How To Fix Static in Headphones

You get back from a stressful day and turn on your computer. Plugging in your headphones to listen to some nice music while resting from a hard day, you hear some strange static in-between the lyrics. Sound familiar?

Most of us have been in that awkward situation of needing to fix the static in our headphones but having no idea what to do. Well, you’re in luck because today, we’ll be teaching you what to check for when your headphone is cracking with static. 

What Are Headphones?

Headphones are a device used to focus sound to the ears in a pleasant and adjustable way. They have two sides for each ear that are held together by a curved material going over the head. 

I’m sure you’ve had moments where you wanted some privacy, or you couldn’t watch a video or listen to music without the surrounding noise interfering. Well, with headphones, you can block out other outside noises and focus on what you wish. Pretty cool, right?

Fixing Static in Headphones

Headphones don’t need much maintenance and are very portable, but they aren’t resistant to technical issues, and the most important thing you need to know before fixing the static in yours is what’s causing the static. First, let’s look at general hardware problems affecting headphones and how to rectify them. Below are four methods you can use to fix your headphones.

Method #1: How To Fix Typical Headphone Hardware Problems

The most likely answer to your headphone static problem is a hardware issue, and this means you usually should check for hardware issues. 

Step #1: Clean the Auxiliary Port

A lot of times, the root of the static issue lies in the auxiliary port. The vast majority of people don’t maintain the cleanliness of their 3.5mm jack port and sometimes, this leads to the port getting dirty. Due to this, the sound might be muffled or static as you use your headphones, so try checking and cleaning the auxiliary port.

Step #2: Check for Loose Wires

There are times when the headphone’s internal wires aren’t as well-made as they should be. Sometimes, the wires disconnect from one another due to constant use or misuse. This is very common for the wires where the headphones are plugged into the audio jack. You can correct this by finding a particular way to position the wires so that they connect, but this is only a temporary solution until you take it to a professional to reconnect them.

Step #3: Damaged Headphones

If the first two steps don’t solve the matter of static in your headphones, try your headphones with another device that you’re sure is fully working to see if you still get static. If you do, it might mean that your headphones are the problem and should be replaced or taken to a professional for extensive repairs. Of course, take it to the repairman first to see what he can do, and if nothing can be done, you might have to get new headphones.

Method #2: How To Fix Headphone Software Problems on Mac Using Sound Effects

There are scenarios where the source of the static might not be the hardware but a software problem. Today, we’ll focus on PCs and Macbooks as the devices you could have software issues with when using headphones. Your headphones probably started having some static right after a Macbook update, so let’s see how we can fix any software matters relating to your headphones.

There are scenarios where the source of the static might not be the hardware but a software problem. Today, we’ll focus on PCs and Macbooks as the devices you could have software issues with when using headphones. Your headphones probably started having some static right after a Macbook update, so let’s see how we can fix any software matters relating to your headphones.

1. Connect your headphones to your Macbook audio port.
2. Open “System Preferences” and click “Sound.” The “Sound Effects” tab will display on the screen.
3. Check and make sure that the output device is that of your headphones.
4. Untick the option “Play feedback when the volume is changed,” check your headphones’ performance, re-tick it, and check your headphones for static. Repeat this a few times.

Method #3: How To Fix Headphone Software Problems on Mac Using Audio MIDI

If the method above fails to resolve the static issue, you could also try checking the Audio MIDI of the Macbook.

1. Open “Applications” and click on the “Utilities” folder before going to “Audio MIDI setup.”
2. On the left side of the screen, you’ll notice a list of devices that are available on your Mac. Right-click on “Built-in Output.”
3. Click on “Use this device for output.”

Method #4: How To Fix Headphone Software Problems on PC for Repairing Broken Drivers

The approach on Windows 10 PC depends on the issue, so we’ll start with broken drivers affecting headphones and how you can fix it.

1. On your keyboard, press the buttons “Windows key+R.”
2. Find “Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{36fc9e60-c465-11cf-8056-44455354000” on the registry (I’d advise you to just copy and paste this on the navigation bar).
3. To the right, the “UpperFilters” option can be seen. Right-click it and delete it.
4. Close everything and restart your PC.

Method #5: How To Fix Headphone Software Problems on PC Using Device Manager

If that doesn’t work, you might need to try a different solution. 

1. On your keyboard, press “Windows key+S” and then type “Device Manager.”
2. Expand the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” option and delete everything labeled as a controller there.
3. Close everything and restart your PC.

Summary

In this article about how to fix the static in your headphones, we went through what headphones are and the two main causes of static in them: hardware and software problems. From there, we talked about the numerous ways you can go about fixing them.

We are glad that we could help explain the necessary steps to possibly fix your headphones when they begin to exhibit static noises. We also hope you’ll share what you’ve learned with your family and friends. Now, go fix it!

Frequently Asked Questions