What causes the creaking feeling/noise in bones/joints?

Is it painful or swollen? My first thought is that the bursa, little sacs in your joints that help them move smoothly and freely, may have shifted and you have cartilage on cartilage rubbing at the articulation sites. The squeaking is literally the ends of bone covered in cartilage rubbing together.

That’s just a guess. Popping is different, but you said you aren’t popping.

In my case, that’s exactly what it is. My knees are down to bone on bone as all the cartilage is gone.

I’m not saying that it’s necessarily the case with you but it’s time for you to see a Doctor and get some X-Rays done to find the root cause.

Don’t put it off. The sooner you know what’s going on, the better.

Old age?