Why Does Zoom Audio Cut Out? Step By Step Fix

Zoom offers an audio and video calling feature to communicate with your colleagues, friends, or family members without hiccups. Zoom is an open-source, free-to-use application that uses your audio and video resources while you call or host a meeting.

However, many users have reported that the audio sometimes cuts out during a Zoom meeting. It could be very frustrating and embarrassing while you are giving a lecture or attending an important meeting. Here we will discuss why Zoom audio cut out and how you can resolve it.

Why Does Zoom Audio Cut Out?

If you have faulty headphone, slow and unreliable internet connection, outdated audio drivers, Windows audio services not responding, or your power options are on low, your zoom audio cut out. All these problems can interrupt your Zoom calls and cut out your audio. 

Zoom allows the host to mute and unmute your voice during meetings. But there are some instances where the audio cuts off, but you have not muted it. So, if you are in an important meeting, you must know how to deal with it quickly. Here are a few reasons why this audio error happens:

Faulty Microphone: If you use a faulty microphone, you will have this issue. As the audio signals get interrupted, your audio will cut out periodically. 

Slow and Unreliable Internet Connection: Slow and unreliable internet connections are the most common cause of this audio issue. When you are not getting enough data packets, you won’t be able to communicate easily.

Outdated Audio Drivers: If your drivers are not up-to-date, you won’t be able to run audio through many applications, or you will face this audio issue.

Laptop Power Options: Your processor, RAM, and all other hardware devices require power. If there is a power shortage, you could face errors in the laptop’s overall performance.

Windows Audio Service: All the functionality necessary for any process that requires audio is provided by the Windows Audio Service. Audio errors may result if these files experience any errors. 

Now you know why does Zoom audio cut out, so let’s discuss how you can resolve this issue permanently. Here we have collected a few verified quick methods to eliminate the problem and enjoy smooth Zoom calls and meetings.

Check Microphone

It must be your first step before checking your drivers or application settings. Next, check whether your microphone is working properly by plugging it into a different device and testing it. If it doesn’t work in any other application or device, it’s time to buy a new one without waiting any time. 

Mics often get damaged by their plugs or after being used for a long time. You should check them carefully for damage and replace them if necessary. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when checking your microphone:

• Check the microphone’s wire thoroughly.
• Try a different working microphone.
• Connect the microphone to another device.
• Test microphone using Windows microphone’s test.

Running a microphone test on Windows is easy, and anyone can do it. This test ensures whether the device is working properly or not. If the audio signals are passing without interruption, you don’t have to go for a new one. 

• Go to the Windows search bar and search “Sound Settings,” and open the settings. 
• Scroll a little bit down. Here you will find the “Test your microphone” option. 
• Now tap on your microphone; if you see the blue line moving back and forth, your microphone is working fine. 

• The microphone is not responding properly if there is no blue line.

Check Speakers

Speakers are also an important part of the conversation. There is a possibility that the speakers are stuck, which would explain why you do not hear any sound. Therefore, to determine whether or not your speaker is functioning correctly, you should try plugging it into a different device. 

• Open the Windows search bar and search open “Sound Settings.”
• Now navigate to “Sound panel” and open it. 
• In the “Playback” section right, click on your default speakers and click on “Test” from the file. 

• You will hear a ringtone. It means your speakers are also fine, and this problem is due to other errors.

Check Internet Speed

Internet speed is another important factor that can cause this audio issue. If you are using a slow and unreliable connection, then it is obvious that your audio will be cut out. However, in Zoom meetings, the internet is used for audio and video, so the internet speed should be reliable. 

You can check your internet speed by using a free online testing service like Ookla or Fast.Com. The website will show you your network’s current download and upload speeds. In addition, you can restart the TCP / IP stack to refresh your internet connection.

• Open the start menu, search for “Command Prompt,” and run it as administrator. 
• Now rewrite this command “netsh int ip reset” and press enter. 

• It will restart the TCP / IP stack and make your internet connection faster by removing cache and junk. 

Note: If you are using a static configured IP connection, this reset may change the IP, and you may face internet connection issues. 

Update Drivers

Outdated audio drivers will be unable to receive and transfer audio signals in a smooth manner, which will result in a break in the audio stream. Because of this, you need to check to see that all of the drivers on your computer are updated to the most recent version.

• Launch “Device Manager” on your computer, and expand the “audio inputs and outputs” in the menu that appears. 
• Simply right-click on the device you normally use and then select “Update Driver” from the menu that appears. 

• Now, select the option “Search automatically for driver,” and then let Windows search for the most recent version. 
• Windows will look for the most recent version online, and if it finds one, it will automatically install that version on your computer if one is available. 

Enable High-Performance Mode

In case you are using a laptop that has different battery power modes. You may have inadvertently changed the mode to “Battery saver” or “Balanced,” neither of which will provide the audio device with the necessary power.

Therefore, you need to change it to “High performance” mode. The high-performance mode will supply the audio device with adequate power for it to function appropriately. It can also be done on desktop PCs having mini motherboards.

• Go to the Start menu, search “Choose Power plan,” and open the settings.
• Here select the “Change plan settings” option.
• In the newly popped-up windows, select “Change Advanced Power Settings.”

• From the settings, select “High-Performance Mode.”

Restart Windows Audio Services

Windows audio services are responsible for managing the sound output of your computer. If these services are not running correctly, it can cause audio interruption problems during Zoom meetings. You can restart these audio services to resolve this issue. You have to restart three services:

• Go to the start menu, search “Services,” and open them. 
• Now search for “Windows Audio Service” and “Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.”

• Right-click on these services, then select Restart. You can also press the restart button that is on the menu bar.

Conclusion

The Zoom audio cut-out is an annoying issue that can affect your meetings. However, the above solutions should help you resolve this issue if it ever happens to you. Make sure to check your internet connection, update drivers, enable high-performance mode, and restart Windows audio services. Following these steps and using the right tools ensures that your Zoom meetings run smoothly and without interruption.

Related Readings:

Solved Why Zoom Audio Not Working Windows 10 – Easy Fix

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