Discord is a popular VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) communication platform for gamers and streamers, but due to various reasons, it can sometimes have issues with its mic not working. The error may occur during normal audio/video calls or during live streaming.
In this article, we’ll walk you through some of the steps you can take to troubleshoot and fix Discord mic not working issue in Windows 11. We will also provide some tips on how to prevent the problem from happening again in the future. Let’s get started!
Why Is the Microphone Not Working in Discord on Windows 11?
There are various reasons why your Discord mic may not be working in Windows 11. These include:
- Defective hardware – It’s possible that the microphone itself or its connection to your computer is defective, resulting in no audio being picked up.
- Incorrect settings – If you haven’t configured the correct audio settings on your computer, then Discord may not be able to access the microphone correctly.
- Misconfigured microphone drivers – If your microphone driver is outdated or misconfigured, then it might be causing an issue with Discord’s mic.
- Software conflicts – If you have any other software running in the background that is conflicting with the microphone, then it could be preventing the mic from functioning properly with Discord.
Fix Discord Mic Not Working in Windows 11
Now that you know some of the possible causes of the issue, let’s look at how to fix it.
1. Check if Your Microphone Is Working
The first thing you should do is check that your microphone is working properly. This includes checking if the physical connection to your computer is in good condition and that the microphone itself isn’t defective.
You can also test the microphone by speaking into it while using a voice recorder app or a built-in recording program on your computer. If you can hear yourself, then the microphone is working properly.
2. Check the Microphone Connection With Windows
Next, you need to check if your Windows 11 system is detecting the microphone or not. Here is how to do that:
1. Click the Start button and select Settings from the Start Menu.
2. Remain on the System tab on the left pane, and select Sound on the right.
3. Scroll down and check if your Microphone is listed and selected under “Input.”
If you cannot find the microphone listed, there might be an issue with its physical connection to your computer.
3. Change the Input Volume on Windows 11
If your microphone is detected by Windows 11, it might be possible that the microphone input volume is too low. In this case, you may need to adjust the input volume on your Windows 11 system. To do so:
1. Click the Start button and select Settings from the Start Menu.
2. Remain on the System tab on the left pane, and select Sound on the right.
3. Scroll down to the “Input” options and select the Microphone that you are currently using.
4. On the next window, look for the “Input settings.” Under it, use the slider to increase the input volume.
4. Update Your Microphone Drivers
If you can see the microphone listed in Windows 11 settings, then it’s possible that the issue is caused by outdated or misconfigured driver software. You’ll need to update your drivers to fix this problem. To update your microphone drivers, you can use the Device Manager in Windows 11. Here is how to do that:
1. Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager from the list that appears.
2. Find your Microphone under “Audio Inputs and Outputs” and right-click on it.
3. Select Update driver from the menu that appears.
4. Follow the instructions to update the driver software for your microphone.
Once you have updated your drivers, check if Discord is able to access your microphone correctly or not.
5. Check if Discord Has Access to the Microphone
If you have updated the microphone driver and the problem persists, ensure Discord has access to the microphone. Here is how to do that:
1. Click the Start button and launch Settings from the Start menu.
2. Switch to the Privacy & security tab on the left, and on the right, scroll down to select the Microphone option under “App permissions.”
3. Under the “Microphone” permissions, scroll down and check if Discord can access the Microphone.
6. Disable Exclusive Mode for Microphone
Another reason why your microphone might not be working with Discord is that it’s in exclusive mode. This basically means that any other app will not be able to access the microphone when it’s in this state. This is how to disable the exclusive mode for the microphone:
1. Right-click on the “volume icon” at the bottom right corner of your taskbar and select Sound settings.
2. Under “Sound settings,” scroll down, and click the More sound settings option below the “Advanced” heading.
3. Right-click on your microphone device and select Properties.
4. Under the device properties window, switch to the Advanced tab and disable the Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device.
This will make the microphone available to other apps, including Discord.
7. Run the Microphone Troubleshooter
Windows 11 comes with a built-in troubleshooting tool that can help you identify and fix any microphone-related issues. To run the microphone troubleshooter, follow these steps:
1. Click the Start button and select Settings from the Start Menu.
2. Remain on the System tab on the left pane, and select Troubleshoot on the right.
3. On the next window, choose the Other troubleshooters option.
4. Under the “Other troubleshooters,” look for the “Recording Audio” and click the Run button next to it to run the microphone troubleshooter.
