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.

Just an update... I went through a number of steps to completely remove the motherboard audio drivers and just get the base Windows 11 audio drivers installed. No DTS drivers, no audio enhancement stuff. So far that has been the longest solution, and my audio problems are gone. I will post later the steps I took and articles I referenced to do this. It wasn't simple, they kept coming back if you didn't clear the driver cache and modify a few files.

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.

I am back, removing fast startup fixed the issue the first time round, but it has returned, roughly around the same time that I started fiddling with my memory, I just read up that motherboard voltages can be insufficient for certain memory configurations, if anyone has overclocked memory, read below and give that a try: https://www.reddit.com/r/overclocking/comments/cebljn/audio_cracklingpopping_when_memory_is_overclocked/

i have same issue . Using M-audio driver and issue happens when interacting with something , even when passing over an icon in the explorer etc.....

My audio has been pop free for a few days again, not sure why or how. I am sure it will come back. But no answers or reason worked out yet. I am running 22H2 and my latest update to Windows was KB5022360 on 6/2 (that's 6th of Feb just to be clear for American readers :) but I think I still had problems after that.

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.

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46 answers

Anonymous

2023-12-01T00:38:34+00:00

Just an update... I went through a number of steps to completely remove the motherboard audio drivers and just get the base Windows 11 audio drivers installed. No DTS drivers, no audio enhancement stuff.

So far that has been the longest solution, and my audio problems are gone.

I will post later the steps I took and articles I referenced to do this. It wasn't simple, they kept coming back if you didn't clear the driver cache and modify a few files.
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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.
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1 person found this answer helpful.

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Anonymous

2023-05-25T20:26:57+00:00

I am back, removing fast startup fixed the issue the first time round, but it has returned, roughly around the same time that I started fiddling with my memory, I just read up that motherboard voltages can be insufficient for certain memory configurations, if anyone has overclocked memory, read below and give that a try:

https://www.reddit.com/r/overclocking/comments/cebljn/audio_cracklingpopping_when_memory_is_overclocked/
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Anonymous

2023-05-09T06:47:56+00:00

i have same issue . Using M-audio driver and issue happens when interacting with something , even when passing over an icon in the explorer etc.....
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Anonymous

2023-02-15T22:29:59+00:00

My audio has been pop free for a few days again, not sure why or how. I am sure it will come back. But no answers or reason worked out yet.

I am running 22H2 and my latest update to Windows was KB5022360 on 6/2 (that's 6th of Feb just to be clear for American readers :) but I think I still had problems after that.
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