Sea of Thieves Sound Not Working, Muffled, or Audio Cutting Out

Sea of Thieves Sound Not Working, Muffled, or Audio Cutting Out: How to FIX

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Sea of Thieves Sound Not Working, Muffled, or Audio Cutting Out: Released in 2018, Sea of Thieves has quickly become a renowned action-adventure video game, delivering an immersive open-world multiplayer experience centered around the life of pirates.

Players can engage in ship sailing, combat, looting, and exploration, all essential elements for crafting their own legendary pirate tales. Developed by Rare and published by Microsoft Studios, this title has garnered a strong following.

However, following a recent update, numerous players have reported experiencing audio issues, including sound not functioning, lag, and crackling noises during gameplay. This has led to disappointment among the community, as these audio problems detract from the overall experience.

It’s important to note that the developers are aware of these issues and are actively working on a patch to address the audio concerns. While the release timeline for this update remains uncertain, it’s anticipated that most bugs will be resolved in due course.

In the meantime, if you are encountering audio difficulties, there are several potential workarounds available to help mitigate these issues while you wait for a permanent fix.

Fix: Sea of Thieves Audio Not Working or Crackling Sound Issue

Players have taken to Reddit to share their experiences regarding an audio issue while using headsets on consoles. Many have noted that while the headset activates, the sound quality is significantly compromised, resulting in muffled audio and a generally lower volume.

This disruption greatly diminishes the overall gameplay experience. Conversely, some users have reported that their headphones function properly, indicating that the problem may be isolated to the console speakers.

1. Repair Game Files

To begin, it’s advisable to repair the game files through the Steam client to determine if this resolves your issue. Corrupted or missing files can often lead to problems in gameplay. Here’s how to proceed:

  • 1. Launch the Steam application and navigate to your Library.
  • 2. Locate and right-click on the Sea of Thieves title.
  • 3. Select ‘Properties‘ and then head to the ‘Local Files‘ section.
  • 4. Choose the option to ‘Verify Integrity of Game Files…‘
  • 5. The verification process will commence, which may take a little while to finish.
  • 6. Once the verification is complete, exit the Steam client and restart your computer to ensure all changes take effect.

This should help address any file-related issues you may be experiencing.

2. Disable Nahimic Audio Driver

  • Nahimic is an audio driver chosen by your PC manufacturer to enhance the audio quality on devices such as laptops and motherboards.
  • This reliable driver is specifically designed to improve and fine-tune the audio performance of your system.
  • To disable the Nahimic audio driver, first, open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
  • Next, navigate to the Startup tab. From there, locate the Nahimic audio driver in the list and disable it. Once you’ve done this, restart your computer to see if the issue has been resolved.

3. Update Audio Drivers

You can effortlessly download and install the most recent audio driver tailored for your specific motherboard or laptop model. Furthermore, to update the currently active graphics driver on your Windows computer, follow these straightforward steps:

  • 1. Press the Windows + X keys simultaneously to access the Quick Link Menu.
  • 2. Select Device Manager from the list to open it, then locate and double-click on Sound, video, and game controllers.
  • 3. Right-click on the audio device that is currently in use or causing issues, and choose Update driver from the menu.
  • 4. Opt for Search automatically for drivers and wait for the system to complete the search.
  • 5. If an update is found, your system will download and install it automatically.
  • 6. Finally, restart your computer to ensure that all changes take effect.

4. Reinstall Audio Drivers

It’s possible that the audio driver on your computer has become corrupted or is missing for some unexpected reason. If you’re experiencing similar issues, you can resolve this by reinstalling the audio drivers. Follow these steps:

  • 1. Press the Windows + X keys to access the Quick Link Menu.
  • 2. Select Device Manager from the list to open it.
  • 3. Locate and double-click on “Sound, video, and game controllers.”
  • 4. Right-click on the audio device that is currently active or causing issues, and choose “Uninstall device.”
  • 5. Confirm the uninstallation by clicking on “Uninstall” again, then wait for the process to finish.
  • 6. After the uninstallation is complete, restart your computer to apply the changes.

Upon reboot, Windows should automatically reinstall the missing audio driver or device if it is connected. If the system fails to do so, make a note of your computer model or motherboard model number, then visit the official manufacturer’s website to download and install the latest audio driver manually.

5. Remove Sea of Thieves Config

To troubleshoot the issue, consider deleting the Sea of Thieves configuration file on your computer to see if that resolves the problem. Here’s how to do it:

  • 1. Open File Explorer and navigate to This PC.
  • 2. Select the C: drive, which is where the game is installed.
  • 3. Go to the following path: username\documents\Sea of Thieves\settings.
  • 4. Locate and delete the Sea of Thieves config file from that folder.
  • 5. After you’ve completed this step, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.

6. Check Wires of Audio Output

Ensure that you verify the audio output device and its connections, confirming that all wires are securely connected and plugged into the correct ports. This straightforward step is often overlooked, as users can easily make mistakes or forget these details.

7. Disconnect Other Peripherals

Additionally, it is advisable to remove any unnecessary peripherals to troubleshoot the problem more effectively. By minimizing the number of connected USB devices, you can better identify the root cause of the issue.

8. Test Out Other Speakers or Headsets

To determine whether your current speaker or headset may be causing issues while playing Sea of Thieves, it’s advisable to experiment with different audio devices connected to your computer. This will help identify if the problem lies with your existing equipment.

9. Power Cycle your PC

Occasionally, restarting your computer can resolve various problems related to the game. Here’s how to do it:

  • First, turn off your computer and disconnect the power cable.
  • Allow it to sit for approximately one minute before reconnecting the power and turning the system back on to see if the issue persists.

10. Turn Off Windows Sonic or Spatial Sound

To disable the Windows Sonic or Spatial Sound feature on your desktop or laptop, please follow these instructions:

  • 1. Open the Start menu and navigate to Settings.
  • 2. Click on System, then select Sound.
  • 3. Look for Related settings and click on Sound Control Panel.
  • 4. Choose your playback device from the list.
  • 5. Click on Properties and then select the Spatial sound tab.
  • 6. In the Spatial Sound format dropdown, make sure to choose “Off” or uncheck any enabled options.
  • 7. After that, hit Apply and restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.

11. Reset BIOS

Should resetting the overclock settings prove ineffective, it is advisable to also reset the BIOS/UEFI settings.

To do this, follow the same procedure to access the BIOS/UEFI menu. Look for an option labeled “BIOS Settings Reset” or “Load Default BIOS Setup,” and select it to proceed. After completion, restart your computer to apply the changes.

12. Update BIOS

Numerous resources, including shortcuts and comprehensive tutorials, can be found online to assist you in safely updating the BIOS/UEFI of your Windows system, tailored to your specific motherboard brand. Similar to regular Windows updates, updating your BIOS is crucial as it can resolve various crashes and errors.

Thank you for reading! We hope you found this guide beneficial. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.

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