Common Causes
- Dust or water in the grille
- Volume too high causing clipping
- Damaged voice coil or torn cone
- Loose or dirty cable and jack
- Low-quality audio file or app
- Software enhancers and equalizer boosts
Test With a Tone
Press start and slowly move the frequency slider from 100 Hz to 1 kHz at low volume. If crackle occurs at a specific frequency, a part is loose or damaged. If crackle happens only at high volume, reduce volume or disable boost effects.
Fixes to Try
- Lower volume and disable equalizers and bass boost.
- Run the water eject sound and speaker cleaner sound.
- Replace the cable or reconnect Bluetooth.
- Restart the device and update the audio driver.
- Test another app or file.
When to Replace the Speaker
If crackle stays at all volumes and frequencies, the cone or coil is likely damaged. See our blown speaker test and distortion fix.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my phone speaker crackle?
Dust, water, high volume or a damaged speaker.
Can water cause crackling?
Yes.
Is crackling dangerous?
It can damage the speaker if you keep playing loud.
Why is only one app crackling?
The app may be sending distorted audio.