Who do I have a high pitched screeching from headphones whenever I open Sound Settings or Voice Recorder in Windows 10?

Hello! My name is Cristiano. I'm an Independent Advisor. I'm glad to help you.

Based on the information you provided, it's possible that the issue might be related to some kind of interference with your laptop's sound card or drivers. Here are a few potential solutions you can try:

• Try updating your sound card drivers. You can often find updates for your drivers on the manufacturer's website.
• Disable any sound effects that might be causing interference. To do this, right-click on the speaker icon in your taskbar, select "Playback devices", right-click on your default playback device, select "Properties", go to the "Enhancements" tab, and check the "Disable all sound effects" box.
• Change your default playback device: In Windows 10, right-click on the volume icon in the taskbar and select "Sounds". In the Playback tab, select a different default device and click "Set Default". Test to see if the screeching sound persists.
• Adjust your sound settings: In Windows 10, open the Sound Settings and click on "Device properties" under the Output section. Try changing the sample rate and bit depth to see if this resolves the issue.
• Use a different program: If the screeching sound only occurs when using specific programs like Sound Settings or Voice Recorder, try using a different program to see if the issue persists.
• Try using a different USB port or audio jack. Sometimes using a different port can eliminate interference.
• Use an external sound card or USB audio adapter. These can often bypass any onboard sound card interference.
• Try using a different pair of headphones or earbuds. It's possible that the issue is related to the headphones themselves.

I hope one of these solutions works for you!

Hi Cristiano,

Thanks for your message.

I have tried to comment against each of your suggestions:

• Try updating your sound card drivers. You can often find updates for your drivers on the manufacturer's website. I checked this and my drivers are all up to date.
• Disable any sound effects that might be causing interference. To do this, right-click on the speaker icon in your taskbar, select "Playback devices", right-click on your default playback device, select "Properties", go to the "Enhancements" tab, and check the "Disable all sound effects" box. I tried this but it had no effect. Also I should mention when I open this menu but go to the "Recording" tab, the buzzing starts. As soon as I click off the "Recording" tab it stops.
• Change your default playback device: In Windows 10, right-click on the volume icon in the taskbar and select "Sounds". In the Playback tab, select a different default device and click "Set Default". Test to see if the screeching sound persists. I tried this but it had no impact. I dont think this is a playback issue - it is a recording issue.
• Adjust your sound settings: In Windows 10, open the Sound Settings and click on "Device properties" under the Output section. Try changing the sample rate and bit depth to see if this resolves the issue. When I click on Device Properties a new window opens, but there is nothing on smaple rate. There is a box to rename it, then spatial sound format, then balance.
• Use a different program: If the screeching sound only occurs when using specific programs like Sound Settings or Voice Recorder, try using a different program to see if the issue persists. It happens in every programme I have tried. As soon as I open any programme that involves the microsphone being used the buzzing starts.
• Try using a different USB port or audio jack. Sometimes using a different port can eliminate interference. I tried this but I still get the buzzing.
• Use an external sound card or USB audio adapter. These can often bypass any onboard sound card interference. The headset / microphone only has a USB and it is plugged in by USB. I dont have a different external sound card. I have a laptop and headset with mix. I plug the headset with mic into the laptop.
• Try using a different pair of headphones or earbuds. It's possible that the issue is related to the headphones themselves. I have tested with another headset and mic. I have the buzzing with that one too.

Thank you for your feedback. One more thing you could try is disabling any unused recording devices in the Sound Settings, as having multiple recording devices enabled can sometimes cause interference.

To do this, right-click on the speaker icon in your taskbar, select "Open Sound Settings", and then click on "Sound Control Panel" on the right-hand side. This will open the Sound Properties window. Click on the "Recording" tab, right-click on any unused recording devices, and select "Disable". You can also try disabling any recording devices that you are not actively using.

If neither of these solutions works, it might be worth reaching out to the manufacturer of your headset/microphone to see if they have any specific troubleshooting steps or suggestions for resolving this issue.