Crackling, popping or buzzing from speakers is most often caused by a loose or dirty connection, interference, or a computer audio problem such as a driver or sample-rate issue. Less often, the speaker itself is damaged. Here is how to find the cause and fix it.
Step 1: Find out where the crackle comes from
- Play our speaker test at a moderate volume. Pink noise and steady tones make crackles easy to hear.
- Use the Left and Right tests. If only one side crackles, the problem is that speaker, its cable or that channel.
- Play the same sound from another device (a phone instead of the PC). If the crackle disappears, the source device is the problem, not the speakers.
- Unplug the audio cable with the speakers on and the volume low. If you still hear crackling or hum, the speakers or their power supply are at fault.
Common causes and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Crackles when you move a cable | Loose plug or broken wire | Reseat or replace the cable |
| Crackles when you turn the volume knob | Dirty potentiometer | Turn the knob fully back and forth many times; use contact cleaner |
| Constant hum or buzz | Ground loop or electrical interference | Plug everything into one power strip; move phones and chargers away |
| Bluetooth speaker crackles or cuts out | Distance, obstacles, Wi-Fi interference or low battery | Move closer, charge the speaker, re-pair |
| Crackles only at high volume | Amplifier clipping or speaker over-driven | Lower the volume and bass boost |
| Buzzing on bass at any volume | Damaged cone or voice coil | See our blown speaker guide |
| PC or laptop audio pops and crackles | Driver, enhancements, sample rate or CPU load | See the computer fixes below |
Fix crackling on a Windows PC or laptop
- Turn off audio enhancements: Settings → System → Sound, choose your speakers and set Audio enhancements to Off.
- Change the format: on the same page, set Format to 24-bit, 48000 Hz (or try 16-bit, 44100 Hz). A mismatch between the format and the app can cause pops.
- Update or roll back the audio driver: right-click Start → Device Manager → Sound, video and game controllers. Get the newest driver from your laptop or motherboard maker.
- Use the Balanced or High performance power plan. Aggressive power saving can cause short audio dropouts.
- Close heavy apps and browser tabs. If crackling happens when the CPU is busy, the audio buffer is running out.
- Turn off "exclusive mode" in the old Sound control panel (Sound settings → More sound settings → Properties → Advanced) if one app causes pops.
Fix crackling on a Mac
- Restart the Mac, or restart the audio system by running
sudo killall coreaudiodin Terminal. - Disconnect USB hubs and docks one at a time – faulty hubs are a common cause.
- Update macOS in System Settings → General → Software Update.
- If MacBook speakers crackle at all volumes, contact Apple support; the speakers may need replacing.
Fix crackling Bluetooth speakers and headphones
- Keep the device within a few metres with no walls in between.
- Charge the speaker – many crackle when the battery is low.
- Turn off Bluetooth on other nearby devices and move away from Wi-Fi routers and microwaves.
- Forget the device, reset the speaker and pair it again.
- Update the speaker firmware with the maker's app.
Fix crackling car speakers
Check the speaker wires behind the head unit and at each door speaker, especially where the wires pass through the door hinge – they break there from repeated opening. Use the balance and fader to find the bad speaker, and turn off loudness or bass boost to see if the crackle stops.
When to replace the speaker
If the crackle stays on the same speaker after you swap cables and sources, and gets worse on bass notes, the cone, surround or voice coil is damaged. Re-foaming fixes rotten surrounds; otherwise replace the driver or the speaker.
Test it now
Related guides
Laptop Speakers Not Working? 9 Fixes
Wrong output, mute, drivers and enhancements on Windows and Mac.
Read guideHow to Tell If a Speaker Is Blown
What a blown speaker sounds like and four ways to test it.
Read guideMono vs Stereo Audio: What's the Difference?
What mono and stereo mean, and how to switch mono on or off on any device.
Read guideFrequently asked questions
Why do my speakers crackle at high volume?
The amplifier is clipping or the speaker is being pushed past its limit. Lower the volume and bass boost. If it also crackles at low volume, the speaker may be damaged.
Can crackling damage my speakers?
Crackling from a bad cable is not harmful, but crackling from amplifier clipping at high volume can overheat and damage tweeters. Turn the volume down until you find the cause.
Why do my laptop speakers crackle?
Usually because of audio enhancements, an outdated driver, a sample-rate mismatch or high CPU load. Turn off enhancements, set the format to 24-bit 48000 Hz and update the driver.
Why does my speaker buzz when nothing is playing?
That is usually a ground loop or interference from a phone, charger or power supply. Plug all equipment into the same power strip and move mobile phones away from the speakers and cables.