A clicking or ticking noise coming through computer speakers can be annoying and concerning. This sound usually indicates an issue with one of the computer’s internal components. The most common causes are a failing hard drive, a faulty sound card, or interference from another device. The noise happens because the speakers are picking up and amplifying a sound that would normally be inaudible. Determining the exact cause requires isolating where the noise originates. Once identified, steps can be taken to fix or replace the problematic component. With some troubleshooting, the clicking can be eliminated. This guide will cover potential causes, diagnosing the issue, and both temporary and permanent solutions.
Potential Causes
There are a few common culprits that can cause a clicking noise through computer speakers:
Failing Hard Drive
One of the most concerning potential causes is a failing or damaged hard drive. Hard drives store all of your data and allow your computer to operate properly. Inside every hard drive are platters that spin at very high speeds. When these platters or their motors begin to fail, it can cause a rhythmic clicking or ticking noise as the platters struggle to spin. This noise will come through the speakers if the hard drive is failing. According to this source, a clicking hard drive indicates it’s time to back up your data and replace the drive before it fails completely.
Faulty Sound Card
The sound card is the hardware component that processes and outputs audio through your speakers. If the sound card is damaged, not seated properly, or improperly shielded, it can cause interference noises like clicking. This source mentions that a faulty sound card often creates distorted or scratchy sounds in addition to clicking.
Interference
Sometimes a clicking noise can be caused by interference rather than an internal hardware issue. Nearby electronics like wireless devices, fluorescent lights, or power cables can create electromagnetic interference that manifests as clicking sounds. The speakers act as an antenna and pick up this external interference. According to this forum post, interference should make the clicking noise stop when turning off speakers or plugging in headphones.
Failing Hard Drive
One of the most common causes of clicking or ticking noises coming through computer speakers is a failing or faulty hard drive. The noises indicate mechanical failure within the hard drive due to worn out parts and imminent risk of complete drive failure and data loss. Clicking or ticking noises point to the read/write heads inside the hard drive malfunctioning or the spindle motor failing. As parts deteriorate, they vibrate against each other creating the audible clicks and ticks.
Hard drive failure is progressive, so the noises likely indicate the drive is in its final stages before complete failure. Once the noises start, it’s crucial to immediately backup data and replace the drive as soon as possible. The sounds mean the hard drive can no longer reliably read and write data. Continued use will likely result in irrecoverable data loss when the drive fails entirely. Since the mechanical components involved are not repairable, the only solution is complete hard drive replacement.
Some key indicators the noises are related to imminent hard drive failure include: the noises only occurring when the hard drive is active or being accessed, correlations between more frequent noise and heavier hard drive usage, and issues like stuttering, freezing, or failure to boot if the noises are frequent. To confirm hard drive failure, utilities like SMART can show mechanical issues. Overall, in the vast majority of cases, clicking or ticking from speakers points to catastrophic mechanical failure in the hard drive.
Faulty Sound Card
One potential cause of a clicking noise coming through computer speakers is a malfunctioning internal or external sound card (https://www.evga.com/support/faq/FAQdetails.aspx?faqid=59776). Sound cards convert digital audio signals into analog signals that can be output to speakers. If a sound card is faulty, it may introduce clicking, popping, or crackling noises into the audio output.
The clicking noises from a malfunctioning sound card are often caused by a hardware issue or driver problem. Over time, components on the sound card can degrade or fail, leading to interruptions in the audio signal. Outdated, buggy, or incompatible drivers can also manifest as clicking or popping sounds.
Fixing a faulty sound card often requires updating drivers to the latest stable version. If the drivers are up to date, reinstalling them may help. In some cases, a faulty sound card may need to be replaced entirely if the hardware itself is damaged and producing the clicking noises.
Interference
Interference from other electrical devices can sometimes cause a clicking or popping noise through speakers. This is caused by electromagnetic disturbances being picked up by speaker wires acting like antennas. Common sources of interference include:
Wireless signals from cell phones, WiFi routers, Bluetooth devices, and other electronics can create clicking or popping noises if the speakers are too close. Keeping a reasonable distance between speakers and these wireless devices, at least 3-6 feet, can help reduce interference.
Other household electronics like televisions, microwaves, and fluorescent lights may also emit electromagnetic frequencies that speakers can pick up, causing annoying noises. Try turning off or unplugging nearby devices when troubleshooting to isolate the source.
Poor grounding and improper shielding of cables can make speakers more prone to interference. Using high-quality shielded audio cables between your sound source and speakers can prevent electromagnetic noise from being introduced into the system.
