issue might relate more deeply to hardware compatibility with Windows 11.

• Contact your device or motherboard’s customer support team for hardware-specific guidance.
• Contact Microsoft support for further troubleshooting.

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✅ Final Thoughts

By ensuring updated drivers, adjusting various sound settings, disabling audio enhancements, and updating Windows itself, you’ll typically eliminate audio crackling and popping noises after upgrading to Windows 11. Always keep your drivers and Windows updates current to guarantee optimal performance and stability.

Hopefully, these methods bring your audio back to healthy, crackle-free listening.