Discord Mic Not Working? 10 Easy Fixes

Quick Fix

Discord mic not working? Check input device: User Settings > Voice & Video > Input Device, select your microphone. Test with the “Let’s Check” button. Make sure Discord has microphone permission in Windows Settings > Privacy > Microphone. Also check if you’re muted (microphone icon at bottom).

Why Won’t Discord Mic Work?

Discord microphone issues stem from wrong input device selected, system permissions blocking access, push-to-talk settings, driver problems, or hardware issues. Discord needs explicit permission to use your mic.

Method 1: Select Correct Input Device

Discord may use wrong mic.

1. Open Discord and click gear icon (User Settings)
2. Go to Voice & Video
3. Under Input Device, select your microphone
4. Don’t use “Default” – pick specific device
5. Click Let’s Check to test

Method 2: Check Windows Permissions

Windows blocks mic access by default.

1. Open Windows Settings
2. Go to Privacy > Microphone
3. Enable Allow apps to access microphone
4. Enable Allow desktop apps to access microphone
5. Restart Discord

Method 3: Check Mute Status

You may be muted.

1. Look at bottom left of Discord
2. Check if microphone icon has red slash
3. Click it to unmute
4. Also check if server-muted (shield icon)

Method 4: Reset Voice Settings

Reset all voice configurations.

1. Go to User Settings > Voice & Video
2. Scroll to bottom
3. Click Reset Voice Settings
4. Confirm reset
5. Reconfigure input device

Method 5: Adjust Input Sensitivity

Sensitivity may be too low.

1. Go to Voice & Video settings
2. Find Input Sensitivity
3. Turn off Automatically determine
4. Move slider left to increase sensitivity
5. Speak and check if bar moves into green

Method 6: Disable Push to Talk

PTT requires holding a key.

1. Go to Voice & Video settings
2. Under Input Mode, select Voice Activity
3. This enables always-on microphone
4. Or configure Push to Talk key properly

Method 7: Run as Administrator

Admin rights fix permission issues.

1. Close Discord completely
2. Right-click Discord shortcut
3. Select Run as administrator
4. Try using microphone

Method 8: Update Audio Drivers

Outdated drivers cause mic issues.

1. Right-click Start > Device Manager
2. Expand Audio inputs and outputs
3. Right-click microphone > Update driver
4. Select Search automatically
5. Restart computer

Method 9: Disable Exclusive Mode

Apps may take exclusive control.

1. Right-click speaker icon > Sounds
2. Go to Recording tab
3. Right-click microphone > Properties
4. Go to Advanced tab
5. Uncheck Allow exclusive control

Method 10: Reinstall Discord

Fresh install fixes corrupt files.

1. Uninstall Discord from Windows
2. Delete %appdata%/Discord folder
3. Restart computer
4. Download fresh from discord.com
5. Install and log in

FAQ

Why can others not hear me on Discord?

If your mic works in tests but not in calls, check if you’re server muted (right-click username to check). Also verify you joined the voice channel correctly and aren’t suppressed by server permissions.

Why does Discord mic cut out?

Cutting out is usually caused by input sensitivity being too low or Discord’s noise suppression cutting your voice. Lower the sensitivity threshold or disable noise suppression in Voice & Video settings.

Why does Discord mic work but sounds bad?

Poor audio quality comes from noise suppression or echo cancellation being too aggressive. Try disabling Krisp noise suppression. Also check if mic is too close or too far from your mouth.