8. Run Discord App with Administrator Rights
If the steps discussed above didn’t help, try running Discord with administrator rights. This might fix any permission-related conflicts preventing your microphone from working properly. Here is how to do it:
1. Right-click on the Discord app shortcut and select Properties from the menu that appears.
2. Switch to the Compatibility tab, check the Run this program as an Administrator box, and click Apply.
3. Now try relaunching Discord to check if your microphone is working correctly now or not.
9. Manually Set the Microphone on Discord
Generally, Discord automatically detects any external mic or speaker input, but in some cases, it will keep using the system mic, and you may need to manually set your microphone on the app. To manually select your Mic, follow these steps:
1. Launch Discord App
2. Right-click the “microphone icon” at the bottom next to your name and ID, and choose External Microphone from the options.
3. Check if the microphone works now.
10. Increase Input Volume in Discord
If the above solutions still don’t help, it is possible that the Microphone’s input volume is too low on Discordtry increasing your microphone’s input volume in Discord. To do that:
1. Launch Discord App
2. Right-click on the “microphone icon” at the bottom next to your name and ID, and select Voice Settings.
3. Under the Voice Settings, you will find the option to increase the Input Volume below the “INPUT DEVICE” option.
4. Make sure to move the volume slider to 100% so that the other people can hear you clearly.
5. Next, under the same setting, you can test your mic yourself. Click on the Let’s Check button below the “MIC TEST.” This will let you hear your voice through a speaker or headphones.
6. Check if the mic is working properly and adjust the input volume accordingly.
11. Change the Input Mode in Discord
If you regularly use Discord, you might know that it has two inputs method: Voice Activity and Push to Talk. If the input method is set to Push to Talk, then you need to push the button every time you need to speak. So, if you want the mic to work without any disruption, set the input method to Voice Activity. Follow these steps to do that:
1. Launch Discord App
2. Right-click on the “microphone icon” at the bottom next to your name and ID, and select Voice Settings.
3. Under the Voice Settings, look for the INPUT MODE heading and change the input mode to Voice Activity.
12. Update the Discord App
If the problem persists, there might be an issue with the Discord app. In this scenario, the best thing to do is to update the app. This will fix any glitches it has. To update the Discord app, follow these steps:
1. Press the “Windows + R” keyboard combination to launch the Run Command Box.
2. Use the following command to launch the AppData local directory: %localappdata%
3. Under the AppData -> Local folder, look for the Discord folder and open it.
4. Run the Update file under the Discord folder. It will automatically check for the latest Discord updates and begin updating the Discord.
13. Reset Voice Settings in Discord
If the above methods still don’t help, try resetting your voice settings in Discord. This will set all your Voice and Input/Output settings to their default values and can potentially solve any mic-related issues you are facing. To do that:
1. Launch Discord App
2. Right-click on the “microphone icon” at the bottom next to your name and ID, and select Voice Settings.
3. Scroll down at the bottom of the “Voice Settings” window and click the Reset Voice Settings button.
This will reset all your voice settings and fix any mic-related issues you are facing.
14. Re-Install the Discord App
If none of the above methods work, try reinstalling your Discord app. This will uninstall the current version of Discord and install a fresh one. Follow these steps to do that:
1. Press the “Windows + R” keyboard combination to launch the Run command box.
2. Type “appwiz.cpl” in the command box and press Enter. This will launch the “Programs and Features” window.
3. Under the Programs and Features, look for Discord App. Select it and click on Uninstall.
4. Once done, restart your PC
5. Finally, download the latest version of Discord from their official website and install it again.
This should fix any major issues related to Discord not working with a Mic.
15. Update Windows 11
Finally, if nothing works, the last resort is to update your Windows 11. Sometimes, older versions of Windows might not be compatible with new Discord updates, and this can cause Mic issues. To update windows 11, follow these steps:
1. Click the Start button and launch Settings from the Start menu.
2. Switch to the Windows Update tab on the left, and on the right, click on Check for Updates.
3. Windows will now check for available updates and download them.
4. Finally, click on the Install all button to install all the available updates.
Restart the system and check if the problem is solved.
Prevent Microphone Not Working in Discord Issue on Windows 11
Here are some quick tips you can follow to avoid any microphone-related issues on Windows 11:
- Keep your system and Discord App updated.
- Use the latest version of Discord for better compatibility.
- Make sure that all the audio settings are set appropriately in both Windows and Discord.
