How to fix static noise in Windows 10 in 6 easy steps

by Ivan Jenic

Troubleshooting Expert

June 12, 2020

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Static sounds can be quite unpleasant, especially when you try to listen to music or watch a video.
The guide below will show you exactly what needs to be done when you experience static noises in Windows 10.
This article is just one of many that we've included in our dedicated Hub for Troubleshooting Audio Issues.
If your Pc continues to show issues, visit our Windows 10 Fix section for more helpful articles.

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We recently showed you what to do if your sound is not working in Windows 10. But we didn’t cover an issue that’s even more annoying. Well, in this guide, we’re going to focus on static noise issues. I’m going to show you a few solutions to fix this issue.

How do I fix static noises in Windows 10?

1. Update your sound drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers could cause a lot of problems, especially with sound and graphics cards, and especially in Windows 10. So, an outdated driver could also be a cause of the static noise issue.

To make sure all your sound drivers are updated, go to Device Manager, find your sound device, and go to Update driver.

You can also go to your motherboard’s manufacturer site and download the latest sound driver from there.

We recommend you to download this driver updater tool (100% safe and tested by us) to do it automatically.

But if all your drivers are updated, than driver is not a problem, and you should try some of the following solutions.

2. Try other speakers

There’s a big possibility that your problem with static sound is not software-related at all. So, even if it’s unusual for our website, this and the following solution are going to require some hardware fixes.

First, I recommend you to try other speakers, because damaged speakers could often cause static noise.

So, try using other speakers, and hopefully, you won’t be hearing any static noise from your speakers anymore.

3. Change CPU fan or power supply

Another hardware issue which could cause a buzzing sound is when a CPU needs more power than usual. This usually happens during summer, when temperatures are high.

Therefore the temperature of your computer is also higher, and it requires more power.

So if overheating is causing a static noise, that means that your current CPU fan is probably not powerful enough, so consider getting a new one.

Also, since more power is needed, you should also consider getting a more powerful power supply for your computer.

Some people who faced a static noise issue on their computers also reported that getting a power conditioner solved the problem, so you should consider getting one, too.

4. Disable sound effects

Go to Control Panel > Sound
Go to Speakers > Properties > Enhancements
Disable All Sound Enhancements > hit Apply.

5. Change Audio format

Open Control Panel > go to Sound
Navigate to Playback > Speakers
Go to Advanced > Default Format > change the format
Save your settings.

Some users confirmed that changing the audio format to 24 bits fixed this issue. If the problem persists, try using a different audio format.

Note: You need to change the audio format for every multimedia app and hardware installed.

6. Run the Audio Troubleshooter

Windows 10 packs a series of quick troubleshooters in the Settings page. You can use these tools to automatically solve general technical issues affecting your computer.

For this static noise problem, you can use the Audio Troubleshooter.

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > select and launch the troubleshooter, as shown in the screenshot below.

That’s it, as you can see, static noise is usually caused by a hardware, so Windows 10 doesn’t necessarily have to be the cause of this issue.

On the other hand, if you still face the problem in Windows 10, even after checking all above-mentioned issues, tell us in the comments, and we’ll try to find an alternative solution for you.

If you have any other Windows 10-related issues you can check for the solution in our Windows 10 Fix section.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in October 2018 and has been since revamped and updated in June 2020 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

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Editor's Note: This article was originally published in August 2015 and was revamped and updated in June 2020 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

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5 fixed mine. Switched to 24 bit, static went away. Phew. Thanks.

Hi Ivan,
I have tried all of the options you suggested and still get static noise from my laptop speakers when opening apps or turning on the computer. Do you have any other suggestions on what I can try? Thanks.