Skip to main content
  • Place orders quickly and easily
  • View orders and track your shipping status
  • Create and access a list of your products
Some article numbers may have changed. If this isn't what you're looking for, try searching all articles. Search articles

Audio Distortion or Speaker Static Noise on Latitude, XPS, Inspiron, Precision, and Vostro Laptops

Summary: This article provides information about how to resolve audio distortion or static noise coming from the speaker on select Dell Latitude, XPS, Inspiron, Precision, and Vostro laptops.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.

Symptoms

When the Realtek audio drivers are installed using the Windows Update or the driver executable file, there is a small chance that the speakers may exhibit a static noise during audio playback.

Scenario (including but not limited to):

  • driver update through windows update
  • audio driver installation with Dell driver pack (CAB)
  • audio driver installation by .inf instead of Dell driver package (DUP)

Affected Platforms:

  • Inspiron 5401/5408
  • Inspiron 5501/5508
  • Latitude 3410
  • Latitude 3510
  • Latitude 3550
  • Latitude 5310
  • Latitude 5410
  • Latitude 5411
  • Latitude 5510
  • Latitude 5511
  • Latitude 7210 2-in-1
  • Latitude 7310
  • Latitude 7410
  • Latitude 9510
  • Precision 3550
  • Precision 3551
  • Precision 5540
  • Precision 5550
  • Precision 5750
  • Vostro 5401
  • Vostro 5501
  • XPS 13 7390 2-in-1
  • XPS 13 9300
  • XPS 13 9380
  • XPS 15 7590
  • XPS 15 9500
  • XPS 17 9700

Cause

This issue is caused when the Realtek audio drivers are installed using Windows Update or using the driver executable file.

Resolution

To resolve the audio distortion or static noise issue, uninstall the Realtek Audio driver and then download and install the latest version of the Realtek audio driver.

Uninstall the Realtek audio driver:

  1. Right-click Start and select Apps & features.
  2. In the Apps & features window, locate and select Realtek Audio Driver (Figure 1).
  3. Click Uninstall.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process.
  5. Restart the computer (if prompted).
realtek audio driver listing in programs and features
Figure 1: Realtek audio driver listed in the Apps & features (also called Programs and Features)

Download and install the latest Realtek audio driver from the Dell.com/support website:

  1. Browse to the Dell Drivers & Downloads page.
  2. Identify your Dell product
    1. Click Download & Install SupportAssist to auto-detect your Dell product. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Dell SupportAssist. For more information, see the Dell knowledge base article Dell SupportAssist (formerly Dell System Detect): Overview and Common Questions.
    2. Or, enter the Service Tag, Express Service Code, or the Serial number of the Dell product and click Search.
    3. Or, click Browse all products to manually select your Dell product from the catalog
  3. Select the Operating System that is installed on the computer.
  4. Under Category, select Audio.
  5. Locate the latest Realtek Audio Driver.
  6. Click Download and save the file to your computer.
  7. Open File Explorer and browse to the location where the downloaded file is saved.
  8. Double-click the Realtek Audio Driver setup file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
  9. Restart the computer.

Additional Information

Affected Products

Inspiron 5401/5408, Inspiron 5501/5508, Latitude 7210 2-in-1, Latitude 5310, Latitude 7310, Latitude 3410, Latitude 5410, Latitude 5411, Latitude 7410, Latitude 3510, Latitude 5510, Latitude 5511, Latitude 9510, Latitude 3550 (End of Life) , Precision 3550, Precision 3551, Precision 5540, Precision 5550, Precision 5750, Vostro 5401, Vostro 5501, XPS 13 7390 2-in-1, XPS 13 9300, XPS 13 9380, XPS 15 7590, XPS 15 9500, XPS 17 9700 ...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000125792
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 30 Jul 2024
Version:  13
Find answers to your questions from other Dell users
Support Services
Check if your device is covered by Support Services.