- Set the input method to Voice Activity in Discord so that the microphone is always active.
- Try using a different microphone or headset to check if it makes any difference.
Summing Up
In this article, we have explained how to fix the Discord mic not working in Windows 11 and how to prevent this issue. Hopefully, one of these methods will help you fix Microphone Not Working in Discord on Windows 11 issue and get back to your communication needs on the Discord app.
How to Fix Discord Mic Not Working on Windows 11
Discord has become a popular communication tool over the past few years. Unfortunately, many users complain about the Discord mic not working, thus preventing them from participating in voice channels. This article will discuss this issue in more depth and provide several ways to fix it.
Why Is My Microphone Not Working on Discord?
So, you just downloaded Discord, set up an account, and are ready to start chatting. You plug in your microphone/headset and join a voice channel, but no one can hear you. What’s the reason for this? We have found several reasons that can cause this issue.
- Discord doesn’t have access to your microphone. The issue may lie in Windows Privacy settings that prevent Discord from accessing your external microphone. You may need to give Discord permission to access your mic in Windows Privacy settings.
- Misconfigured Discord voice settings. If you’ve changed Discord’s voice settings, such as selecting the incorrect input device, your mic might not work. Select the correct input device or reset Discord’s voice settings to default.
- An issue with the Advance Voice Activity feature. The Advance Voice Activity feature helps improve the microphone audio quality but can cause a voice detection issue. Turning it off will fix Discord not picking up the mic.
- Corrupted Discord files. Your Discord mic may stop working if some Discord installation files have become corrupted or gone missing. Reinstalling Discord should resolve this issue.
- Outdated or corrupted audio driver. An outdated or non-existent audio driver can cause issues, such as Discord not detecting your mic. Updating or reinstalling your audio driver may fix it.
Before trying any of our fixes:
- Restart Discord or log out and log back in.
- Try restarting your PC since a restart will refresh the backend drivers and registry files and remove temporary files that may have glitched out.
- Make sure that your microphone isn’t faulty by testing it on another application.
Video Tutorial on How to Fix Discord Microphone Not Working
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Method 1. Select the Correct Input Device in Discord
- Method 2. Reset Discord Voice Settings
- Method 3. Allow Discord to Access Your Microphone
- Method 4. Disable Advanced Voice Activity
- Method 5. Disable Quality of Service
- Method 6. Disable Exclusive Mode
- Method 7. Update/Reinstall the Microphone Driver
- Video Tutorial on How to Fix Discord Microphone Not Working
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Method 1. Select the Correct Input Device in Discord
Discord may automatically select the wrong microphone if you have more than one connected to your PC. Therefore, you must manually select the correct microphone you want to use on Discord.
1. Open Discord and click User Settings.
2. In the left pane, select Voice & Video.
3. Open the Input Device drop-down menu and select your preferred microphone.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Method 2. Reset Discord Voice Settings
If Discord is not picking up your mic, it may indicate that your Discord voice settings have been misconfigured. One of the most straightforward fixes to this problem is resetting Discord’s audio settings to their defaults.
1. Open Discord and click User Settings.
2. In the left pane, select Voice & Video.
3. Scroll to the bottom and click the Reset Voice Settings button.
4. Click Okay to confirm the action.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Method 3. Allow Discord to Access Your Microphone
Ensure that Discord has access to your microphone. It’s possible that some automatic permissions were removed, preventing Discord from using your microphone. Follow the instructions below to allow Discord to access your microphone.
1. Right-click the Start button and select Settings.
2. Select the Privacy & security tab and select Microphone in the App permissions section.
3. Toggle on Microphone access if it’s disabled.
4. Toggle on Let apps access your microphone if it’s disabled.
5. Toggle on Let desktop apps access your microphone if it’s disabled.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Method 4. Disable Advanced Voice Activity
Discord offers many features to enhance your voice quality. However, some features can do the opposite. The Advanced Voice Activity feature is designed to improve the quality of your voice when speaking, but in some cases, this feature may prevent Discord from picking up your mic.
1. Open Discord and click User Settings.
2. In the left pane, select Voice & Video.
3. Scroll down to the Voice processing section and toggle off the Advanced Voice Activity setting.
4. If that doesn’t work, In the Noise Suppression section, disable Krisp by selecting Standard or None.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Method 5. Disable Quality of Service
The Quality of Service (QoS) feature in Discord tells your Internet router that Discord’s data packets are high priority, but enabling this feature may cause some ISPs to behave in an unpredictable way and cause your mic not to work on Discord. If you have the Quality of Service (QoS) enabled, try disabling it and see if that fixes the issue.
