How to Fix Windows 11 Audio Crackling and Latency

Audio crackling, popping, and latency on Windows 11 are common issues typically triggered by driver conflicts, improper sample rates, aggressive power-saving settings, or high Deferred Procedure Call (DPC) latency. This troubleshooting guide provides clear, step-by-step solutions to identify the underlying cause and restore clean, uninterrupted sound to your system.

1. Update or Reinstall Audio Drivers

Corrupt or generic drivers are the leading cause of audio glitches.

  1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
  2. Expand the Sound, video and game controllers category.
  3. Right-click your primary audio device (such as Realtek High Definition Audio) and select Update driver.
  4. Choose Search automatically for drivers.
  5. If the issue persists, visit your motherboard or audio interface manufacturer’s website to download and install the latest dedicated driver directly.

2. Adjust the Default Audio Format

Mismatched sample rates can cause audio buffers to desynchronize, resulting in pops and clicks.

  1. Press Win + R, type mmsys.cpl, and press Enter to open the legacy Sound Control Panel.
  2. In the Playback tab, right-click your default audio device and select Properties.
  3. Navigate to the Advanced tab.
  4. Set the Default Format to 24-bit, 48000 Hz (Studio Quality) or 16-bit, 44100 Hz (CD Quality).
  5. Click Apply, then OK, and test your playback.

3. Disable Audio Enhancements

Windows 11 audio processing effects can introduce processing overhead and latency.

  1. In the Sound Control Panel (or via Settings > System > Sound > Properties of your output device), open your device properties.
  2. Go to the Advanced tab or Enhancements tab.
  3. Check the box labeled Disable all enhancements (or toggle Audio enhancements to Off in Windows 11 Settings).
  4. Go to the Spatial sound tab and ensure it is turned Off.

4. Switch to the High Performance Power Plan

Power-saving modes can downclock the CPU or throttle USB ports, causing audio buffer underruns.

  1. Press Win + R, type powercfg.cpl, and press Enter.
  2. Select High Performance (or Ultimate Performance if available).
  3. If using an external USB audio interface, expand Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings.
  4. Under USB settings, set USB selective suspend setting to Disabled.

5. Check and Troubleshoot DPC Latency

System-level driver delays—often caused by Wi-Fi or GPU drivers—can interrupt audio processing.

  1. Download and run a free tool like LatencyMon.
  2. Click the Start Monitoring button (green play icon) and play audio until a crackle occurs.
  3. Stop the monitor and check the Drivers tab to see which driver has the highest execution time:
    • ndis.sys / wdf01000.sys: Update your Wi-Fi and Ethernet drivers.
    • nvlddmkm.sys / atikmdag.sys: Update or perform a clean reinstall of your graphics drivers.
    • ACPI.sys: Update your motherboard BIOS/UEFI firmware.

6. Disable Fast Startup

Windows Fast Startup can cause driver initialization errors upon reboot.

  1. Open the Control Panel and navigate to Power Options.
  2. Click Choose what the power buttons do on the left sidebar.
  3. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
  4. Uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended) and click Save changes.
  5. Restart your computer.