If the clicking persists even after addressing potential sources of interference, the issue may lie with a faulty component like the sound card or amplifier. But external interference is one of the most common causes of buzzing, clicking or popping through speakers.
Isolating the Cause
The first step in fixing a clicking noise from your computer speakers is to isolate where the issue is originating. There are a few key things to check:
Pay attention to when the clicking noise occurs. Does it happen randomly or only under certain circumstances? For example, the clicking may correlate with CPU usage, indicating a problem with the sound card or speakers. Or it may occur when accessing certain programs or files, pointing to a software issue.
Test your speakers with an alternate audio source like a smartphone or external device. If the speakers work fine when connected to something else, then the problem likely lies with your computer’s audio configuration or hardware. But if the clicking persists on other devices, there may be a physical issue with the speakers.
Try connecting external speakers or headphones to your computer. If the noise goes away with different output devices, then the built-in speakers are likely at fault. However, if the clicking sounds comes through the new speakers too, then the source is probably your sound card or interference.
Paying close attention to when the clicking happens and testing with other speaker setups will help narrow down where the audio issue originates.
Fixing a Failing Hard Drive
If the clicking noise is determined to be from a failing hard drive, there are two main options – attempt data recovery, or fully replace the drive. Data recovery should be attempted first if the drive has important files that need to be retrieved.
Data recovery software like Disk Drill (source) can sometimes recover data from a clicking drive by working around bad sectors. This involves creating a clone or image of the drive to work from, rather than directly accessing the original failing drive. The success of data recovery depends on the severity of the failure, but it’s often worth trying before resorting to a full replacement.
If data recovery efforts are unsuccessful, a full replacement of the hard drive will be required. This involves physically removing the old drive and installing a new one in the computer. The new drive must then be formatted and the operating system and programs reinstalled. Any files stored on the old drive will be lost unless a backup exists. Replacing a hard drive can seem intimidating, but is doable for most users if following a step-by-step guide (source). Overall, a clicking hard drive indicates failure is imminent, so replacement should be planned for even if data recovery works temporarily.
Fixing a Faulty Sound Card
If diagnostics point to a failing or faulty sound card as the culprit behind the clicking or popping sounds, there are a couple options to try and resolve the issue:
First, make sure your sound card drivers are up to date. Outdated drivers can sometimes cause performance issues that lead to crackling or distortion. Go to your manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers for your specific sound card model. Be sure to uninstall the old drivers first before installing the new ones [1].
If updating the drivers does not fix the problem, you may need to replace the sound card completely. Internal PCI or PCIe sound cards can be swapped out and replaced fairly easily by opening up the computer case. For external USB sound cards, you can simply purchase a new device. Just make sure it is compatible with your operating system and has the necessary drivers available [2].
Getting a new high-quality sound card from a reputable brand is recommended, as cheaper models may continue to have driver and performance issues. If the clicking persists even after a sound card replacement, then the problem is likely caused by something else.
Eliminating Interference
Interference from other electrical devices can cause clicking noises and static through speakers. To eliminate interference:
First, identify the source of the interference. Turn off or unplug nearby devices one by one to see if the clicking stops. Common sources include fluorescent lights, microwaves, TVs, cell phones, and cordless phones. Fix Audio Crackling or Popping Sounds in Windows 10 [Tutorial] recommends going into another room to isolate the issue.
Next, physically isolate the computer and speakers from the source. Increase distance between devices, use separate outlets, and don’t share a power strip. Make sure speaker and audio cables are not running parallel to power cables, which can induce interference.
Finally, try switching frequencies. If using a wireless mouse or keyboard, change to a different wireless channel. For speakers, choose alternate ports or cables. As a last resort, upgrade speakers, sound card, or other components to more robust shielding and filtration.
Preventing Future Issues
There are a few key things you can do to help prevent your computer from making clicking noises through the speakers in the future:
Backup Drives
Be sure to regularly backup your computer’s hard drive [1]. This way, if the hard drive does fail and start making clicking noises, you won’t lose important files and data. Backing up to an external hard drive or cloud storage provides redundancy.
Quality Hardware
Invest in high-quality computer components and peripherals. Low quality or failing hardware like hard drives, power supplies, and sound cards can sometimes be the cause of clicking noises and other audio issues [2].
Updated Drivers
Make sure all of your computer’s drivers are up-to-date, especially audio drivers. Outdated drivers can sometimes cause conflicts resulting in clicking or popping sounds from speakers. Keeping drivers updated will help optimize performance and compatibility [3].