10 Ways to Fix Senua’s Saga Hellblade 2 Audio Not Working

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is an action-adventure game developed by Ninja Theory and published by Xbox Game Studios. Released in 2024 as a sequel to Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, the game is set in 9th-century Iceland, drawing inspiration from Norse mythology and culture. It is available for both PC and Xbox Series X/S users. While the game has received overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam, some players have reported encountering bugs and issues. Specifically, there have been reports of audio not working properly, as well as crackling and distorted sound issues on the PC version. These issues can be frustrating for players, particularly in single-player titles, as they may impact communication with teammates and friends, ultimately affecting the overall gaming experience.

How to Fix Senua’s Saga Hellblade 2 Audio Not Working, Fix Crackling/Distorted/Popping Sound Issue

The occurrence of sudden crackling and popping sounds during audio playback in Senua’s Saga Hellblade 2 gameplay can be a significant issue. This problem may arise due to various factors, such as audio device connectivity issues, outdated sound drivers, incorrect audio settings, conflicts with the audio format, and issues with audio enhancements or installed audio drivers. Additionally, the presence of corrupted game files, problems with the audio device, or issues with the game installation could also contribute to the audio crackling bug. Fortunately, we have compiled some effective workarounds to address these issues. It is essential to diligently follow all troubleshooting methods until the problem is resolved. Let’s proceed without delay and explore these solutions.

1. Reboot the PC

It’s highly recommended that the PC be rebooted manually before following other troubleshooting methods until the problem has been fixed. Sometimes, a normal system reboot can fix multiple issues with the glitches or program data caches. To do that:

• Open the Start menu.
• Click on the Power icon > Click on Restart.

• Once the system reboots, check for the issue again.

2. Run Senua’s Saga Hellblade 2 as an Administrator

You should run the game executable application as an administrator to avoid user account control regarding privilege issues. The chances are high that your game application is blocked by the system admin permissions. To do this:

• Right-click on the Senua’s Saga Hellblade 2.exe app on your PC.
• Now, select Properties > Click on the Compatibility tab.

• Enable the Run this program as an administrator checkbox.
• Click on Apply and select OK to save changes.

3. Change Your Audio Format

Tweaking the audio quality or the format on your audio output device might help in fixing the sound crackling issue. So, follow the steps below to change the audio format.

• Press the Win+I keys to open Windows Settings.
• Click on System from the left pane > Click on Sound.
• Now, click on More Sound Settings.
• Under the Playback tab, double-click on the selected device.
• Go to the Advanced tab > Select 24-bit, 44100 Hz (Studio Quality) from the list.

• Click on Apply and then OK to save changes.
• Finally, reboot the PC to change the effects.

You can also try switching to a different audio format level such as CD Quality to check if the problem persists or not.

4. Disable Audio Enhancements

In case, you’re still unable to get better audio in the game or there is no sound at all with the microphone then make sure to disable audio enhancements (APOs) manually.

• Press the Win+I keys to open Windows Settings.
• Click on System > Go to Sound.
• Select Additional Device Properties from the Device Properties panel.
• Choose the connected microphone or audio device from the Input device list.
• Now, click on Device Properties > Select Additional Device Properties.
• Depending on your manufacturer brand, you’ll find the Enhancements tab or the Advanced tab.
• On the Enhancements tab, select either the Disable all enhancements or the Disable all sound effects check box.
• Click on OK to save changes.
• If you don’t see the settings there, select the Advanced tab.
• Select Enable audio enhancements.
  • Check the Disable audio enhancements box if the manufacturer located the setting here.
• Once done, make sure to check the issue.

5. Set the Correct Audio Output Device

Sometimes an incorrect audio output device might trigger several issues with the audio crackling. You should have manually set the correct audio output device by following the steps below on the PC.

• Right-click on the sound icon on your taskbar.
• Click on Open Sound Settings.
• Now, select the output device that’s connected under the output section.
• Then test out the changes with the Master volume.
• Finally, launch the game to check for the issue.

6. Update the Audio Driver

Sometimes, an outdated or missing audio driver on the system can trigger several issues in multiple ways. Checking for the audio driver update and installing it (if available) is highly recommended. You can follow this in-depth article link to do the same. Otherwise, you can follow the brief steps below to install the update.

• Press the Win+X keys to open the Quick Link Menu.
• Click on Device Manager > Double-click on Sound, video, and game controllers.

• Right-click on the active audio device > Select Update driver.
• Click on Search automatically for drivers > Wait for the process to complete.
• If there is an update available, it’ll be automatically installed.
• Once done, ensure that the system is rebooted to apply changes.

Please Note: If the specific method didn’t help then make sure to update the ‘Audio inputs and outputs’ adapter manually just like the above method to ensure there is no audio device driver left.

7. Reinstall Audio Drivers

There are some issues with the outdated audio driver or somehow the audio driver becomes corrupted on the PC. In that case, you’ll need to follow the steps below to easily reinstall the audio driver on the computer.

• Press the Win+X keys to open the Quick Link Menu.
• Click on Device Manager from the list > Double-click on Sound, Video, and Game Controllers.
• Right-click on the correct audio device that you’re using.
• Next, select Uninstall driver > Follow the on-screen instructions to delete it.
• Then reboot the PC to apply changes.
• Finally, the audio driver will be reinstalled automatically.

You should also try reinstalling the ‘Audio inputs and outputs’ driver to cross-check if everything works fine or not.

8. Update Senua’s Saga Hellblade 2

The chances are high that somehow an outdated game patch version can trouble you a lot with the in-game rattling or crackling sound issues. It’s recommended to check for the game updates manually by following the steps below.

• Open Steam > Go to Game Library.
• Right-click on Senua’s Saga Hellblade 2.
• Select Properties > Click on Updates.
• Head over to Automatic Updates.
• Select Only update this game when I launch it.
• It’ll automatically install updates whenever available.

9. Verify and Repair the Game Files

Sometimes corrupted or missing game files on the PC might also trouble you while starting the game. It’s always better to verify and repair the game files by following the steps below on your PC to avoid errors.

• Open the Steam client > Go to Library.
• Right-click on Senua’s Saga Hellblade 2 in your library.
• Go to Settings and select Properties.
• Click on Local Files > Select Verify integrity of game files.

• Wait for the process to complete.

10. Try Using Another Audio Device

Last but not least, you can try using another audio device on your PC to cross-check if the same sound crackling issue bothers you or not. It might also be possible that somehow your existing audio device is causing crackling noise during the Senua’s Saga Hellblade 2 gaming sessions. In case, another audio device is working fine that means your existing audio device has some physical issues.

That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.