Clicking in my sound.

Lisa Atkins 0 Reputation points
2026-11-08T22:38:30.0933333+00:00

There sounds like there is clicking in the sound. I don't know how to make it stop. I don't know what made it start doing it and it seems to be getting louder. I was listening to music through headphones. What should I do to make it stop clicking??

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers
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  1. Emma1-N 14,920 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-11-11T03:40:32.3566667+00:00

    Welcome Lisa Atkins,

    Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A Forum. I understand there is a clicking sound in your audio while you listen to music through headphones, and it seems to be getting louder.

    To narrow this down, could you please share:

    • Are your headphones wired (3.5 mm), USB, or Bluetooth? Does the clicking also happen with a different pair of headphones or with speakers?
    • Does the clicking happen with all sounds (for example, system sounds and videos), or only in the app you use to play music?

    In the meantime, you can try these steps:

    1, Change the audio format of your headphones

    • Go to Start > Settings > System > Sound.
    • Select your headphones under Output.
    • Under Output settings, open the Format list and choose a different option, such as 24 bit, 48000 Hz or 16 bit, 44100 Hz.
    • Play music again and check whether the clicking continues.

    2, Turn off exclusive mode

    • Go to Start > Settings > System > Sound > More sound settings.
    • On the Playback tab, right-click your headphones and select Properties.
    • On the Advanced tab, uncheck Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device.
    • Select Apply, then OK.

    3, Adjust power settings

    • Go to Start > Settings > System > Power & battery and set Power mode to Best performance.
    • If you use USB headphones, open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings.
    • Expand USB settings > USB selective suspend setting and set it to Disabled. Note: This option may not appear on some devices.

    4, Perform a clean boot to check for background app interference

    • Press Windows + R, type msconfig and press Enter.
    • On the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, then select Disable all.
    • Open Task Manager > Startup apps and disable all listed apps.
    • Restart your PC and test the audio again.
    • If the clicking stops, re-enable the services and apps a few at a time to find the cause. When you are done, return msconfig to Normal startup.

    Looking forward to your update.

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  2. SD - IA 182.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-11-08T23:56:14.9666667+00:00

    Hi,

    Maybe it is the driver's that are causing this issue. Let me suggest reinstalling the driver's.

    Please supply the following Information.

    Right-click the Start button and Choose the Run option

    Type in msinfo32 Press enter.

    Take a screenshot of the System Summary window and post it in the next reply.

    I look forward to your response and am eager to collaborate until we find a solution.

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  3. AI answer

    2026-11-08T22:38:46.9766667+00:00

    Try these Windows 11 steps in order:

    1. Check the selected output device.
      • Select the Speakers icon on the taskbar.
      • Select the arrow to the right of the volume slider.
      • Make sure audio is going to the correct device, such as the intended headphones.
    2. Check hardware and volume controls.
      • Make sure the headphones are fully connected.
      • If using USB headphones, try a different USB port.
      • If the device has its own volume or mute control, check that too.
      • Unplug the headphones and test again, since speakers may not work correctly while headphones are connected.
    3. Turn off audio enhancements.
      • Go to Start > Settings > Sound.
      • In Output, select the device in use.
      • Under Advanced settings, set Audio enhancements to Off.
    4. Run the audio troubleshooter.
      • Go to Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
      • In the Audio section, select Run.
    5. Update or reinstall the audio driver.
      • Open Device Manager.
      • Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
      • Right-click the sound device and select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
      • If that does not help, uninstall the audio device from Device Manager and restart the PC so Windows reinstalls the driver.
      • Save open work before restarting.

    If the clicking continues even after speakers are turned off, that can indicate a hardware noise from inside the PC rather than Windows audio. In that case, run the device diagnostic test if available, or have the hardware checked.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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