Mic Not Working on Discord Windows? Here’s How to Fix It!

Is your microphone failing you on Discord while using Windows? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. This is a common issue, and thankfully, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve it. This guide will walk you through the most effective solutions to get your microphone working again on Discord.

1. Basic Troubleshooting Steps

Before diving into more complex solutions, let’s cover the basics:

  • Restart Discord: A simple restart can often resolve temporary glitches. Close Discord completely (including the system tray icon) and reopen it.
  • Restart Your Computer: As cliché as it sounds, restarting your computer can fix a surprising number of issues, including microphone problems.
  • Check Your Microphone Connection: Ensure your microphone is securely connected to your computer. If you’re using a USB microphone, try a different USB port.
  • Test Your Microphone: Use Windows’ built-in sound recorder or another recording application to verify that your microphone is actually working. If it doesn’t work there either, the problem might be with the microphone itself.

2. Discord Settings Check

Discord has several settings that can affect your microphone’s functionality. Let’s review them:

2.1. Input Device Selection

  • Open Discord and go to User Settings (the gear icon next to your username).
  • Click on Voice & Video in the App Settings section.
  • In the Input Device dropdown menu, select the correct microphone. If you have multiple microphones, make sure you’ve chosen the right one.
  • Input Volume: Adjust the input volume slider to an appropriate level. You should see the volume bar react when you speak into your microphone.
  • Automatically Determine Input Sensitivity: Try toggling this setting on or off. Sometimes, Discord’s automatic sensitivity detection can be inaccurate.

2.2. Voice Activity vs. Push to Talk

  • In the Voice & Video settings, check if you’re using Voice Activity or Push to Talk.
  • If using Voice Activity, ensure the sensitivity threshold is properly adjusted. If it’s too high, Discord won’t pick up your voice. If it’s too low, it might pick up background noise.
  • If using Push to Talk, make sure you have a key assigned and that you’re pressing it while speaking.

2.3. Advanced Voice Settings

  • Scroll down to the Advanced section in the Voice & Video settings.
  • Attenuation: This setting reduces the volume of other applications when you’re speaking. It can sometimes interfere with microphone functionality. Try disabling it.
  • Noise Suppression: Discord’s noise suppression features (like Krisp) can sometimes cause issues. Try disabling them temporarily to see if it resolves the problem. Alternatives such as RTX Voice may resolve this issue if you have an NVIDIA RTX graphics card. Disabling these will test if they are causing problems with your mic.
  • Echo Cancellation, Noise Reduction, Automatic Gain Control: Similar to Noise Suppression, these features can also sometimes interfere with microphone functionality. Toggle them off one by one to see if it resolves the issue.

2.4. Reset Voice Settings

  • At the bottom of the Voice & Video settings, click the Reset Voice Settings button. This will revert all your voice settings to their defaults, which can often fix misconfigurations.

3. Windows Sound Settings

Windows settings play a crucial role in microphone functionality. Here’s what to check:

3.1. Microphone Privacy Settings

  • Press the Windows key, type “Microphone privacy settings,” and press Enter.
  • Ensure that Microphone access for this device is on.
  • Also, make sure that Allow apps to access your microphone is turned on.
  • Scroll down and ensure that Discord has permission to access your microphone.

3.2. Default Microphone Selection

  • Right-click the sound icon in your system tray and select Open Sound settings (or “Sounds”).
  • In the Input section, make sure your desired microphone is selected in the dropdown menu.
  • Click on Device properties.
  • Click Additional device properties on the right side.
  • Go to the Levels tab and ensure the microphone volume is not muted and is set to an appropriate level.
  • Go to the Advanced tab and uncheck “Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device”.

3.3. Update Audio Drivers

Outdated or corrupted audio drivers can cause microphone problems.

  • Press the Windows key, type “Device Manager,” and press Enter.
  • Expand the Audio inputs and outputs section.
  • Right-click on your microphone and select Update driver.
  • Choose Search automatically for drivers. Windows will attempt to find and install the latest driver for your microphone. Alternatively, you can download the latest drivers from your sound card manufacturer’s website.

4. Discord Permissions

  • Ensure Discord has the necessary permissions to function correctly.
  • Right click on the Discord application, select Properties, go to the Compatibility tab and check “Run this program as an administrator”.

5. Contact Discord Support

If you’ve tried all the above steps and your microphone still isn’t working, consider contacting Discord support for assistance. They may be able to provide more specific troubleshooting steps based on your system configuration.

By following these steps, you should be able to diagnose and fix most microphone problems on Discord Windows. Good luck!