Apex Legends audio cutting out: 3 fixes to restore sound on PC

Part of our guide on identify lowest ping data center

Follow three specific steps to fix Apex Legends audio cutting out on PC: verify game files, reset drivers, adjust settings.

Why Apex Legends audio cuts out during play

Audio cutting out in Apex Legends usually happens because of corrupted game files, outdated or faulty audio drivers, or in-game sound settings causing conflicts.

Game file corruption can occur after an update or failed patch, leading to missing or broken audio assets.

Audio drivers lose sync or get corrupted from Windows updates or driver conflicts, causing intermittent sound loss.

Incorrect in-game settings like wrong output device or muted channels can also cut audio unexpectedly during matches. We cover apex legends unable to connect to servers randomly in its own article.

Hardware problems with your sound card or headset can also cause audio cutting out in Apex Legends. If your headset cable is loose or the USB port is faulty, sound may drop unexpectedly. Testing your headset on another device helps rule out hardware faults.

Network issues sometimes disrupt voice chat audio while other game sounds remain intact. Packet loss or high ping can cause voice chat to cut out, making teammates hard to hear. Use a wired connection to minimize this risk.

Some background applications take exclusive control of your audio device and mute Apex Legends. For example, communication apps or audio processors can interfere. Closing these apps or disabling exclusive mode in sound settings avoids conflicts and restores game audio. We go through optimizing network for apex legends step by step elsewhere on the site.

• Game file issues: corrupted or missing sound files
• Audio driver problems: outdated, corrupted, or conflicting drivers
• In-game settings: wrong output device, muted voice chat, or volume set to zero

How to verify and repair Apex Legends game files

Corrupted game files cause missing sound effects, making the audio cut out.

Verify your game files using the Origin or Steam client to repair corrupted or missing files.

In Origin, open the game library, right-click Apex Legends, and select 'Repair'. Steam users can select Apex Legends, go to Properties > Local Files > Verify Integrity. For the detail, see our notes on steps to change apex legends data center.

The process scans installed files and replaces any corrupted files with fresh copies from the server.

Once complete, launch the game and test if audio works without cutting out.

After verifying and repairing game files, check the game’s install folder size to confirm the process completed correctly. Apex Legends’ folder should be around 22 to 25 GB. A significantly smaller size indicates incomplete repair. We cover identifying server lag in its own article.

If verification doesn’t fix audio, try deleting the game's cache files. These temporary files can cause sound issues when corrupted. The cache is in the 'local' folder under your user profile. Delete it, then relaunch the game to rebuild fresh data.

For a manual repair, uninstall and reinstall Apex Legends if verification fails repeatedly. This ensures all files including audio assets are fresh. Reinstallation may take 15-30 minutes depending on your connection speed.

1. Open your game launcher (Origin or Steam).
2. Navigate to Apex Legends in your game library.
3. Right-click and select 'Repair' (Origin) or 'Verify Integrity of Game Files' (Steam).
4. Wait for the verification to complete and any damaged files to download.
5. Restart your PC and launch Apex Legends to test audio.

How to reset or update audio drivers to fix sound issues

Faulty or outdated audio drivers often cause sound cutting out in games. If that sounds like your situation, read up on best apex legends data center/region for lowest ping next.

Resetting drivers reloads them and clears glitches caused by driver conflicts or Windows updates.

Open Device Manager, expand 'Sound, video and game controllers', right-click your audio device, and select 'Uninstall device'.

Restart your PC; Windows will automatically reinstall the audio driver fresh.

Alternatively, download and install the latest drivers from your sound card or motherboard manufacturer’s website.

After updating or resetting, test Apex Legends to see if sound is restored.

If resetting drivers does not restore sound, check the driver version number and release date in Device Manager. Drivers older than six months often lack fixes for recent Windows updates or Apex Legends patches.

You can roll back to a previous driver version if a recent update caused audio loss. In Device Manager, open your audio device properties and use the 'Roll Back Driver' option. This reverses problematic updates and can fix cutting out.

Some PCs have multiple audio devices (e.g. integrated and discrete sound cards). Disable unused devices in Device Manager to prevent conflicts. Running Apex Legends with only your primary audio device enabled reduces the chance of sound cutting.

1. Press Windows + X, select Device Manager.
2. Find 'Sound, video and game controllers'.
3. Right-click your audio device, choose 'Uninstall device'.
4. Confirm and restart your PC to reinstall drivers automatically.
5. Check for latest official drivers online and install if needed.
6. Launch Apex Legends and check audio.

Which in-game audio settings affect sound cutting out

Certain in-game audio settings can cause sound to cut out if set incorrectly.

Make sure the audio output device matches your actual hardware under Settings > Audio.

Check volume sliders for Master, Effects, and Voice Chat are not at 0 or muted.

Disable exclusive mode in Windows sound settings to avoid conflicts with Apex Legends.

If voice chat cuts out, try toggling Push-to-Talk or changing the voice chat output device.

Adjusting these settings often restores full sound without reinstalling drivers or files.

If in-game voice chat is cutting out, test both 'Open Microphone' and 'Push-to-Talk' modes to see which works better with your setup. Some headsets or drivers react poorly to continuous open mic mode.

Make sure your Windows sound settings match the output device selected in Apex Legends. If Windows outputs sound to speakers but Apex Legends uses headphones, audio may cut or be inaudible.

Adjust the 'Voice Chat Output Device' separately from the main audio output to isolate voice chat sound. Many players find setting voice chat to their headset and game sounds to speakers improves clarity and reduces cutouts.

• Output device: set to your active speakers or headset
• Master volume: not muted or zero
• Voice chat volume: audible and correctly routed
• Disable exclusive mode: prevent other apps from controlling audio device

How to stop Apex Legends audio cutting out again

Keep your game and system drivers updated to reduce future audio issues.

Use a stable wired internet connection to prevent lag-related audio stutter.

Avoid running multiple audio apps that may hijack your sound device simultaneously.

Regularly verify game files after updates or patches.

Consider a game booster like GearUP if your audio issues combine with lag or ping spikes.

GearUP optimizes your route to the game server, reducing network lag that can cause audio glitches.

Audio cutting can return if your PC overheats. Overheating may cause the sound card or CPU to throttle, disrupting audio flow in Apex Legends. Keep your PC cool with proper ventilation and clean fans.

Disable Windows Game Mode if audio issues persist. Game Mode can allocate resources inefficiently, affecting sound performance. Turn it off in Windows settings and check if Apex Legends audio stabilizes.

Regularly check for conflicting software like third-party audio enhancers or VPNs. These can interfere with Apex Legends audio streams. Temporarily disabling them when gaming helps maintain stable sound output.

• Update Apex Legends and Windows regularly
• Keep audio drivers current from manufacturer sites
• Use wired Ethernet for stable connection
• Limit other apps using audio during play
• Check game files after updates

How to fix Apex Legends audio: a step-by-step sequence

Follow these three fixes to identify and resolve the exact cause of audio cutting out.

Start with verifying game files to replace corrupted audio assets quickly.

Next, reset or update your audio drivers to clear any software glitches.

Adjust in-game audio settings so that the game sends sound to the correct device and volume levels.

Test sound after each step to see if the issue resolves.

1. Verify and repair Apex Legends game files via your game launcher.
2. Reset or update the audio drivers in Windows Device Manager.
3. Check and adjust Apex Legends in-game audio settings for output device and volumes.
4. Restart Apex Legends and test if audio is clear and complete.
5. If problems persist, consider network lag solutions or hardware issues.

Questions people still ask

I’ve fixed Apex Legends audio by isolating the exact cause through these three targeted steps.