Check What Is Causing the Problem
Before changing any settings, it helps to determine whether the issue is with your microphone hardware, your operating system, Discord itself, or a specific voice channel. A quick diagnostic test can save time.
- Test your microphone outside Discord. Open a different application that records audio, such as the Voice Recorder app on Windows or QuickTime Player on macOS. Speak into your microphone and play back the recording. If the recording is clear, your microphone and its connection to your computer are likely working correctly.
- Check Discord’s own microphone test. In Discord, go to User Settings (the gear icon next to your username) > Voice & Video. Under the “Voice Settings” section, look for the “Let’s Check” button or a similar microphone test feature. Speak into your microphone. You should see the input bar move. If it moves, Discord is receiving audio.
- Check the specific server or channel. If your microphone works in a test but others cannot hear you in a voice channel, the issue might be a server-specific mute or a permission setting. Check that you are not server-muted or server-deafened (look for a red X or a speaker icon with a line through it next to the server name).
Once you know where the problem lies, you can apply the most relevant fix.
Fixes to Try in Order
These fixes are listed from the simplest and safest to more advanced steps. You do not need to try every fix. Stop once your microphone is working correctly.
1. Restart Discord and Your Computer
A simple restart can clear temporary software glitches that prevent Discord from accessing your microphone. Close Discord completely. On Windows, you can also check the system tray and right-click the Discord icon to select “Quit Discord.” After restarting Discord, test your microphone. If that does not work, restart your computer entirely. This resolves a surprising number of audio issues.
2. Check Discord’s Input Device and Voice Settings
Discord may be set to the wrong microphone or have incorrect input levels.
- In Discord, go to User Settings > Voice & Video.
- Under Input Device, ensure the correct microphone is selected. If you have multiple devices (e.g., a headset mic and a webcam mic), choose the one you are actively using.
- Speak at a normal volume and watch the Input Volume slider. A green bar should move. If it stays at zero, Discord is not receiving audio.
- Check the Input Mode setting. If it is set to “Voice Activity,” Discord will transmit audio when it detects sound. If it is set to “Push to Talk,” you must hold down a designated key to be heard. If you are using Push to Talk, confirm a key is assigned and that the key works outside of Discord.
- If you are using Voice Activity, you can try resetting the Sensitivity settings. Scroll to the “Voice Activity” section and click Reset Sensitivity.
3. Allow Discord Permission to Use Your Microphone
Modern operating systems have strict privacy controls that can block applications from accessing your microphone.
On Windows:
- Open Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone.
- Ensure Microphone access is turned On.
- Under “Let apps access your microphone,” ensure the toggle is On.
- Scroll to the list of apps and make sure Discord is toggled On.
On macOS:
- Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone.
- Ensure the toggle next to Discord is enabled.
After updating these settings, close and reopen Discord.
4. Reset Discord Voice Settings to Default
If you have changed many settings, resetting everything to default can help. This action does not delete any messages or servers.
- In Discord, go to User Settings > Voice & Video.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Reset Voice Settings.
- Confirm the action. You will need to re-select your input and output devices, but this removes any misconfigured settings that may be blocking your microphone.
5. Update or Reinstall Audio Drivers
A faulty, outdated, or incorrect audio driver can prevent your microphone from working. This is more common on Windows.
- Identify your audio device. Check the manufacturer and model of your headset, microphone, or sound card.
- Update the driver. Go to the manufacturer’s official support website and download the latest audio driver for your specific model and operating system. Install it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Alternative: Roll back the driver. If the microphone stopped working after a recent driver update, you can try rolling back to a previous version. In Windows Device Manager, right-click your audio device, go to Properties > Driver, and select Roll Back Driver if the option is available.
- Avoid third-party driver updaters. Windows Update can often find basic drivers. For critical features like a dedicated gaming headset, always use the official drivers from the hardware manufacturer.
6. Disable Exclusive Mode in Windows
By default, Windows allows applications to take exclusive control of an audio device. This can sometimes prevent Discord from accessing the microphone simultaneously with another app.
- Right-click the speaker icon in your system tray and select Sounds.
- Go to the Recording tab.
- Right-click your default microphone and select Properties.
- Go to the Advanced tab.
- Under “Exclusive Mode,” uncheck both boxes: Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device and Give exclusive mode applications priority.
- Click Apply and OK. Test Discord again.
7. Reinstall Discord
As a last software troubleshooting step, you can reinstall Discord to ensure you have a fresh installation with no corrupted files.
- First, uninstall Discord. On Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Discord, and select Uninstall.
- It is important to delete the Discord data folders after uninstalling to remove any corrupted settings. Press
Windows Key + R, type%appdata%, and press Enter. Delete the Discord folder. Then pressWindows Key + Ragain, type%localappdata%, and delete the Discord folder there. - Download the latest version of Discord from the official website and install it. This will be a completely clean installation.
If the Problem Continues
If you have tried all the steps above and your microphone still does not work in Discord, the issue may be with the hardware itself.
- Test your microphone on another device. Plug your headset or microphone into a different computer or smartphone. If it does not work on the second device, the microphone cable or the device itself may be faulty.
- Check your cable connections. For USB microphones, try a different USB port. For 3.5mm jacks, ensure it is pushed in all the way. A loose connection is a common cause of intermittent audio issues.
- Check for physical mute switches. Many headsets and external microphones have a physical mute button or switch on the cable. Make sure it is not set to mute.
- Contact Discord Support. If your microphone works on other devices but not on Discord after following these steps, submit a ticket to Discord’s official support team. They can provide further assistance.
