Sometimes our laptops or computers start making tapping or crackling sounds.
The first thing that pops in one’s head after listening to these laptop noises is that there is something terribly wrong with the laptop.
And we must go for the expert’s help right away.
However, it is not big a fault as it may seem. That is why it is important to make a thorough inspection before hiring professional help.
There are several reasons for your laptop making sounds, such as trash stuck in your hard drive, problems in the cooling fan, and audio setting issues.
Usually, whenever people face laptop problems, they instantly have abrupt actions without knowing the actual situation.
Therefore, we suggest you not make any decision until you properly analyze the problem. Once you know what’s causing the crackling sound, then you can go solve the problem without any waste of money or time.
After thorough research, we have gathered all the possibilities why your laptop is making crackling sounds.
So, let’s take a look below to know everything about the reasons and their solutions.
Reasons Why Laptop Makes Crackling Sound?
Most people face the problem of their laptops making weird sounds.
If your laptop is having the same issue, we have come up with the most common reasons and their solutions. Have a look below to know more!
01 – Laptop Cooling Fan Issue
One of the common reasons for laptop making noises is because there is a problem with its cooling fan. And if it is left untreated, it can cause more damage to the laptop.
Of course, there can be other reasons, but this is the most common one – something stuck inside the laptop case that keeps striking the running cooling fan, and as a result, you hear crackling noises.
You may be thinking, what must be stuck in my laptop’s cooling fan?
Well, it could be anything, such as a loose piece of something. That is why we suggest you open the laptop, thoroughly check the fan, and remove it if you find anything in there.
Another explanation can be that trash is laxer than the blades of the fan, and as the laptop functions, trash could be chopped, and its fragmented pieces may clash with the blades, causing the noise.
On the other hand, sometimes trash can be a hard piece that cannot be cut down by the fan’s blade. In this case, it will definitely damage the fan, which will cause crackling noises in your laptop.
Regardless of your laptop’s scenario, we suggest you get professional help to fix your laptop.
02 – Laptop Hard Drive
When your laptop makes a crackling noise, just make sure to fix the problem as soon as you can. There may be a severe issue at times, but this is not always the case.
Another reason your laptop makes a crackling noise can be because there is something wrong with the laptop’s hard drive.
Have a thorough inspection to figure out where the noise is coming from. If the hard drive is genuinely making the noise, then there must be a surface issue. Although this is not the ultimate solution, it helps to minimize the noise.
You may not believe but having an uneven surface can be the reason for your laptop making crackling noises. So, make sure to switch from a rough surface to an even one to fix the problem.
However, it does not always work. Having crackling sounds represents that your laptop’s hard drive is not performing well. Also, there could be mechanical defects that aren’t detectable by software testing.
It happened to one of my friends, and he complained that his laptop hard drive makes crackling sounds.
“It usually happens in the first few minutes of turning on my laptop. After that, it works fine, without making any noise. However, sometimes it starts making the sound during use.”
If you are having the same problem with your laptop, immediately get a complete backup of your hard drive. Obviously, the laptop’s hard drive is having problems, so you need to save the data before fixing or replacing the hard drive.
Once you have backed up the hard drive, go for an expert’s services.
03 – Laptop Speakers
Your laptop having crackling sounds is a definite sign that there is something wrong with the laptop, and it needs to be fixed immediately. There may also be a problem with the device settings, which will need to be adjusted.
In addition to the reasons mentioned above, incorrect settings or faulty sound drivers may contribute to specific hardware causing the crackling noises.
04 – Laptop Sound Enhancements
Some sound drivers use modifications to increase sound quality. They have distinct characteristics, and all function well if it is consistent with the environment in which it is used.
When the enhancements aren’t compatible with the sound drivers, they start to crackle.
You should try removing all sound enhancements to see if the sound quality improves.
05 – Laptop Audio Format
There is a lot of research that suggests crackling sounds were eliminated by modifying the audio format. To listen to crackling noise on a laptop, search the audio format.
You can adjust the sound quality of your laptop based on the speakers. DVD quality, CD quality, and Studio quality are the three forms of sound quality available. The difference between them is in their frequency.
There are various types of sound formats, and you can measure where the problem no longer occurs by switching between them.
06 – Third-Party Programs
Third-party programs such as Sonic Master Smart Byte, for example, can trigger crackling sounds in a laptop. Sounds are routed into this third-party software before being sent to the speakers.
Various third-party programs are incompatible with your audio system and appear to interfere with and interrupt the sound system’s initial sound driver function.
To fix the problem, look for any third-party sound programs on your laptop and turn them off. Run your machine in safe mode and try troubleshooting if there are a lot of these types of third-party programs.
Maintenance Tips for Protecting Your Laptop
If you don’t want to spend loads of money on laptop fixing, here are the maintenance tips to follow to keep your laptop in good condition.
- A major temperature switch can affect your laptop. For instance, if the weather is extremely cold and you just got back home with your laptop, don’t turn it on immediately. Let the laptop warm up and reach room temperature. It may take some time, but it is worth it.
- Don’t place your laptop near appliances that produce a magnetic field, including large speakers, televisions, and refrigerators. In fact, avoid putting your mobile phone on top of your laptop while both are on.
- Comparing a laptop with a desktop computer – laptops tend to overheat easily and quickly. Don’t put your laptop on a pillow or a blanket that could prevent sufficient ventilation for the laptop.
- Be choosy when it comes to taking your laptop to places. Even though it is highly portable, its portability can work against it. Don’t use it on the kitchen counter where it could drop onto the floor or don’t take it to the beach to have sand inside of your laptop. Also, don’t think of finishing your spreadsheet while relaxing in a bathtub. Because you never know!
- Always carry your laptop in a high-quality cushiony case or bag to protect it against jostles and drops. The jerks can cause misplacement of the hard drive or other important parts of the laptop. Also, avoid the habit of putting anything on top of it – newspapers, backpacks, books.
- Most people prefer to drink water, coffee, or any liquid while working on their laptops. However, it is highly suggested to keep the beverages away from your laptop to avoid any spills. If the liquid gets inside your laptop, it can cause electrical damage, causing you to spend a ton of money to fix the issue.
Conclusion
If your laptop is making crackling noises, you don’t have to worry about it. It could be one of the possible reasons mentioned above. Instead of running to a professional, have a thorough inspection to analyze the situation and figure out the problem.
Once you know the problems, chances are it is not a big fault as it may sound. This way, you can fix the problem on your own, without spending lots of money on professional help.
We hope that this article is helpful for you and you will soon fix your laptop’s noise problem. However, if there is not anything you can do, then there is no better choice than opting for an expert’s help to fix the laptop.