1. Open Discord and click User Settings.
2. In the left pane, select Voice & Video.
3. Scroll to the Quality of Service setting and toggle off Enable Quality of Service High Packet Priority.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Method 6. Disable Exclusive Mode
A setting within Discord allows exclusive control over your audio device and, thus, your microphone. Disabling Exclusive Mode can fix your mic not working in Discord.
1. Hold down Windows+R keys to open Run.
2. In the Run dialog box, type in mmsys.cpl and click OK.
3. Select the Recording tab.
4. Select your input device and click Properties.
5. Then, select the Advanced tab.
6. Uncheck the Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device checkbox.
7. Uncheck the Give exclusive mode applications priority checkbox.
8. You can try selecting a lower sound quality as well. Open the Default format menu and select a lower-quality setting.
9. Click Apply and click OK.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Method 7. Update/Reinstall the Microphone Driver
If none of the methods above fix the Discord mic not working, then try updating your audio driver and microphone driver.
1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Audio inputs and outputs list.
3. Right-click your microphone/headset and click Update driver.
4. Click Search automatically for drivers.
5. If updating the driver didn’t fix the issue, right-click the device again and click Uninstall device.
6. Click Uninstall when prompted.
7. Restart your PC. Windows will install the latest compatible driver for the device automatically.
Did this article help you fix your mic not working on Discord? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
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In this article, we have put down the different hacks that can help fix the Discord mic not working in Windows 11 issue.
Discord is a streaming platform that enjoys a lot of popularity amongst gamers that intend to meet people of similar interests. You can use Discord to connect with people by sharing text, audio, video, or other media in groups or via personal chat.
Even though Discord has a massive users base, it is known to plague the users with Mic issues. People have reported that the Mic suddenly stops working and as a result, the audio and video interactions are affected at large.
If you have recently upgraded to Windows 11 and now, you are unable to use Discord mic, you are at the right place. To help you troubleshoot mic issues in Discord, we have jotted down several potential fixes that can help fix the Discord mic not working in Windows 11 issue. If you are interested, keep reading below.
Also Read: 8 Best Fixes: Discord Not Opening On Windows 11
Restart the PC
As the basic troubleshooting regime, it is highly recommended to reboot your PC. This will help deal with the temporary glitches hogging your PC which are creating mic issues in Discord as the aftermath.
- To access the Windows 11 desktop and then use the Alt + F4 shortcut key to bring up the Shut-Down settings box in Windows 11.
- Now choose the Restart option from the dropdown menu.
- Then hit the OK button to reboot your PC.
- When your system reboots, go back and see if the issue with the Discord mic is resolved.
- If not, give the next method a try.
Also Read: All About Developer Mode In Discord
Choose microphone as a default input device
- Open discord and then tap the user settings icon present on the bottom-left.
- Now choose Voice & Video option press under the App Settings.
- Next, expand the drop-down menu for the Input-device option and then choose the desired microphone from the list that opens.
- When you choose an option from the drop-down, reboot your Mac to apply the changes.
Ensure Discord can access the mic
Several times, the reason why Discord is unable to use the in-built mic is that it does not have permission to access the microphone. If the access is not granted, it can seem that Discord is unable to use the mic in Windows 11. So let’s see if the access is granted:
- Launch the Settings app using the Windows+I shortcut and then choose Privacy & Security option from the left navigation bar.
- Then on the right side, keep scrolling and choose the Microphone option under the App permissions.
- Here, look if Discord has been granted to access your PC’s microphone. If not, enable the toggle to grant the permission.
Also Read: How To Delete Servers On Discord
Update the microphone driver
If none of the methods discussed here could fix the issue with Discord, there is a good chance that the issue is triggered by an outdated driver of your PC. Corrupt and outdated drivers are always known to trigger performance issues on your PC. So let’s go ahead and try to update the outdated microphone driver in Windows 11:
- Bring up the Windows search menu using the Windows+S shortcut key.
- Now type Device Manager in the search bar located on the top of the Start Menu and then click on the first search result.
- In the Device Manager window, expand the Audio Inputs & Outputs category and then you can see the devices installed under it.
- Select the Microphone option and then choose Update Driver from the context menu.
- In the next pop-up that opens, choose the Search automatically for drivers option from the two options that appear.
