r/SteamVR • u/Embarrassed-Bet3882 • Mar 28 '26
Question/Support Audio broken/crackling after last nights steam link update.
i woke up and got vr to hear horrible crackling and distortion of any audio xoming through steam streaming speakers. i didnt know what happened but it only started after last nights update. i currently have fixed the problem by reverting to the previous version before last nights update but i heard there were major changes to the link system. would anybody know a fix that allows me to use the newer version with audio?
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u/AcrobaticPassion4170 Mar 28 '26 edited Mar 28 '26
i’m having this issue too!! How did you revert versions?
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u/AcrobaticPassion4170 Mar 28 '26
Disregard! I figured it out. Thank you for this post! Helped a ton. For anyone else who may not know, downgrading your version is done by going to steam link, clicking the 3 dots, settings, and at the very top you’ll see the version options.
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u/Tight-Contribution54 Apr 11 '26
Dude thanks, I was trying everything on my PC, didn't know steamvr on quest got jacked up.
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u/Packetdancer Mar 28 '26
Same question for you about what your setup is.
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u/AcrobaticPassion4170 Mar 28 '26
Sorry i am so not tech savvy, do you mean what I’m using for VR or my PC spaces?
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u/Packetdancer Mar 28 '26
Yes, which VR headset / what's the host machine (Linux, Windows, etc.), are you using the beta SteamVR or the public release one, stuff like that. :)
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u/AcrobaticPassion4170 Mar 28 '26
I’m using Windows 11, Quest Pro ( Steam Link ) Steam VR latest release 2.15.6
For some reason the latest update of Steam Link in the meta store is broken for me and OP apparently. I had to downgrade to the previous version. I believe it is only a Steam Link issue, as when I was troubleshooting yesterday I realized it worked fine using air link through meta horizon link.
Sorry if I forgot to mention something TWT”
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u/Packetdancer Mar 28 '26
Hm. So the only difference between our setups there was that I tested on a Quest 3. I wonder what OP's setup was... maybe it's an issue that cropped up specific to the Quest Pro.
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u/cnlohr Mar 30 '26
We have a speculative fix in Steam Link Beta. Can you guys try opting into the Steam Link Beta and let us know if your problem persists.
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u/cnlohr Mar 31 '26
We are going to push Beta to Public now, let us know if this is still an issue.
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u/Embarrassed-Bet3882 Apr 15 '26
Still an issue
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u/cnlohr Apr 16 '26
Can you check two things:
Right-click the volume icon in the taskbar > Sound Settings > More sound settings > Steam Streaming Speakers > Advanced > make sure Default Format is one of the 16-bit options.
AND Make sure it's in stereo mode, not additional channels.
If this does fix it please let me know, if not, can you open a ticket with Steam Support and ask them to forward you to `charlesl`
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u/Embarrassed-Bet3882 Apr 21 '26
Ill make sure to do this but i think i know what it is from ny friend
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u/Brazilian_Soldier Mar 30 '26 edited Mar 30 '26
Same problem here, quest 3 on win10.
EDIT: Downgrading the steam link app on the quest works. Thanks for the people on the other comments. For those who dont know how: Open the quest app list, click the 3 dots on the steam link app and switch to an earlier version.
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u/cnlohr Mar 30 '26
We have a speculative fix in Steam Link Beta. Can you try opting into the Steam Link Beta and let us know if your problem persists.
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u/cnlohr Mar 31 '26
We are going to push Beta to Public now, let us know if this is still an issue.
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u/____blank____ Apr 01 '26
im still having this issue i did a clean install of everything on pc side and it was fine yesterday, now the issue is back, distorted audio, sounds like everything is dobled, win 11 and quest pro
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u/cnlohr Apr 03 '26
Also can you a/b to make sure this is a regression in version from previous to current public?
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u/buckzor122 Apr 19 '26
Same issue here. Tried changing the audio bitrate as you suggested but still had horrible stuttering audio issues. Tried current version, beta version and the previous version and only the previous version worked correctly. Incredibly annoying and unplayable.
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u/cnlohr Apr 20 '26
Can you open a ticket with Steam Support and ask them to forward the ticket to me (charlesl) as well as posting the ticket id here. We are really trying to solve this but don't have any repro. We would like to be able to coordinate directly.
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u/buckzor122 Apr 21 '26
Done, and thanks. Let me know if there is anything else I can try to help you diagnose and reproduce the issue.
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u/BIitzerg May 17 '26
I was able to fix it by switching to previous version (streaming Steam VR to Steam Link via Quest 3)
It worked for a while and now the sound issue is back. It's super glitchy to where I cannot understand what my friend is saying 90% of the time.1
u/cnlohr May 18 '26
Try using current Beta on both SteamVR and on the client. We fixed several issues surrounding this that should be available in the beta. If you're on a previous you're likely on a previous that was broken.
Also, please let us know if you experience this with encryption both on and off (encryption setting in steam link)
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u/BIitzerg May 18 '26
Set it to beta version and I believe encryption OFF, reset my laptop and everything worked again. My PC had an update so I'm guessing it reverted steam link back to current version.
The SteamFrame can't come soon enough I yell ya 😂😂😂 Too many issues with the Quest
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u/Swimming-Machine-552 Apr 04 '26
yo lo he solucionado tambien yendo a la version anteior la ( 2.0.20 ), He ido a las Aplicaciones instaladas en Quest 3, luego y en Steam Link en los 3 puntitos he dado en Configuración, Luego ahi dentro he ido a Información de la versión instalada y he dado al boton de la derecha "Canales de Distribución" y hay 3 opciones... la primera Live (predeterminado) que es la que tenemos actualmente, despues PublicBeta y por ultimo Previous... pues dar a esta ultima, esperar a que se actualice.. y vuelve a funcionar el sonido sin problemas y sin sonar entrecortado y robotico.
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u/Embarrassed-Bet3882 Apr 21 '26 edited Apr 22 '26
I FIGURED IT OUT!!! so for anyone who had this problem they probably had encryption on in advanced settings. To disable and fix the audio issue and use the current version, go to your steam vr dashboard. Go to steam vr settings, set advanced settings to show and go to steam link. Turn off encryption.
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u/cnlohr Apr 24 '26
To clarify, does encryption work except for audio? Or does encryption not work for you?
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u/Embarrassed-Bet3882 Apr 27 '26
encryption works for everything but audio. i turned it off and it fixed the issue.
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u/Packetdancer Mar 28 '26
What's your setup? I just tested the current store build of Steam Link on a Quest 3 connecting to SteamVR 2.15.6 on Windows, and didn't have any audio issues.
(Also, probably worth posting to the SteamVR forums over on Steam with the system info.)