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My audio started to sound muffled/have bad quality.

Anonymous
2024-07-19T00:14:15+00:00

I turned on my computer this morning, and when I tried to watch a TV show it came out muffled/bad quality. Things like Spotify, Youtube, and PC games also sound muffled. Audio/Media files that I had downloaded before sounds clear. This has happened once before and went away after a few hours without any troubleshooting. I've tried to restart and shutdown my laptop, use the audio troubleshooter, uninstalling my audio drivers, and turning off audio enhancement, but nothing has worked. Is there anything else I can try?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-07-20T07:36:34+00:00

    Hello, Jadon Tan

    Welcome to the Microsoft Community.

    Hello, thank you for your feedback, it seems that there are some problems with the audio quality of your computer.

    It sounds like you've tried several troubleshooting steps, but let's explore more potential solutions:

    1. Update the audio driver:

    Press Win + X and select Device Manager.

    Expand the "Sound, Video, and Game Controllers" section, right-click the audio device, and select "Update Driver."

    Select "Automatically Search for updated driver software" and follow the on-screen instructions.

    If you don't find an update, visit the laptop manufacturer's website or the audio chipset manufacturer's website to download the latest drivers.

    1. Check for Windows updates:

    Press Win + I to open Settings, then go to Updates & Security > Windows Update.

    Click "Check for Updates" and install any available updates.

    1. Check the audio cables and connections:

    If you are using external speakers or headphones, make sure all cables are securely connected and undamaged. If you can, try using a different cable or port.

    1. Disable exclusive mode:

    Right-click the speaker icon in the system tray and select "Open Sound Settings".

    Scroll down and click "Sound Control Panel" under "Advanced Sound Options."

    Go to the "Playback" TAB, right-click the default playback device, and select "Properties".

    Go to the "Advanced" TAB and uncheck the box under "Exclusive Mode". Click "Apply" and then "OK."

    1. Run System file Check (SFC):

    Press Win + X and select "Command Prompt (administration)" or "Windows PowerShell(administration)".

    Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. Let the scan complete and restart the computer if it finds and fixes any issues.

    Disclaimer: Running Microsoft Safety Scanner can help you check if the system is disturbed or malicious software exists. To avoid any trouble for you, please back up all your personal files first to ensure you do not lose data.

    1. Test in safe mode:

    Start your PC in safe mode in Windows - Microsoft Support

    Press Win + R, type msconfig, and press Enter to open System Configuration.

    Go to the "Startup" TAB, select "Secure Startup" and then select "Minimize." Click OK and restart your computer.

    In safe mode, check if the audio problem still exists.

    If not, it may indicate a problem with third-party software or drivers.

    1. Restore the system to the previous point (if applicable):

    Press Win + R, Enter rstrui.exe, and press Enter to open System Restore.

    Follow the on-screen instructions to restore the system to the state it was in before the audio problem started.

    If these steps still do not fix your problem, you may need to consider hardware issues, you can conduct a computer aftermarket hardware sound card check.

    Best regards

    Bobhe | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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