- Now, wait patiently until Windows looks for the best available driver for your PC and installs it for you.
Also Read: How To Fix Discord Stuck On RTC Connecting On Windows 11?
Run Discord as administrator
Several apps including Discord need you to run the app with administrative privileges. This way, it can fix the mic not working issue in Windows 11:
- Open again bring up the Windows Start menu using the Windows+S shortcut key.
- Then perform the search for Discord by typing it in the text box above.
- Now, right-click the Discord app in the search result and then choose the Run as Administrator option from the context menu.
- From the User Action Control window that opens up, choose the Yes option and you are good to go.
Reset Voice Settings in Discord
Another reason why you are unable to use the microphone in Discord is the misconfigured audio settings of the Discord app. Instead, of changing them one at a time, you can go ahead and reset the voice settings. So let’s begin:
- Launch the Discord app on your Windows 11 PC and then access the user settings by clicking the user settings icon present on the bottom left corner.
- Then click on the Voice & Video option located under the Apps Settings.
- Now, keep scrolling until you reach the bottom, and then hit the Reset Voice Settings button.
- Then press the Okay button in the pop-up to confirm the action.
- Now re-launch the Discord app and see if the issue with the mic is resolved.
Also Read: Discord Stream Stuck On Loading? Try These Fixes
Wrapping Up
Hope you were able to solve the Discord Mic not working in Windows 11 issue using the steps mentioned above. Which of the above hacks worked for you? Don’t forget to mention it in the comments below.
Taiba Hasan
A tech enthusiast with a Post Graduate degree in Computer Applications, trying to make technology less complicated for novice users.
Микрофон – основное устройство для связи в Discord, без которого не обходится общение между пользователями. В этой статье я покажу способы, которые помогут обнаружить и исправить ошибки в микрофонах.
Способ 1: Проверка микрофона в Windows
Сначала нужно убедиться в том, что микрофон в принципе работает и выбран в качестве устройства по умолчанию. Для этого подойдут стандартные средства Windows.
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Откройте меню «Пуск» и перейдите в «Параметры», нажав по значку с шестеренкой. Она находится в списке закрепленных значков (в Windows 10) или на панели слева (в Windows 11).
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В новом окне выберите раздел «Система» и щелкните по плитке с названием «Звук».
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Обратите внимание на список доступных микрофонов и убедитесь в том, что по умолчанию выбрано правильное устройство записи. Вместе с этим проверьте громкость.
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Ниже вы найдете кнопку «Начать тест», которая нужна для проверки микрофона.
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Следите за динамическим ползунком во время теста и говорите что-то в микрофон. После остановки теста проверьте результат и убедитесь в том, что устройство функционирует корректно.
Если оказалось, что микрофон вовсе не обнаружен в Windows или по каким-то причинам звук с него не захватывается, нужно отыскать звуковые драйверы на сайте вашей материнской платы. Вместе с этим подключите микрофон к другому устройству и проверьте его физическую исправность.
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Способ 2: Проверка настроек звука в Discord
Предположим, вы выполнили предыдущий метод и оказалось, что в операционной системе микрофон работает корректно. Значит, проблема в настройках Дискорда или других параметрах, связанных с этой программой.
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Запустите программу и на панели с вашей аватаркой нажмите по значку с шестеренкой.
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Перейдите к разделу с настройками «Голос и видео» и выберите то же самое устройство ввода, которое установлено у вас в Windows. Вместе с этим переместите ползунок громкости вправо.
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Далее можете использовать встроенное средство проверки, чтобы узнать, работает ли микрофон сейчас.
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Возможно, вы используете неправильный режим ввода, и для активации микрофона требуется нажать сочетание клавиш. Вместе с этим может быть выставлена слишком маленькая задержка отключения, из-за чего ваши собеседники будут слышать вас с прерыванием. Обратите внимание на этот блок с настройками и отрегулируйте подходящие для вас значения.
Способ 3: Настройка конфиденциальности
В последних версиях Windows появились дополнительные настройки конфиденциальности и защиты, которые позволяют отключать слежение за пользователем и ограничивать доступ к подключенным устройствам. Есть вероятность, что по умолчанию использование микрофона для Discord запрещено параметрами конфиденциальности, поэтому у вас и возникает рассматриваемая проблема.
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В том же приложении «Параметры» выберите раздел «Конфиденциальность», в котором перейдите в категорию «Микрофон».
