ValveSoftware
Crackling sound on Legion Go S
Your system information
- Steam client version: 1748301070
- SteamOS version: 3.8 (Build 20250527.1000)
- Opted into Steam client beta?: Yes
- Opted into SteamOS beta?: No
- Have you checked for updates in Settings > System?: Yes
Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:
When I launch a game, I have crackling sound on Legion Go S
Steps for reproducing this issue:
- Launch game
Having this issue as well, not seeing anything online in terms of a solution yet.
I have crackling on my Z2 Go model as well but unfortunately I've been unsuccessful in finding any workarounds so far. Will keep trying though.
Since version 3.7.8 Steam Deck have had this problem too.
There is this fix. See if it works for you.
Go to the game and add this to each launch command:
PULSE_LATENCY_MSEC=30 %command%
I've seen it 0 to 100. 30 should be enough
It's also been happening after the latest update for me on my HTPC (MinisForum UM760 Slim). I don't think it's just a Legion Go S issue.
I can report that the command line parameter seems to fix the issue, but I have to do some further testing.
Game: SnowRunner or RoadCraft (does not happen in Hades for example) Device: Legion Go S with latest SteamOS Beta (Z2Go with 16GB RAM/512 GB Storage)
The games work fine on the "original" Steam Deck LCD (not OLED), which I had before. The problem also does not appear when I connect a monitor with audio or my XReal Air 2 glasses (which are also kind of a monitor with audio)
I found a new fix, try turning off steam recording. One user said that after turning this off, the crackling sound went away
That did not help me (steam recording off) I noticed that crackling sound comes on more demanding games when performance demand peaks. Also it does not matter whether audio output is internal or external (hdmi)
Same problem, on the LEGOS Steam OS Z2go 32gb/1tb (regional variant). Every time a demanding game boots, the crackling begins. Listened to music while game was running in the background, lots of crackling. Without the game running, perfect.
Ruifcastro's solution (the command) solved 95% of the crackling. Thank you, I was losing my mind. Hope they soon patch this.
Figured out issue is to do with sleep mode, see my latest comment on #1974
I also have this problem. Restarting seems to fix the issue temporarily until entering sleep.
Legion Go S Z2 Go 16GB model.
I seem to have this issue as well on a Legion Go S Z2 Go 16GB Model. It does seem to affect games when they are running maxed out. I have seen this on The last of Us part 2, sometimes when its loading new areas, or displaying a new cut scene, I will get crackling and popping. This is without ever putting in to sleep mode. Steam OS 3.8 Main channel, and Beta Client.
I have the same issue on my Lenovo Legion Go S Z1E 16GB with the Middle-Earth: Shadow of War
There are many fixes for the crackling sound. No need to do them all. Try one by one:
- turn off Steam Recording
- turn off/mute mic
- in the performance tab, turn off overlay
- try the Decky Plugin "Pause Games", helps with the resume crackling sound (in the store) https://github.com/popsUlfr/SDH-PauseGames
- turn off WiFi Power Management (settings/developer)
- reboot. Can be just a temporary bug even after a recent reboot. This will restarting Pipewire which sometimes fixes it. Or try this command when it happens. Maybe make bash script and add it to steam and run it when needed. If it works of course: systemctl --user restart pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber
Per game fix:
- turn off in game properties, general Overlay (I would also use in the performance tab, turn off overlay)
- try another Proton (Experimental or GE_Proton)
- add this launch command, you can tweak the value between 0 and 100: PULSE_LATENCY_MSEC=30 %command%