Fix: Marvel Rivals Audio Not Working or Crackling Sound Issue on PC

Marvel Rivals is a fast-paced, team-based PVP shooter set in the Marvel Universe, developed by Marvel Games and NetEase Games. Released on December 6, 2024, the game has captured players’ attention with its roster of 35 iconic Marvel characters, offering immersive combat and high-stakes battles. However, some players have encountered issues with the game’s audio, such as no sound, crackling noise, or muffled effects, which can detract from the experience.

If you’re facing similar audio issues in Marvel Rivals, this guide will walk you through comprehensive troubleshooting steps for Steam and Epic Games versions of the game to restore optimal sound performance.

Fix: Marvel Rivals Audio Not Working or Crackling Sound

Below are effective methods to resolve audio issues on your PC:

1. Repair Game Files

Corrupted or missing game files can often cause audio issues. Repairing the game files will scan for any errors and replace corrupted files.

For Steam:

1. Open Steam and go to your Library.
2. Right-click on Marvel Rivals and select Properties.
3. Navigate to the Local Files tab.
4. Click Verify Integrity of Game Files.
5. Wait for the process to complete, then restart your PC.

For Epic Games:

1. Open the Epic Games Launcher and go to your Library.
2. Click the three dots next to Marvel Rivals.
3. Select Manage > Verify.
4. Wait for the verification process to finish.
5. Restart your system and relaunch the game.

2. Disable Nahimic Audio Driver (if installed)

The Nahimic Audio Driver, which comes pre-installed on certain systems, can interfere with in-game audio. Disabling this service may fix the issue:

1. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
2. Navigate to the Startup tab.
3. Find Nahimic Audio Driver in the list and disable it.
4. Restart your PC and launch Marvel Rivals.

3. Update Audio Drivers

Outdated or corrupted audio drivers can cause sound issues in any game. To update your audio drivers:

1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Sound, video, and game controllers.
3. Right-click on your audio device and select Update Driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for drivers.
5. Let Windows download and install any available updates.
6. Restart your PC.

If Windows doesn’t find new drivers, visit your motherboard or sound card manufacturer’s website to manually download and install the latest drivers.

4. Reinstall Audio Drivers

If updating the drivers doesn’t resolve the issue, try reinstalling them:

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand Sound, video, and game controllers.
3. Right-click on your audio device and select Uninstall device.
4. Confirm the uninstallation and restart your PC.
5. Windows should automatically reinstall the default drivers.
6. If not, download the latest drivers manually from the manufacturer’s website.

5. Remove Marvel Rivals Config File

Sometimes, the configuration files for the game can become corrupted and cause audio issues. Deleting these files forces the game to create fresh config files:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Documents\Marvel Rivals\settings.
3. Delete the configuration file.
4. Restart your PC and relaunch the game.

6. Check In-Game Audio Settings

Sometimes, the issue is due to simple misconfigurations in the in-game settings:

1. Launch Marvel Rivals and go to the Settings menu.
2. Open the Audio tab.
3. Ensure that Master Volume, Sound Effects, and Voice Chat levels are not muted or set too low.
4. Toggle the sound settings, save the changes, and check if the issue persists.

7. Check Physical Audio Connections

Loose audio connections can cause crackling sounds or no audio output:

1. Ensure that your headphones or speakers are securely connected to your PC.
2. Make sure the correct audio output port is being used.
3. If you’re using a USB headset, ensure that it’s fully inserted into the port.

For wireless headphones, ensure that they are properly paired via Bluetooth.

8. Disconnect Unnecessary Peripherals

Additional peripherals such as controllers, joysticks, or other audio devices may interfere with the game’s audio system:

1. Disconnect any unnecessary USB devices.
2. Restart your PC and relaunch Marvel Rivals.
3. Test if the audio works with only the essential devices connected.

9. Test with Another Audio Device

Your audio issues could be caused by faulty hardware. Try testing the game with another pair of headphones or speakers:

1. Connect a different pair of headphones or speakers.
2. Launch Marvel Rivals and check if the audio issues persist.

If the new audio device works, your original hardware may be the issue.

10. Power Cycle Your PC

Power cycling can fix minor system glitches:

1. Shut down your PC.
2. Unplug the power cable and wait for a minute.
3. Plug the cable back in and turn on your PC.
4. Launch the game and check if the audio is working.

11. Turn Off Windows Sonic or Spatial Sound

Windows Sonic for Headphones or Spatial Sound can cause compatibility issues:

1. Open the Start menu and select Settings > System > Sound.
2. Under Related settings, click Sound Control Panel.
3. Select your Playback device and click Properties.
4. Navigate to the Spatial sound tab and set it to Off.
5. Click Apply and OK.
6. Restart the game and check if the issue persists.

12. Reset BIOS Settings

If you’ve recently modified BIOS settings for overclocking or other purposes, it may cause hardware-related issues. Resetting your BIOS can fix this:

1. Restart your PC and enter the BIOS/UEFI menu (usually by pressing Del or F2 during startup).
2. Find the option to Reset BIOS to Default Settings or Load Default Settings.
3. Confirm the reset and exit the BIOS menu.
4. Check if the audio issue is resolved.

13. Update BIOS

Outdated BIOS firmware can cause hardware compatibility issues with newer games:

1. Visit your motherboard manufacturer’s website.
2. Download the latest BIOS update.
3. Follow the instructions provided to safely update your BIOS.
4. Restart your PC and check if the audio issue persists.

Additional Tips:

• Disable Discord Overlay: If you’re using Discord, disable the in-game overlay as it can cause audio conflicts.
• Close Background Applications: Close apps such as Spotify, OBS, and Chrome that may be using audio resources.
• Switch Audio Output Devices: Try switching between different output devices in the Windows Sound Settings.

Conclusion

By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to resolve any audio-related issues in Marvel Rivals. Whether the problem is due to corrupted files, outdated drivers, or misconfigured settings, these methods will help restore your game’s audio. If the problem persists, consider reaching out to Marvel Rivals Support or checking community forums for additional help.

Let us know in the comments if any of these solutions worked for you—or if you’ve discovered additional fixes that can help others. Happy gaming!