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Разрешите доступ к микрофону для приложений, перетащив оба переключателя в состояние «Вкл.».
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Опуститесь по списку и найдите среди приложений «Discord». Убедитесь в том, что ниже нет никакой надписи о запрете на использование оборудования.
На этом проверка конфиденциальности завершена. Если в этом плане никаких ограничений нет, но микрофон все равно не работает, переходите к следующуму способу.
Способ 4: Отключение монопольного режима микрофона
По умолчанию для микрофона в Windows включен монопольный режим работы. Это означает, что некоторые приложения имеют приоритетный доступ к устройству и могут мешать нормальному функционированию оборудованию в других программах. Стоит отключить этот режим и проверить, как скажется новая настройка на взаимодействии с Дискордом.
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Через поиск в меню «Пуск» отыщите «Панель управления» и перейдите в это меню с настройками.
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В нем дважды нажмите левой кнопкой мыши по значку «Звук».
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В новом окне откройте вкладку «Запись» и дважды кликните по используемому микрофону (он будет выделен зеленой галочкой).
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Отобразятся свойства устройства, в которых нужна вкладка «Дополнительно» и блок «Монопольный режим». В нем снимите галочки с двух пунктов и примените изменения.
Сейчас рекомендуется перезагрузить компьютер, чтобы новые настройки вступили в силу. После этого переходите к тестированию микрофона в Discord.
Способ 5: Изменение звуковой подсистемы
Закончу методом, который подразумевает редактирование настроек мессенджера. Он редко оказывается действенным конкретно в этом случае, поэтому и стоит на последнем месте. Однако если ничего из перечисленного выше не помогло, откройте настройки «Голос и видео» в Дискорде, отыщите параметр «Звуковая подсистема» и попробуйте один из двухд ругих вариантов. Переключайте их по очереди и сравнивите, будет ли работать микрофон.
Это все методы, о которых я хотел рассказать. Если микрофон по-прежнему не работает или у вас появились другие вопросы, задавайте их в комментариях под этой статьей. Я постараюсь дать оперативный и полезный ответ.
Is your microphone not working on Discord? The issue is mainly caused by a hardware problem with the microphone, incorrect microphone selection in Discord, a temporary hiccup with the app or device, restricted app permissions, an issue with Discord voice settings or audio drivers, or misconfigured sound settings.
If you are fed up with this issue, here are a few fixes you can apply to make your faulty microphone work on Discord again.
1. Restart Your Device
When we face technical issues with apps or devices, restarting the device you’re using to run the app is our first response. Most of the time, this fix works like a charm.
Upon restart, all backend drivers and registry files are created afresh, along with removing temporary files created during the previous runtime. Typically, this will fix a wide range of issues.
Therefore, before you try any other fixes, consider restarting your device to check if that resolves the issue. Otherwise, continue with the other fixes listed below.
2. Test Your Microphone
If you’re using an external microphone as an input device, ensure it is not faulty. Trying it in other apps or using another device may help you determine whether the hardware itself is causing the issue.
If your microphone is the culprit, change it. If not, move on to the rest of the fixes.
3. Ensure the Correct Microphone Is Selected
Do you have more than one microphone connected to your device? If so, Discord may be configured to use a device other than the one you’re using. You can either unplug one microphone from your device so that Discord will automatically select the other as an input device, or you can set the correct input device in Discord settings.
Follow these steps to change the input device in Discord settings:
- Launch Discord.
- Click on the gear icon in the bottom-left corner to access User Settings.
- On the left sidebar, click Voice and Video.
- Select the correct microphone from the dropdown under Input Device in Voice Settings.
4. Restart or Log Out of Discord
Instead of diving into more complicated fixes, log out of Discord and restart your application. At first glance, it may sound innocuous, but in most cases, this step will resolve the issue.
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In the lower-left corner, click on the gear icon to bring up Discord Settings.
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Scroll down to the bottom and click on Log Out from the left sidebar.
Log out, close the app, and then log back in again.
Doing this alone can solve some issues, but it doesn’t always work. Move on to the next fix if that’s the case.
5. Reset Discord’s Voice Settings
Discord gives you the option to reset the voice settings to default. This usually resolves most voice-related issues within Discord. Therefore, try resetting the voice settings to see if that fixes the problem.
Here is how you can reset voice settings in Discord:
- Click on the gear icon at the bottom-left to bring up the app’s settings.
- Navigate to the Voice and Video settings under App Settings.
