First identify whether osu! is missing music, missing hitsounds, or stuttering. Check the Master, Music, and Effect sliders, select the correct Output device, and test the default skin. If audio still stutters, enable Audio compatibility mode and replay the same section; this mode improves compatibility but adds latency.
Play one familiar beatmap and note whether the song is silent, object hits are silent, or both sounds break up. Use the same map and section after each change so you can hear the result.
2
Check osu!'s volume sliders
Open osu! Options, search for Audio, and raise Master plus Music for the song or Effect for hitsounds. Make sure none of those sliders shows zero.
3
Select the correct output device
Choose the headphones or speakers you are actually using under Output device. Replay the same beatmap section and confirm sound now comes from that device.
4
Test osu!'s default skin
If hitsounds alone are missing or distorted, choose osu!'s default skin and test again. If that fixes them, return to the custom skin and disable Use skin's sound samples or replace its broken sound files.
5
Enable compatibility mode for stuttering
If music or effects still crackle or cut out, enable Audio compatibility mode in osu! Options. Repeat the same section and keep the mode only if playback becomes stable, because it increases audio latency.
6
Check the physical output path
If one device still stutters, try another listed Output device or switch between USB and the computer's analogue audio jack when available. You are done when the same beatmap section plays without silence, crackling, or dropouts.
If it does not work
Do not change Universal offset to repair missing or stuttering sound; that control shifts timing but does not restore audio playback.
If the sound is stable but notes feel early or late, use osu!'s Offset wizard after playback is fixed.
If only the custom skin fails, leave the device settings alone and repair that skin's named sound files or turn off Use skin's sound samples.
ⓘ Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: osu!(stable) on Windows.
Source-checked against the current osu! client-options and performance-troubleshooting references. No audio device was changed during review.
