Sons of the Forest Audio Not Working or Sound Cutting Out (Fix)

Sons of the Forest is a highly anticipated survival horror game developed by Endnight Games and published by Newnight. The game was released for early access on Microsoft Windows on February 23, 2023, and the full version was released in February 2024. However, some players have reported audio issues such as sound not working or intermittent crackling noises. If you’re experiencing any of these audio problems in Sons of the Forest, this troubleshooting guide can help you fix them.

The guide provides a series of simple steps and solutions to troubleshoot and resolve audio issues, ensuring that you can fully immerse yourself in the game’s atmospheric world without any interruptions or anomalies. Whether it’s a simple setting adjustment or a more complex technical fix, following this guide should help restore proper audio functionality in Sons of the Forest.

Fix: Sons of the Forest Audio Not Working or Crackling Sound Issue

Many gamers have taken to Reddit to share their experiences with audio problems while playing on consoles, specifically when using headsets. They report that even though the headset is activated and working, the audio output is significantly compromised. The sound appears muffled and is mixed with a lower volume level, which detracts from the overall gaming experience. In contrast, some of these players have noted that the issue seems to be limited to the console speakers. They haven’t experienced comparable problems while using headphones. This difference points to a possible inconsistency in the audio output across different devices, highlighting a specific area that requires attention and troubleshooting.

1. Repair Game Files

First, you should try repairing the game files in the Epic launcher or Steam client to check whether the problem has been fixed. Sometimes having some issues with corrupted or missing game files can be there. To do so:

Open up Steam > Go to Library.
Right-click on the Sons of the Forest game.
Click on Properties > Go to the Local Files tab.
Select Verify Integrity of Game Files…
This process will start to be verified and may take some time to complete.
Once done, close the Steam client, and restart your computer to apply changes.

2. Disable Nahimic Audio Driver

Nahimic is an Audio Driver your PC manufacturer selected to give you an optimized audio experience on laptops, motherboards, and more. It is a trusted driver designed to optimize and tune the audio performance on your computer.

You must go to Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and head to Startup.
Now, disable the Nahimic audio driver from the list.
Finally, restart the computer to check whether the problem has been fixed.

3. Update Audio Drivers

It’s worth mentioning that Realtek Audio Driver users can head over to this article link to easily download and install the latest version of the audio driver for your specific motherboard or laptop model. Additionally, you can follow the steps below to update the active graphics driver on your Windows computer.

Press the Windows + X keys to open the Quick Link Menu.
Now, click on Device Manager to open it > Double-click on Sound, video, and game controllers.
Right-click on the active or problematic audio device > Select Update driver.
Click on Search automatically for drivers > Wait for the process to complete.
If an update is available, the system will automatically check for it and install it.
Once done, make sure to reboot the system to apply changes.

4. Reinstall Audio Drivers

Possibly, the audio driver on your computer has been corrupted or missing for some unexpected reason. Now, if you’re also feeling the same, make sure to reinstall audio drivers on the PC by following the steps below:

Press the Windows + X keys to open the Quick Link Menu.
Now, click on Device Manager to open it > Double-click on Sound, video, and game controllers.
Right-click on the active or problematic audio device > Select Uninstall device.
Click on Uninstall again to confirm the task > Wait for the process to be completed.
Once done, make sure to restart your computer to apply changes.
After the reboot, the Windows system will automatically reinstall the missing audio driver or audio device (if connected).

However, if it doesn’t get installed by the system automatically,, note down the computer model number or the motherboard model number and directly visit the official manufacturer’s website to download & install the latest audio driver.

5. Remove Sons of the Forest Config

It would be best if you tried removing the Sons of the Forest Config file on your PC to check for the issue and whether it has been fixed or not. To do so:

Head over to the File Explorer (This PC) > Go to the C: drive (where you’ve installed the game).
Now, go to the specific directory – username\documents\Sons of the Forest\settings and delete the Sons of the Forest config file.
Once done, reboot your PC to apply changes.

6. Check Wires of Audio Output

Make sure to check out the audio output device and wires to see whether they’re properly connected & plugged into the valid port or not. It’s quite a simple thing yet effective because sometimes users may forget or do mistakes a lot.

7. Disconnect Other Peripherals

Disconnecting other peripherals to check for the issue again is also worth mentioning. Just try using a minimum number of external USB devices to ensure what’s actually causing the issue.

8. Test Out Other Speakers or Headsets

Make sure to test out other speakers or headsets with your computer while playing the Sons of the Forest game to check if there is an issue with your existing speaker or headset.

9. Power Cycle your PC

Sometimes performing a power cycle your PC can fix multiple issues with the game. To do so:

Make sure to power off the PC and unplug the power cable.
Wait for around a minute or so and then power on the computer to check for the issue.

10. Turn Off Windows Sonic or Spatial Sound

If your desktop or laptop has the Windows Sonic or Spatial Sound feature then make sure to disable it by following the steps below:

Click on the Start menu > Go to Settings > Click on System.
Now, click on Sound > Select Related settings.
Go to Sound Control Panel and select a playback device.
Next, select Properties > Select Spatial sound.
In the Spatial Sound format, select Windows Sonic for Headphones.
Finally, select Apply, and reboot the PC to change effects.

11. Reset BIOS

If in case resetting the overclock feature won’t work for you, ensure to try resetting the BIOS/UEFI menu as well. Using the same process, boot into the BIOS/UEFI menu. Then find the BIOS Settings Reset or Default BIOS Setup and select it to confirm. Once done, restart your PC.

12. Update BIOS

There are numerous resources online, including shortcuts and detailed tutorials, that can guide you through the process of safely updating your system’s BIOS/UEFI. These resources are tailored to different motherboard brands and provide step-by-step instructions to ensure a smooth update process. Much like regular Windows updates, updating the BIOS is a crucial and beneficial step. It can resolve a variety of system crashes and errors, enhancing your computer’s overall stability and performance. These updates are essential for maintaining system health and ensuring compatibility with the latest hardware and software.

That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.