7 Easy Ways to Fix Bluetooth Static in Audio Devices [2024]

Within the category of wireless audio, Bluetooth connections are notorious for randomly borking out, without any apparent reason. Sometimes, the audio quality would drop, and sometimes signal interruptions would cause the connection to cut out altogether. Interference within these signals can lead to a disruptive static noise.

In this guide, we look at the inner workings of such audio devices, the role of Bluetooth, and the reason for this particular noise. There is a section that particularly delves into possible fixes and precautionary measures to steer clear of such interruptions while listening to audio wirelessly, be it via Bluetooth, or a different frequency band protocol.

How Does Bluetooth Work?

It’s easy to look back and see Bluetooth being dismissed for being a battery hog, with shaky connections, and pairing issues. However, the protocol has improved over the years, and is mildly responsible for the death of earphone jacks on smartphones, in addition to powering billions of devices around the globe.

In a nutshell, Bluetooth is a technology that uses radio waves, travelling over unlicensed airwaves to connect devices over a short distance. These radio waves come from a specific portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, with a frequency of around 2.4 GHz (or a wavelength of ~12.5 centimetres), which is invisible to the human eye and can generally pass through obstacles such as walls and glass.

Since Bluetooth is predominantly a “short-range” wireless technology, it is mainly used within low-power devices, such as keyboards, mice, controllers, and headsets. Over the years, repeated revisions within the protocol have led to improved efficiency and battery numbers, which in turn have allowed devices with small batteries, such as earphones to popularize the idea of wireless earbuds.

READ MORE: Troubleshoot Issues Connecting to Bluetooth Devices and Wireless Displays ➜

What is Bluetooth Static?

If you tune an old television set to an empty channel with no transmission signal, you’ll see a random flicker of fuzzy zig-zags, with a crackling, hissing sound, also sometimes called white noise, or static sound. They can be thought of as ‘audio artifacts.’ This particular type of sound is mainly common in Bluetooth audio devices when—like the television set—the radio signals go out of reach.

↪ Why Does it Happen?

In Bluetooth devices, this crackling sound is primarily caused either when the device is out of range with the receiver, or external signals within the same band cause interference. However, this is extremely rare with modern Bluetooth standards. The reasons below outline the possible factors causing a disturbing static noise within your audio device.

1. Low Battery Level: In Bluetooth headsets or earbuds, a low battery level usually results in poor audio quality and intermittent dropouts due to reduced power output. This can sometimes come off as a static noise and in extreme cases, drop the connection altogether.
2. Connection Problems: When a Bluetooth connection is weakened, the audio quality can take a huge hit, since any sorts of physical obstructions or software issues can lead to improper flow of data between devices, such as earbuds, or Bluetooth transmitters to phones. If data is not being sent accurately, the device may struggle to catch a clear signal and may compensate by picking up random radio waves, resulting in a static sound.
3. Range Issues: Since Bluetooth is meant for a relatively shorter range than, say Wi-Fi, if the distance between the two devices (sender and receiver) exceeds the safe distance, the BT chip may fail to decode the received signal.
4. Signal Interference: If the density of Bluetooth-powered devices in an area is high, the radio waves may experience a lot of interreference, leading to static noise.
5. Software Issues: Always try and flash the latest firmware for your headset, speakers, earbuds, etc. since software incompatibility plays a huge role in determining the final audio quality. If you’re running outdated drivers, certain bugs may cause the device to stutter or play a the crackling, static sound.
6. Defective Hardware: Similar to wired audio devices, if the hardware itself suffers internal damage, the audio quality is affected, and at times, can also lead to a static sound.

READ MORE: How to Disable Absolute Bluetooth Volume in Android ➜

How to Fix Bluetooth Static?

This section will detail some of the tried-and-tested solutions to fix static noise within your Bluetooth hardware. However, it is also important to be mindful of the fact that each device may face a different set of problems, and subsequently, the solutions to them will vary. To isolate the issue, it is recommended to go over each of the fixes stepwise.

1) Adjust the Device’s Fit

In the simplest of solutions, simply try and adjust your headset or earbuds’ position, since they may not be making proper contact with your ears. Most earbuds nowadays come with in-ear detection, which uses built-in sensors to detect when the device is inserted or removed from the user’s ears. This can sometimes cause an issue if the fit is not correct and can lead to distorted, or static noise.

In the case of a speaker, if adjusting its position, meaning pulling it closer to the audio source, fixes the issue, the cause is indefinitely linked to the device’s range. Before trying out any of the advanced fixes, check to see if changing the fit or position solves the issue.

