I recently started having an audio issue a few days ago, where when I have music playing (either on Spotify or Youtube) and I open the Windows Explorer to view files, open an application, hover over buttons or folders in the Explorer, or do anything on my computer, the audio sometimes pops and crackles, reacting to my mouse movements/actions. It also happens when I'm only listening to music and not moving my mouse. It will crackle maybe once every 2-3 minutes. I've gone through several websites and conducted steps to diagnose my problem, such as: updating my audio drivers (no new updates found) removing any sound effects on my playback device changing the default format on my playback device (tried most options) turning/replugging/cleaning/fiddling with the output jacks (I have a front and a rear 3.5mm jack and both of them crackle through my speakers and headphones) reviewing DPC latency/audio processing latency checks via LatencyMon (no issue, got the green light) reviewing overall CPU/memory/GPU usage (CPU and GPU are single digits and memory is around 30% because of browsers and other caches) moving any possible interfering tech out of the way (closest objects are my monitor and keyboard + mouse) "power drained" my computer (shut down, turn off PSU, unplugged everything, hold down power button for 20 seconds) The only thing I can think of that changed with my computer is that I swapped out my graphics card (from a GTX 980 TI to RTX 2080) about a month before the crackling started. I didn't touch anything around the audio jack pin connectors and the PSU supports the increase in graphics processing power. I'm out of ideas to try, so I'm hoping someone can give me some further advice.

SOLUTION: Remove Norton antivirus! I struggled with this issue for a month after getting a brand new computer. I even exchanged every single part of hardware. Still did not work. Eventually brought it to a repair shop who narrowed the issue down to NORTON ANTIVIRUS (which was automatically installed by windows). As soon as I removed Norton antivirus the crackling was completely gone, and Ive not had issues for 2 months now.

I went to control panel -> hardware and sound -> sound -> speakers (select your speakers) -> properties -> advanced and then I disabled : Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device Allow hardware acceleration of audio with this device Enable audio enhancements It seems to be working fine for now. I don't experience any popping or buzzing anymore and I hope it will stay that way. I hope it works for you as well.

I spoke too soon. The issue raised it's head again after I installed a new audio tool that has its own drivers. Having a look at what might have got re-enabled that was disabled previously. It's not as bad as before, but happens here and there.

Move your pc to another part of the house, check its not grounding issue.

Just stumbled across this post. Having the same issue. Started on my old PC, about 7 years old still on windows 10. Just build a completely new PC, all new hardware and fresh windows 11.....same issue. Tried all the drivers, basically every "fix" I can find. So far BT head phones seem to be the only thing that work with no issues. normal headphone, usb, and usb-c all have the crackling issue. I'm at a loss at this point.

Audio crackling/popping when I interact with Windows10

Anonymous

I recently started having an audio issue a few days ago, where when I have music playing (either on Spotify or Youtube) and I open the Windows Explorer to view files, open an application, hover over buttons or folders in the Explorer, or do anything on my computer, the audio sometimes pops and crackles, reacting to my mouse movements/actions. It also happens when I'm only listening to music and not moving my mouse. It will crackle maybe once every 2-3 minutes. I've gone through several websites and conducted steps to diagnose my problem, such as:

updating my audio drivers (no new updates found)
removing any sound effects on my playback device
changing the default format on my playback device (tried most options)
turning/replugging/cleaning/fiddling with the output jacks (I have a front and a rear 3.5mm jack and both of them crackle through my speakers and headphones)
reviewing DPC latency/audio processing latency checks via LatencyMon (no issue, got the green light)
reviewing overall CPU/memory/GPU usage (CPU and GPU are single digits and memory is around 30% because of browsers and other caches)
moving any possible interfering tech out of the way (closest objects are my monitor and keyboard + mouse)
"power drained" my computer (shut down, turn off PSU, unplugged everything, hold down power button for 20 seconds)

The only thing I can think of that changed with my computer is that I swapped out my graphics card (from a GTX 980 TI to RTX 2080) about a month before the crackling started. I didn't touch anything around the audio jack pin connectors and the PSU supports the increase in graphics processing power.

I'm out of ideas to try, so I'm hoping someone can give me some further advice.

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

46 answers

Anonymous

2023-08-13T09:49:55+00:00

SOLUTION: Remove Norton antivirus!

I struggled with this issue for a month after getting a brand new computer. I even exchanged every single part of hardware. Still did not work. Eventually brought it to a repair shop who narrowed the issue down to NORTON ANTIVIRUS (which was automatically installed by windows).

As soon as I removed Norton antivirus the crackling was completely gone, and Ive not had issues for 2 months now.
Was this answer helpful?

2 people found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2023-08-13T09:39:54+00:00
I went to control panel -> hardware and sound -> sound -> speakers (select your speakers) -> properties -> advanced and then I disabled:
- Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device
- Allow hardware acceleration of audio with this device
- Enable audio enhancements
It seems to be working fine for now. I don't experience any popping or buzzing anymore and I hope it will stay that way.

I hope it works for you as well.
Was this answer helpful?

10+ people found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2023-07-25T07:48:02+00:00

I spoke too soon. The issue raised it's head again after I installed a new audio tool that has its own drivers. Having a look at what might have got re-enabled that was disabled previously. It's not as bad as before, but happens here and there.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2023-07-25T07:25:40+00:00

Move your pc to another part of the house, check its not grounding issue.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2023-07-25T03:26:43+00:00

Just stumbled across this post. Having the same issue. Started on my old PC, about 7 years old still on windows 10.
Just build a completely new PC, all new hardware and fresh windows 11.....same issue. Tried all the drivers, basically every "fix" I can find.

So far BT head phones seem to be the only thing that work with no issues. normal headphone, usb, and usb-c all have the crackling issue.

I'm at a loss at this point.
Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments