Remote Play from Linux Crackling Audio

steamopen AudioStreaming

ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#12533 · opened 2025-12-07 by donotaddcheese · updated 2026-01-05 · 3 comments · github

Ddonotaddcheese 2025-12-07 github

Your system information

Steam client version (build number or date): Steam Version: 1763795278
Distribution: EndeavourOS
Opted into Steam client beta?: No
Have you checked for system updates?: Yes
Steam Logs: Steam Logs
GPU: AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

Expected behaviour is being able to Remote Play from my Linux desktop to my Steam Link device without audio issues. What happens is it works well for a variable amount of time, but at least an hour. After said time the sound starts crackling and popping. Both the game I'm playing and the sound of the Steam interface have the same crackling sound. The only way I found to get rid of the crackling sound is to stop streaming, and then reconnecting to my PC.
Sounds the same as this issue

Steps for reproducing this issue:

Start Remote Play session from Linux host
Play any game for a variable amount of time
Audio starts crackling

Ccydiralis 2025-12-14 github

what sound server are you using on the game host, pipewire or pulseaudio? if pulse it may be an idea to try pipewire just to test. does the issue occur sooner with specific games and later with others or is it around the 1 hour+ mark the absolute majority of the time

Ddonotaddcheese 2025-12-14 github

I am using pipewire. I don't play a lot of games using Remote Play, but I haven't noticed the issue occurring quicker in some games over others. It's always fine for at least an hour, sometimes even 2 or almost 3 hours.

EExceede 2026-01-05 github

I'm also having this issue on both Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS & Windows 11 Pro (26200). I have a AMD Radeon™ RX 7900 XTX using the Stream Link software on my Google TV via Ethernet. The audio never crackles when playing on host. Low Latency Audio settings don't seem to make a difference.

In this example I am streaming Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 with a Stream Link specified bandwidth limit of 30 mb/s.

In Ubuntu:

Steam Version 1766451605
Steam Client Beta? No
Have you checked for system updates?: Yes
3D / OpenGL Driver (Mesa): Version: Mesa 25.0.7-0ubuntu0.24.04.2
Linux Kernel (AMDGPU Module): Version: 6.14.0-37-generic
Display Core Firmware (DCN): Version: 3.2.316
Using pipewire I've confirmed my hardware & game are both running at 48000Hz.
pipewire not reporting any additional errors when left open at start of stream (when audio is good) vs when crackling starts.
I have tried running the game with these launch options: gamemoderun PULSE_LATENCY_MSEC=120 WINEDLLOVERRIDES="xaudio2_7=n,b" %command%. This appeared to make an immediate difference as I was originally getting crackling on game launch as well, however crackling still appears after some game time (~45min-1hour).