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Surface laptop sound distorted, out of sync

Hrvoje Hudo 46 Reputation points
2025-12-05T14:01:25.5133333+00:00

I have Surface Laptop 6.

Sound became distorted and with pops/cracks, but after i use laptop for some time, like day or two. After restart, it works fine but in few days it starts getting those pops and cracks. Also, video in Youtube gets out of sync with audio.

Tried:

  • updated drivers, reinstalling sound card drivers
  • Windows 11 is up to date (25h2)
  • disabled all sound enchancements
  • happens in all browsers or apps, even Windows sound are distorted
  • CPU or RAM are not problem, usage is very low
Surface | Surface Laptop | Sound and camera
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  1. Haien-L 6,355 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2025-12-05T23:37:39.8+00:00

    Dear Hrvoje Hudo

    Thanks for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A Forum.  

    I appreciate you detailing the distortion, pops/cracks, and video sync issues on Windows 11 (25H2)—it's frustrating when sound doesn't match the experience. This intermittent behavior, resolving temporarily after restarts, may stem from audio driver interactions or power management settings, especially after prolonged use. 

    • Does it occur with external headphones/speakers?  
    • Any recent app installs or hardware changes if you've recently installed any new external devices (like a docking station, a new mouse, or a headset) that might be introducing a driver conflict? 
    • Share any error messages from Event Viewer (search for it, filter Windows Logs > Application for audio-related events). 

    In the meantime, please consider trying my suggestions and let me know any new information (if possible, specify the steps you have or are taking that have not resolved your issue) so I can follow up on your case:

    • Right-click speaker icon > Sound settings > All sound devices > Speakers (Realtek) > More device settings > Advanced > Set to 24-bit, 48000 Hz (Studio Quality). Test playback. 
    • Go to [Settings] > [System] > [Sound] > [Troubleshoot] (Win 11) > Run it. 
    • Right-click speaker icon > [Sound settings] > [All sound devices] > [Speakers] (Realtek) > [More device settings] > [Advanced] > Set to 24-bit, 48000 Hz (Studio Quality) > Test playback 
    • Right-click speaker icon > [Sound settings] > Under [Output], click on your [Surface Speaker] device > [Additional sound settings] > open the classic [Sound] dialog box > Select your primary output device, click [Properties] > [Advanced] tab, and uncheck both boxes under [Exclusive Mode]: [Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device] and [Give exclusive mode applications priority] 
    • Search [Device Manager] > Expand [Audio inputs/outputs] > Right-click [Speakers] > [Properties] > [Power Management] > Uncheck [Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power] 

    If none of above works, please try this and let me know what steps you have been stuck: Open [Command Prompt] > [Run as administrator] > run the command sfc /scannow > Press [Enter] > Follow the prompt 

    Note: Back up important files before any resets. Avoid third-party audio apps during testing. 

    For additional information, please check these articles to know more: (Fix sound or audio problems in Windows - Microsoft Support) 

    Please keep me updated with anything new that you were try to each option. 

    If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".  

    Note: Please follow the steps in Change your Microsoft Q&A preferences | Microsoft Learn to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.  

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