- Click on Reset Voice Settings at the bottom of the page.
6. Give Discord Access to Your Microphone
Sometimes, your system permissions may prevent certain desktop applications from accessing your microphone. So, if you have turned off automatic permission to use the microphone, Discord may not have access.
This is how you can enable microphone access for not only Discord but also all other apps:
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Use Windows Search to open Settings on your computer.
- Navigate to Privacy in Settings. You can skip this step if you’re on Windows 11.
- Click Microphone in App permissions under Privacy settings. If you’re on Windows 11, you can access the same by going to Privacy & security > Microphone.
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Activate the toggle for Allow apps to access your microphone.
If you’re running Windows 11, see our guide on how to check apps using your camera and microphone. If the microphone access was already on, continue implementing the remaining fixes.
7. Change the Input Mode
If your microphone still does not work after following other fixes on the list, try changing the input mode in the voice settings to Push to Talk.
Push to Talk settings require you to press a specific keyboard key to allow the microphone to transmit audio. This setting helps solve most microphone problems on Windows.
Here is how you can change the input mode in Discord:
- Navigate to Discord settings by clicking on the gear icon.
- From the left sidebar, select Voice & Video under App Settings.
- Change the input mode from Voice Activity to Push to Talk.
- To activate Push to Talk, set any keyboard key as a Shortcut.
Although this fix may solve the problem, it has its quirks from time to time. So, if the microphone problem goes away, you can change it back after some time.
8. Disable Exclusive Mode on Windows
In Windows, there is an exclusive mode that allows a single device to take over the whole sound driver.
This mode could cause issues with your microphone, preventing other apps from using it if a priority app has control. So, to rule out this cause, follow the below steps to disable this exclusive mode.
- Search for Sound Settings using Windows Search and open it.
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Click on Device properties after selecting your input device. Windows 11 users can scroll down on the right pane, click on More sound settings > Recording and choose the input device.
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In the Related Settings, click on Additional device properties. Windows 11 users can skip this step.
- Navigate to Microphone Properties and select the Advanced tab.
- Uncheck the box for Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device in the Exclusive Mode settings.
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To apply the changes, click on Apply.
9. Update Your Audio Drivers
You can also check your system’s audio drivers. You will face issues not only with Discord but also with other apps if the problem is with the drivers. Blue and black screen errors, cracking voices, and poor-quality recordings indicate outdated driver files.
Your device likely has a specific driver for input audio devices that you can update to get your microphone working again. However, depending on the type of device you are using and the sound drivers it has, you may not find the main driver that needs to be updated.
If this is the case, update all audio drivers regardless of the device you’re using. In case the issue persists, you can reinstall all of them.
We will guide you through updating the Intel(R) Audio Display driver using the steps below. You can follow the same process to update other drivers as well.
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Use Windows Search to look for Device Manager.
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Navigate to Sound, video, and game controllers settings in Device Manager.
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Open Intel(R) Display Audio and go to the Driver tab in the pop-up menu.
- Click on Update Driver, and you are good to go.
- Click on Search automatically for drivers and wait for the process to complete.
The name of the device and drivers will differ depending on the hardware you use.
10. Disable Quality of Service
Discord comes with a Quality of Service High Packet Priority feature that signals your router to treat packets transmitted by Discord as high priority to ensure a smooth connection.
However, depending on your ISP and router, having this option enabled in Discord may result in unforeseen issues. Discord not picking up a microphone voice can also be one of those. Here are the steps to disable this option and see if it helps:
- Head to Discord settings by clicking on the gear icon.
- Under App Settings, select Voice & Video.
- Scroll down and find the Quality of Service settings.
- Turn off the toggle for Enable Quality of Service High Packet Priority.
Now, relaunch Discord and see if your microphone works without any issues.
11. Reinstall Discord
If none of the above fixes works, you can reinstall the Discord app after uninstalling it. Sometimes, hidden corrupted files prevent the app from functioning correctly. Often, it is overlooked as the root of many problems.
Here’s how you can uninstall the app:
- Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features.
- In the app list, find Discord.
- Tap Uninstall by left-clicking on it.
Now, all you need to do is reinstall Discord from its official website.
The various troubleshooting steps we discussed here will fix most of the microphone problems you were facing in Discord. But if it doesn’t, remember that your hardware could be at fault.
We understand how great Discord is as a platform, so it can be hard to leave once you get used to it. But if you grow bored with it, there are many alternatives you should look into.