2) Reduce Distance to Connected Devices

While this mainly applies to older Bluetooth protocols, if you’re experiencing a lot of static from within your audio device, try and move both the receiver and transmitter close together to see if that makes a difference. Bluetooth 5.4, the most recent standard has a range of more than a whopping 800 ft, which is a huge increment over the 30-50ft range of older iterations.

Whether you’re using a Bluetooth transmitter, or an audio headset, move the source closer to the device for a more accurate signal, and check to see if there is a difference in the intensity of static noise heard. In most cases, this should solve the issue, but if not, move onto the next step.

3) Restart to Re-Pair Devices

In case of connection issues or problems pertaining to the device’s range, in that, if the user has walked out of the safe range and returned, the device should auto-connect, but if it leads to a hissing, static noise, the issue could lie in the connection itself, which might have weakened.

To isolate the issue, move both devices closer and re-pair the devices so that the connection is re-established properly. Once this is done, re-check to see if the issue persists. This can also be done by restarting the Bluetooth discovery mode on either of the devices if both of them classify each other as a “trusted Bluetooth device.”

READ MORE: How to Fix Bluetooth Paired but Not Connected Issue ➜

4) Check the Device’s Battery Level

Most Bluetooth audio devices have a dedicated audible cue for when the battery reaches low levels. This is to ensure that the device is plugged back in to charge. Since some headsets and earbuds activate a low-power mode when this happens, the audio quality might take a hit and as a result of weak connection, a static noise, may be heard.

The crackling sound isn’t an indication of low battery levels, but rather that the BT receiver or the audio codec is having issues with decoding the signal on the receiving end.

5) Disable All Audio Enhancements

If you have any sort of audio enhancements or software alterations to sound coming from your Bluetooth device, turn them off. While a static sound isn’t directly linked to these enhancements, it is important to note that any sorts of additional processing on the audio induces additional load on the audio pipeline, and subsequently the sound that comes from the device.

If you’re hearing a lot of static sound, turn off all sorts of audio enhancement processes, so that the output is more direct, and even if it doesn’t fully get rid of the crackling sound, it at least cancels out one of the possible reasons for the issue.

READ MORE: How to Unforget a Bluetooth Device? ➜

6) Look for Physical Damage

In wired audio, static noise is heard when there is an issue with the device’s wires or the driver itself, and to some extent, the same can be said for BT devices as well. Look for any physical damage on your device, be it a wireless earbud, headset or an audio transmitter.

The best way to diagnose or isolate the issue is to pair a different device to the same source and check to see if the issue persists. If the crackling sound comes back, the issue most definitely lies in the audio source and not the device.

7) Update Audio Drivers and Device Firmware

If none else works, look for any available driver or firmware updates for your device. Usually, there is a software bug or glitch causing issues with the Bluetooth connection. At times, this can come off as a frequent, frustrating, static noise.

If you’re using wireless earbuds, check the manufacturer’s website or app for updates. If the source in question is a PC, Laptop, or even a car’s infotainment system, look for driver updates within the operating system itself.

READ MORE: How to Fix Audio Crackling / Distorting in Windows? ➜

BONUS: Tune Your Radio Transmitter for Least Interference Possible

Bluetooth devices are susceptible to external noise and interference. While they use frequency hopping to reduce this, congested radio spectrums can still cause issues, especially in environments with a lot of Bluetooth devices, like cars, especially with BT transmitters.

To minimize interference, tune your transmitter to a channel with the least amount of interference. If you’re having issues with finding a channel with no congestion, try finding unused FM radio frequencies in your area.

Bluetooth vs. 2.4GHz Peripherals

The Bluetooth protocol also shares the 2.4GHz band with other wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi and cordless phones. While this can lead to congestion, modern Bluetooth standards are less susceptible to such issues. An overcrowded spectrum is still usable—for example, you might be using a Bluetooth mouse, keyboard, and headset, and even be connected to Wi-Fi via wireless network adapters, without any interference issues.

In some cases, the congestion may also be noticeable. For those situations, it is recommended to tune your peripherals to a different spectrum or source. You can connect one or more of your devices to work as wired accessories. If the issue is more severe, try changing your Wi-Fi router settings to use a different frequency, such as 5GHz. However, keep in mind that this may not be compatible with all devices on the receiving end.

READ MORE: 2.4 vs 5 GHz – What’s Better & What Should You Use in 2024? ➜

Conclusion

The static sound you hear on Bluetooth devices are mainly attributed to signal based issues, arising from factors like exceeding the safe range or low battery levels. The guide details the possible steps to isolate and subsequently resolve the issue. If all else fails, try using a different device on either ends to single out the culprit.