How to Fix Discord Mic Not Working (PC, Browser and Phone)

Nothing is more awkward than talking for a full minute before a friend, a client or your stream chat tells you they can't hear you. I'm writing this for everyday users, but also for creators, community admins and small-business owners who use Discord for calls and need the mic to behave.

Everything below follows Discord's own voice and video troubleshooting guide and its audio input article. Discord updates its apps often, so menu names can differ a little on your version. I've put the steps in the order Discord gives them, quick checks first.

Check the Discord mute icon and server mute first

Discord says to start with your mute and deafen status. Look at the mic and headset icons near your name: a slash through either one means your voice or audio is switched off. Click the icon to turn it back on.

There's a catch. Server admins can mute or deafen people at server level, and if that's happened to you, only an admin or the server owner can lift it. You'll usually spot this when the problem happens in one server but your mic works fine everywhere else.

When the Discord mic only fails in one server or channel

Discord suggests working out whether the problem affects every server and channel or only some. If it's only some, it's probably permissions. You need three voice permissions from the server owner or admins:

• Connect, which lets you join voice channels.
• Speak, which switches your microphone on in voice channels.
• Video, which lets you share your camera.

If you run the server yourself, check the voice channel's permissions and the roles your members hold. If you don't, message an admin and ask them to look at the Speak permission for your role.

Choosing the right Discord microphone on desktop or in a browser

1. Select the cogwheel in the bottom-left corner to open User Settings.
2. Choose Voice & Video in the left sidebar.
3. Under the Voice tab, check Input Mode isn't accidentally set to Push to Talk.
4. Open the Input Device dropdown and select the microphone you want to use.
5. Press Let's Check under Mic Test to confirm Discord can hear it.
6. Adjust the input volume slider if the level looks very low.

Discord's audio input article says the same first step: make sure the right input device is chosen in the dropdown. A laptop often has a built-in mic and a headset mic side by side, and Discord can pick the wrong one.

Giving Discord permission to use your microphone

Discord needs access to the mic in your computer's own privacy settings. On Windows that's the app permissions area, and on a Mac it's Privacy & Security. If you use Discord in a browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Safari, the browser also has to let the site use the microphone.

Menu names change between Windows, macOS and browser versions, so use the official guide for your system if you can't find the switch. Discord's article links to Microsoft, Apple, Google and Mozilla instructions.

Fixing a Discord mic that isn't working on a phone

1. Tap your avatar in the bottom-right corner, then the cogwheel in the upper-right corner.
2. Scroll down and tap Voice.
3. Check the input mode isn't set to Push to Talk by accident.
4. Review your input and output devices and the volume levels.
5. Try switching these on and off, one at a time, to see if one is the culprit: Auto Sensitivity, Noise Suppression, Echo Cancellation, Noise Reduction and Automatic Gain Control.

Also make sure your phone has given Discord microphone permission, that battery saver mode is off, and that the system is up to date. Discord also suggests switching between wifi and mobile data to see if it changes anything.

Noise suppression, audio subsystem and other Discord voice settings

If the basics are fine, Discord's guide lists a few things worth trying one at a time, so you can tell which one helped:

• Turn off Noise Suppression under User Settings, Voice & Video, Voice. Discord mentions Krisp here.
• On Windows, scroll to Audio Subsystem in Voice & Video and switch between Standard and Legacy.
• Switch off Enable Quality of Service High Packet Priority if it's on.
• Swap between Voice Activity and Push to Talk to see if one input mode works.

Change one thing, test it, then move on. If you change three settings at once and the mic works, you won't know which one fixed it, and you'll be stuck if the problem comes back.

Windows-only fixes for a silent Discord mic

• Right-click the Discord shortcut and choose Run as administrator.
• Open the Sound Control Panel, select the Recording tab, right-click your microphone, choose Properties and try turning off optional enhancements.
• Check your audio drivers are up to date, using Windows Device Manager.

Those three come from Discord's PC-only list. If you also stream or share your screen, my guide to using the Discord soundboard is a useful companion, because the soundboard relies on the same output settings.

Checking an external Discord microphone or headset

Discord's audio input article has a short list for headsets and USB mics:

1. Check the USB cable or 3.5mm jack is pushed in firmly.
2. Try a different USB port or input jack.
3. Look for a hardware mute switch on the headset or your computer.
4. Install the latest drivers and software for the device.
5. Try Voice Activity instead of Push to Talk, or the other way round.

Plugging into another port sounds too simple to matter, but Discord lists it twice in its guides, so it must solve a fair few cases.

Resetting Discord voice settings when nothing else works

Discord describes this as a last resort. Restart your device first, then go to User Settings, Voice & Video, open the Debugging tab and press Reset Voice and Video Settings. That puts the voice options back to their defaults, so you'll need to choose your microphone again afterwards.

If you also have a sluggish or glitchy app, clearing the Discord cache is worth doing before the reset.

What to send Discord if your mic is still silent

If Discord still can't find your mic after all this, the official advice is to submit a support request. The more detail you give, the quicker it moves:

• A clear description of the problem.
• Your operating system and version.
• Whether it happens on the desktop app, in a browser or on your phone.
• Screenshots of your Voice & Video settings.
• A list of the input and output devices you use.
• The debug log, found under Voice & Video, Debugging.

Keeping your Discord mic working for calls and streams

If you host client calls, community events or a podcast chat on Discord, do a quick Mic Test before you go live. It takes ten seconds and saves you from talking to nobody. Keep a note of which input device works, in case an update changes it.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my Discord mic not working?

Discord's guide points to a muted or deafened status, the wrong input device, missing microphone permission on your system, or server permissions such as Speak. Check those first.

How do I test my mic on Discord?

Open User Settings, choose Voice & Video, pick your mic under Input Device and press Let's Check under Mic Test.

Why can't people hear me in only one server?

That usually points to permissions or a server mute. Only a server admin or owner can give you the Speak permission or lift a mute.

Should I use Push to Talk or Voice Activity?

Discord suggests checking you haven't switched to Push to Talk by accident, and trying each mode to see whether one works better for you.

Will resetting voice settings delete my account data?

No. Reset Voice and Video Settings under Debugging only returns the voice and video options to their defaults, so you'll choose your devices again.

Who do I contact if Discord can't detect my mic?

Discord says to submit a support ticket through its contact page with your system details, screenshots and the debug log.