How to Fix Static Sound in Windows 10 – Guide on Static Noise
A good quality mic will pick up even the slightest sound. Stand-alone mics are more sensitive to sound and often you will need to use additional hardware like shock mounts and pop filters to get good, high-quality recording.
Mics, even good ones, can pick up static. It’s more likely to happen with an external mic but an internal one is just as prone to it. If you’re trying to use an external mic and it’s picking up static noise while you record, stream, or chat, there are a few things you can try to fix the problem.
Static noise from microphone [FIX]
These fixes are for external mics however, they might work for an internal mic, and should also be effective if you’re using a headset with a built-in mic. These solutions troubleshoot static sound. If your mic isn’t working, you need to troubleshoot that separately.
Hardware check
When you’re using an external mic, its placement isn’t as perfect as that of an internal mic. It’s important to pay attention to where you place it.
- Check if there’s anything nearby that might be causing the interference e.g., anything that’s magnetic, a phone, other sound equipment, Bluetooth devices, etc.
- Examine the cable that is used to connect the mic to the PC. If it’s damaged, loose in the jack, or not the original one that came with the device, it may be causing interference.
- Some mics need to draw power in order to work. They come with their own power supply/wire and it can be a source of static. Check where it’s plugged in and see if the socket or port is loose.
- It is also possible that your PC’s own PSU has a wire loose and it’s resulting in a slight current flow through the chassis. This is going to be hard to figure out so take it in for a check if nothing else on this list of fixes works out.
Turn down microphone boost
Microphone boost is a basic enhancement that makes the volume louder but it might cause problems with the sound quality. Try turning it down.
- Open the Control Panel.
- Go to Hardware and Sound.
- Click Sound.
- Go to the Recording tab.
- Right-click the mic, and select Properties.
- Go to the Level tab.
- Turn the Microphone Boost levels down.
Update audio drivers
If you’re using a new audio device i.e., an external mic, it is possible that the drivers for it didn’t update or install automatically when you connected it. The device might be working but the right driver is the difference between a device working and a device working well.
- Open Device Manager.
- Right-click the Microphone and select Update driver.
- Install any driver updates if they’re available, and restart your PC.
Proprietary audio/recording app
If your mic’s manufacturer has an app that can tune/control it, installing it is worth a try. The app might not do much but installing it alone might fix the static problem. Explore any settings it has to improve the quality of the recording. Likewise, if you have an audio app from your PC’s manufacturer installed, check if it offers any noise cancellation features and enable them.
Enable Enhancements
Your mic and your PC might have support for enhancements, one of which can reduce noise from the mic. Check if yours has support and enable it.
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to Hardware and Sound.
- Click Sound.
- Go to the Recording tab.
- Right-click the mic, and select Properties.
- If the Properties window has an ‘Enhancements‘ tab go to it. If it doesn’t, this fix won’t work for you.
- On the Enhancements tab, look for Noise suppression, and enable it.
- Restart your PC and see if the static is gone.
Audio troubleshooter
The audio troubleshooter on Windows 10 is for audio output. With a mic, you have an audio input problem and there is no targeted troubleshooter for it. What you’re going to have to use instead is the general hardware troubleshooter.
- Use the Win + R keyboard shortcut to open the run box.
- In the run box, enter “msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic” and tap Enter.
- Run the troubleshooter and accept any fixes it tells you to apply.
Static Sound: Conclusion
If the above doesn’t work, try connecting the mic to a different desktop and check if the static is still there. If it is, it is highly likely that the mic itself is damaged. It might be slightly damaged e.g., a loose wire, or maybe it was dropped. You can have it repaired if it’s an expensive model, or you can buy a new one if the one you have is cheap. Audio devices tend to be easy to damage. You can get away with dropping a keyboard, a mouse, your phone, a screen as long as it isn’t dropped from too high, but with audio devices, it’s different. They’re sensitive to damage and should be stored with care.
