---
title: "RetroArch audio driver configuration: WASAPI vs XAudio2 vs DirectSound"
canonical_url: https://emudesk.com/issues/retroarch-audio-driver-wasapi-xaudio-config
content_locale: en
source_locale: en
entity_type: issue
index_status: index
published_at: 2026-08-31T18:22:23.000Z
updated_at: 2026-09-01T00:45:02.450Z
freshness_status: fresh
---

# RetroArch audio driver configuration: WASAPI vs XAudio2 vs DirectSound

RetroArch on Windows offers multiple audio output drivers — WASAPI, XAudio2, and DirectSound — and the choice matters. The wrong driver can cause crackling, high latency, or silence. Most Windows users should use WASAPI (Shared Mode) for the best balance of low latency and stability, but the right choice depends on your hardware and use case.