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    Beginner
    2 min read 5 stepsMarch 30, 2026Verified March 2026

    Hearing Random Sounds or Voices From Your Laptop? Here's What To Do

    Unexplained audio from an idle laptop can be a sign of malware or a compromised app. Here's how to investigate and secure your machine.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Safety & Privacy
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    2 min read
    Steps
    5
    Topics covered
    malware
    security
    windows

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.Open Task Manager and look for unfamiliar processes
    2. 2.Temporarily turn off Wi-Fi to test
    3. 3.Run a full scan with Malwarebytes
    4. 4.Run Windows Defender as well
    5. 5.If the problem persists, reset Windows
    1

    Open Task Manager and look for unfamiliar processes

    ~24s
    Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Task Manager. Click "More details" if you see a compact view. Look through the list of running processes for anything unfamiliar — especially programs using high CPU or network activity that you did not open yourself.

    Warning

    Do not end processes called "System," "Windows Explorer," or anything associated with your antivirus software — ending these can cause your computer to freeze.

    2

    Temporarily turn off Wi-Fi to test

    ~15s
    Click the Wi-Fi icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen and click "Disconnect" or turn off Wi-Fi. Wait 60 seconds and listen. If the sounds stop, the source is network-based — a browser tab, a streaming app, or malware communicating online.
    3

    Run a full scan with Malwarebytes

    ~22s
    Download the free version of Malwarebytes from malwarebytes.com. Install it and run a full scan. Malwarebytes is excellent at finding malware that Windows Defender misses. If it finds anything, follow its prompts to quarantine and remove the threats.

    Quick Tip

    Malwarebytes Free is genuinely free with no subscription required for manual scans. You do not need to pay for the premium version to run a one-time scan.

    4

    Run Windows Defender as well

    ~15s
    Open the Start menu, search for "Windows Security," and open it. Click "Virus & threat protection" → "Quick scan" or "Full scan." Windows Defender and Malwarebytes catch different threats, so running both is more thorough.
    5

    If the problem persists, reset Windows

    ~15s
    If sounds continue after removing any found threats, consider a Windows reset. Go to SettingsSystemRecoveryReset this PC. Choose "Keep my files" to preserve your documents while reinstalling Windows fresh.

    You Did It!

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    If you hear unexplained sounds or voices from your Windows laptop while it is idle, act quickly. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and look for unfamiliar processes — especially ones using high CPU or network activity. End any suspicious processes. Temporarily disable Wi-Fi to see if the audio stops, which can confirm a network-based source. Run a full scan with Malwarebytes (free) and Windows Defender. If the issue persists, consider resetting Windows from Settings > Recovery.

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    malware
    security
    windows

    Official Resources

    FTC Consumer ProtectionCISA — Cybersecurity TipsAARP Fraud Watch Network

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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