How To Fix the Helldivers 2 Audio Crackling and Sound

Helldivers 2, despite being available for over a year, continues to have some persistent technical issues on PC, notably the absence of upscaling options like DLSS and frustrating audio problems, including crackling sounds. These audio issues are particularly prevalent for players using Bluetooth audio devices.

Fix the Helldivers 2 Audio Crackling and Sound

Here are several recommendations to help resolve major audio problems and eliminate crackling sounds in Helldivers 2.

For Bluetooth Users with Audio Crackling

If you're using a Bluetooth audio output device and experiencing static or crackling audio in Helldivers 2, these are two highly recommended solutions directly from Arrowhead Game Studios and commonly reported by players to be effective.

Disable Hands-Free Telephony This is often the primary culprit for low-quality or crackling audio in Bluetooth headsets, as it forces the headset into a lower-bandwidth "call" mode when a microphone is active.

• Open Windows Settings (Windows key + I).
• Go to Bluetooth & devices.
• Under "Devices," click on "More devices and printer settings" (often found at the bottom of the page). This will open the classic Control Panel window.
• Locate your dedicated Bluetooth headset in the list, right-click on it, and select Properties.
• Go to the Services tab.
• Uncheck the box next to "Hands-free Telephony" from the list.
• Click Apply and then OK.
• Restart your headset (turn it off and on again).
• Launch Helldivers 2 and check if the problem is fixed.

Disable Bluetooth Audio Gateway Service (More Permanent Fix)If "Hands-free Telephony" keeps re-enabling after a PC restart, or ifthe first method doesn't fully resolve the issue, disabling this Windows service can be a more permanent solution. This effectively turns offall Hands-free Telephony on your PC.

• In Windows Search (Windows key + S), type "Services" and open the application.
• Scroll down the list until you find "Bluetooth Audio Gateway Service."
• Right-click on it and select Stop.
• Next, right-click on it again and select Properties.
• In the "General" tab, change the Startup type to "Disabled."
• Click Apply and then OK.
• Restart your headset. This service will now remain disabled even after PC reboots.

Additional Recommendations for Audio Issues

Beyond the Bluetooth-specific fixes, these general troubleshooting steps canhelp resolve various audio problems in Helldivers 2.

Set Correct Communication DevicesEnsure that Helldivers 2 is using your intended audio input and output devices.

• Launch Helldivers 2 and then minimize the game (Alt+Tab).
• On your Windows taskbar, right-click on the speaker icon (audio icon).
• Select "Sound settings" or "Sound Mixer" (the exact name may vary slightly depending on your Windows version).
• In the "App volume and device preferences" or "Audio Mixer" section, locate "Helldivers 2" under the "Apps" list.
• Expand it and make sure the correct devices are selected for both "Output device" (your headphones/speakers) and "Input device" (your microphone).
• Crucial Tip: If you do not use in-game voice chat, try setting your input device to something other than your headset's built-in microphone. For some users, this has inexplicably resolved audio issues, even ifthey never intended to use the in-game voice chat. For example, youcould select "Stereo Mix" or "No input device."

Disable Spatial SoundSpatial audio features can sometimes conflict with game audio, leading to issues.

• Open Windows Settings (Windows key + I).
• Go to System, then Sound.
• Under "Output," locate your primary output device (your headphones/speakers) and click on it.
• Scroll down to the bottom and under "Spatial sound," set it to "Off."

Verify Game Files (Steam)Corrupted or missing game files can cause a variety of in-game problems, including audio issues.

• Open Steam and navigate to your Library.
• Right-click on Helldivers 2 in your game list.
• Select Properties.
• Go to the "Installed Files" tab.
• Click on "Verify integrity of game files..."
• Steam will scan and re-download any corrupted or missing files.

Update Audio Device DriversOutdated or faulty audio drivers can lead to performance issues and audio glitches.

• If your headset or audio interface has dedicated software, use it to check for and install any firmware or driver updates for your device.
• Alternatively, you can manually update drivers through Device Manager in Windows (right-click Start button > Device Manager > Sound,video and game controllers, then right-click your audio device andselect "Update driver"). It's generally recommended to download driversdirectly from your audio device manufacturer's website for the moststable and up-to-date versions.

Theserecommendations should significantly improve your audio experience inHelldivers 2 and ideally eliminate any crackling or static sounds,especially for those using Bluetooth headsets. Arrowhead Game Studios is aware of these issues, but these community-driven fixes often provideimmediate relief.

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