I recently got a new desktop PC with Windows 11, and about a month after purchasing it, I've started hearing annoying popping sounds during brief audio interruptions. This happens when I close notifications, pause or skip videos, adjust the volume, or pause in games. I've tried various fixes, including changing the audio sample rate, testing different audio jacks, using a USB DAC, switching headphones and speakers, routing audio through a second monitor, running LatencyMon, disabling audio enhancements, testing different drivers, and tweaking power settings. The only things I haven't done are reinstalling Windows or updating the BIOS because I'm not very experienced and worry about messing things up. Initially, everything worked fine, but it seems this might be related to a Windows update. I'm looking for any real solutions or workarounds for this issue.
2 Answers
Is your audio cable running close to other electronic devices? Sometimes cables can pick up interference, especially if they're near power cables or USB wires. Try to keep your audio wires as isolated as possible from other cables.
Have you tried reverting to older audio drivers from the manufacturer's support page? Sometimes new updates can cause compatibility issues, so rolling back might help.
I already did that, but it didn't change anything.
I unplugged everything else from the USB ports except for the mouse and moved it away from the audio jacks. Still no change. I don't use any audio software that might be causing issues either.