Fix: Steam Deck Audio Crackling Issue

The Steam Deck is a fresh product that allows PC gamers to enjoy games on a handheld device. But the device’s success heavily relies on its actual gaming experience delivery, and so far, it has been a mixed bag of opinions. Some love the portability, while some still prefer the PC setup. While for those who opted to try out this portable PC gaming experience, the experience has been good but still far from perfect.

One of this device’s most questionable aspects was its quality control. Some users have pointed out that while gaming on the device’s speakers, the audio output sometimes gets rattled. And this can ruin the experience altogether substantially. If you are one of these troubled Steam Deck users, this article could help you. Here, we have listed some common solutions you can try from your end to resolve this. So without any further ado, let’s get into it.

Fix: Steam Deck Audio Crackling Issue

Steam Deck crackling issue could be hardware that was left unnoticed. Or it could be a software bug that has recently crept up. Whatever the issue, we will look into all possible solutions here.

Reboot the Steam Deck:

Any electronic device that runs into a software issue can be fixed sometimes with a simple restart. And the Steam Deck is no exception. You can hold the power button on your Steam Deck for 10 seconds, forcing the device to restart. Or you can navigate to Steam > Power > Restart to perform the same action using your Deck.

After the restart, check whether the audio crackling issue is resolved. If it is still there, try the next solution.

Reset your WiFi:

The connection you are using to connect to the internet might need a restart. The best way to do that is to reset the relationship entirely. To reset the connection, go to your router and disconnect it from the power source. Now, please wait for a few minutes and then plug it in again.

Once it is plugged in, connect your Steam Deck to the WiFi again.

Now try gaming on the device with the speaker turned on. If the crackling sound is still there, try the next solution.

Check your internet speed:

Most of us are on limited internet plans for connectivity. There is a chance that you might have exhausted your data and you are unaware of it. This happens quite often as users often lose track of background data usage.

So run a speed test on any connected device’s browser and check your plan usage and validity. If everything is in place, but you still hear the crackling sound while gaming, try the next solution.

Check the Steam servers:

Another issue could be the issue is the connection between your device and the Steam servers. Steam servers do go down from time to time for regular maintenance. It won’t work if you are trying to use your Steam Deck in that while, it won’t work. You will not be able to connect to Steam on your Steam Deck. The only solution here is to wait till the servers are up and running again.

If there are no problems with the server, but you still have the audio issue, try the next solution.

Contact your ISP:

Internet service providers block out certain services, sites, or applications to monitor data use and access. For some reason, there is a chance your ISP could be the culprit behind your connectivity issue with Steam. And that is causing your keyboard to not appear on the Steam Deck device.

To fix this, contact your ISP and inform them about your issue. They should be able to help you out.

Rollback to Previous Firmware:

If this issue crept up following a software update, the ideal solution would be to roll back to the previous firmware installed on the device. Moreover, you may reinstall the latest update as sometimes the system files get corrupted, and reinstalling the firmware fixes all bugs in the Steam deck.

• Download the recovery image of your desired version from Steam’s official website.
• Create a bootable USB using the downloaded recovery image. You can use Rufus for Windows, Balena Etcher for Linux, and macOS to create a bootable USB.
• Then power off the Steam Deck.
• Connect the bootable disk to the Steam Deck using a USB-C adapter.
• Press and hold the Power and Volume down buttons until you hear a chime.
• Let go of the volume button then, and you will see the Boot Manager.
• Select the bootable disk connected via the type-C port.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

If rolling back to a previous build did not help, try the next solution.

Update the Steam Deck:

Sometimes it’s not a rollback but an update that could solve all your issues with the device. If you are an older OS version of Steam, it might have some bugs. That could be the cause of your audio problem as well. To try and fix this, you need to update your Steam Deck to the latest version.

• Press the Steam button on your Steam Deck.
• Go to Settings.
• Then select System.
• Next, navigate to the software update section, where you will see the option to check for updates. Tap on it; if any update is pending, you should see it here.
• If no update is pending, you will see it up to date.
• If there is an update pending, install the pending update and restart the device.

Try the next solution if updating the device does not solve your problem.

Contact support:

Contact Steam Deck support if none of the above solutions worked for you. It could be a hardware issue. And in that case, you can choose only one answer to fix this. You need to take the device to the nearest service center and get it fixed there. The process won’t cost you anything if your device is new and under warranty.

So these are all the solutions you can try to resolve the Steam Deck audio crackling issue. If you have any questions or queries about this article, comment below, and we will reply. Also, check out our other articles on iPhone tips and tricks, Android tips and tricks, PC tips and tricks, and much more for more helpful information.