Update Windows If PC Is Making High Pitched Sounds. Ever since the March 2021 release of Windows 10, 2004, a small fraction of users has been reporting a mysterious issue with the OS that causes the PC to emit a high-pitched sound when using certain apps. Given the intermittent nature of the issue, it proved notoriously tricky to track down, but if it’s been driving you mad in recent months, there’s good news. First, Microsoft has isolated the bug and fixed it so that it won’t impact you further.
The company had this to say about the issue:
“After installing KB5000842 or later updates, 5.1 Dolby Digital audio may play containing a high-pitched noise or squeak in certain apps when using certain audio devices and Windows settings.”
If you’re sick to death of hearing “that sound,” then grab Windows 10 Update KB5003690 and Update Windows PC, and the issue should plague you no further. Note, however, that this is an optional update so that you won’t get it automatically. Instead, you’ll need to manually perform a “Check for Updates” to install the fix.
If you’d instead not jump through those hoops, then you don’t have to do anything, as the fix will roll into the July 2021 Patch Tuesday update. So if you can live with it or work around it until then, know that help is on the way.
Kudos to Microsoft for digging through their mountains of code and finding this notoriously annoying bug. It may not have impacted legions of users, but for those who did hear the squelch, it was maddening indeed.
Also, be aware that in May (2020), Microsoft removed the final compatibility holds that prevented customers from upgrading to Windows 10 2004 20H2 and 21H1. The company had placed a hold related to Conexant and Synaptics audio driver issues causing problems for the Windows 10 update process. Those issues have a resolution!
