F998 Sound Card Software (2026 Edition)

The short answer is no—not officially. C-Media stopped active development of the Xear 3D suite around 2016. However, the software continues to work on Windows 10 and 11 via legacy compatibility modes.

Because of this, many Chinese OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) have repackaged the driver. If you bought a generic "F998" from AliExpress, Amazon, or eBay, the included mini-CD or USB drive contains the correct, albeit outdated, software.

A warning on Security: Always scan the driver file from unknown brands via VirusTotal before installing. Cloned F998 devices sometimes come with modified .INF files. f998 sound card software

Once open, the F998 sound card software reveals a surprisingly complex interface for a $10 dongle.

If you search for "f998 sound card software download," you will not find an official "F998.com" website. Instead, the device uses rebranded C-Media drivers. The most common software versions are: The short answer is no —not officially

This software includes the following critical modules:

Most users ignore the mic tab, but this is where the F998 shines over motherboard audio. This software includes the following critical modules: Most

The F998 is a compact USB audio interface / sound card commonly used for livestreaming, podcasting, gaming, and mobile audio production. It offers input gain controls, multiple effect presets (reverb, chorus, EQ), vocal enhancement features, loopback for streaming, and hardware buttons for monitoring and mic/line switching. Software for the F998 provides driver support, firmware updates, and a control panel to configure effects, routing, and sample rates.

Before diving into software, let’s identify the hardware. The “F998” typically refers to a small, silver or black USB dongle featuring:

Because this chipset is ubiquitous, the “F998 sound card software” is almost always a modified version of the generic C-Media 3D Sound Driver or Xear 3D software.