How to Voice Chat on Fortnite PC: A Comprehensive Guide

Fortnite, the wildly popular battle royale game, thrives on teamwork and communication. While text chat is an option, voice chat provides a much more efficient and immersive way to coordinate with your squad, call out enemy positions, and strategize your path to victory. If you’re playing Fortnite on PC and struggling to get your voice heard (or perhaps just trying to figure out how to use voice chat in the first place), this guide is for you. We’ll break down everything you need to know, from initial setup to troubleshooting common issues, ensuring your voice is crystal clear on the battlefield.

Understanding Fortnite’s Voice Chat System

Before diving into the specifics, let’s understand how Fortnite’s voice chat works on PC. It primarily uses the built-in voice chat system, which means you don’t need any third-party applications like Discord or TeamSpeak (though you can use those if you prefer). Fortnite offers two primary voice chat channels:

• Party Chat: This is the channel you’ll use most often. It connects you with the players in your squad or party before a match even starts. Party chat is ideal for planning your approach, coordinating loot drops, and discussing tactics.
• Game Chat: Game chat activates once you’re actually in a match. This allows you to communicate with any players on your team, even if they are not in your pre-made party. Game chat is important for situational awareness, sharing resources, or strategizing on the fly with random squadmates.

Both party chat and game chat use the same voice input settings, making it simple to switch between them seamlessly.

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Voice Chat on Fortnite PC

Here’s a detailed, step-by-step guide to getting your voice chat up and running in Fortnite on PC:

Step 1: Checking Your Microphone and Audio Devices

Before launching Fortnite, you need to ensure your microphone and audio devices are properly connected and working on your computer. Here’s how to do it:

1. Connect your Microphone: Ensure your microphone (whether it’s a headset mic, standalone USB mic, or a built-in laptop mic) is properly connected to your computer. If it’s a USB device, check it’s plugged in securely. For wired 3.5mm jacks, ensure you are plugged into the correct audio port on your computer (typically indicated with a microphone symbol or color-coded pink). If using a wireless microphone, be sure it’s paired and powered on with sufficient charge.
2. Test Your Microphone on Windows:
   • Right-click the Speaker Icon: Right-click on the speaker icon located in the bottom-right corner of your Windows taskbar (the system tray).
   • Select ‘Open Sound Settings’: From the context menu, select “Open Sound Settings”. This will open the Windows Sound settings page.
   • Select ‘Input’ or ‘Input Devices’: Scroll down on the Sound settings window and find the Input section or Input Devices section. Here, you should see a dropdown menu listing your microphone options.
   • Select Your Microphone: Choose the microphone that you want to use for voice input. If you have multiple devices, it’s important to make sure the correct one is selected. You may need to manually select it from the drop down menu.
   • Test your microphone: Below the microphone dropdown you should see a section labeled “Test your microphone”. As you speak you should see the bar move indicating your mic is picking up sound. If no bar activity is present, double check that your mic is securely connected and powered on. Try a different port or updating your driver if it still doesn’t work. If you see a bar moving, you will see the message “Test microphone is working properly”.
3. Adjust Microphone Volume (if needed): If your microphone is working but sounds too quiet or too loud, you can adjust its volume level under “Input” device properties. To access this click the “Device properties” button below the test your microphone section, then under the “Input” section you’ll find an “Input volume” slider. Experiment with it to find a suitable recording level.
4. Check Your Output Device (Headphones/Speakers): Now that your microphone is confirmed to be working, under the sound settings window scroll up and find the “Output” section, select the device you use for your game audio (headphones or speakers) and then test your speakers by clicking the “test” button next to the device you have selected. If the test works and you hear a sound you know your sound output is fine.

Step 2: Launching Fortnite and Accessing Voice Chat Settings

Now that your audio devices are set up correctly on Windows, it’s time to launch Fortnite and tweak the in-game settings:

1. Launch Fortnite: Open the Epic Games Launcher and start Fortnite.
2. Access the Settings Menu: Once you’re in the game, click on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner of the screen. This will open the main menu.
3. Click on the ‘Settings’ Gear Icon: From the main menu, click the gear icon. This opens the Settings menu in Fortnite.
4. Navigate to the ‘Audio’ Tab: In the Settings menu, click on the ‘Audio’ tab. It’s usually the fifth tab from the left, indicated by a speaker icon.
5. Locate the ‘Voice Chat’ Section: Scroll down the audio menu until you find the “Voice Chat” section. This is where you will configure your voice chat settings.

Step 3: Configuring Fortnite’s Voice Chat Options

Here’s a breakdown of the crucial voice chat options you’ll find in the “Voice Chat” section of Fortnite’s audio settings:

• Voice Chat: This is a simple on/off switch. Make sure this setting is set to ‘ON’ to use voice chat. If set to OFF you will not be able to use voice chat. If you want to disable voice chat you set it to off.
• Voice Chat Method: Here you’ll choose how you want to activate your mic. Options include:
  • Open Mic: Your microphone is always on and will transmit your voice whenever you speak. This can be useful in fast paced games, but the downsides are background noise is easily transmitted and it can also pickup speech that is not intended for your teamates.
  • Push to Talk: You will need to hold down a designated key to talk. This gives you much more control over what is being transmitted, but it can also be cumbersome for fast-paced conversations.
• Voice Chat Input Device: Choose the microphone you want Fortnite to use. Make sure this corresponds with the one selected in your Windows settings. If you have multiple microphones you can select the one that you prefer here. If your mic isn’t showing try restarting fortnite or even your computer, as sometimes you may need to refresh the audio input list.
• Voice Chat Output Device: Choose where you want to hear other players’ voices (headphones or speakers). It is recommended to choose the same device that is currently selected for your game audio output. If your output devices are different there may be issues with sound not working.
• Voice Chat Volume: Adjust the volume of other players’ voices to your preference. A slider will let you set how loud you want the voice chat to be. It can be especially annoying if teamates are louder than your game so adjusting this is important for your gaming experience.
• Voice Chat Quality: While not a specific setting, Fortnite’s voice chat uses a default quality setting. If your audio is unclear or cutting out it is likely due to internet connection quality or your microphone settings, and not anything related to this setting.
• Push to Talk Keybind: If you chose the ‘Push to talk’ option, you need to bind a specific key. You can use a letter, number, control, alt, shift, or mouse button, the choice is yours. Press the key that you want to use for push to talk and it will assign that to the input.
• Party Chat Only: This setting determines whether you want to hear your party members only or all team-mates in game. If this is set to “ON” you will only be able to hear other players in your party. If set to “OFF” you will hear other players in your game in game chat. For the best communication make sure this is set to “OFF”

Step 4: Testing Your Voice Chat

After configuring your settings, it’s important to test your voice chat to ensure it’s working properly. Here’s how:

1. Join a Party or Game: Either invite friends to your party or queue up for a match.
2. Speak Clearly: If using “open mic”, speak in a clear, normal tone of voice. If using “push to talk” hold down your keybind and talk.
3. Listen to the Feedback: Ask your squadmates if they can hear you clearly. If you hear background noise, consider using push to talk or adjusting your microphone gain in windows settings.
4. Adjust as Needed: If your audio is too quiet, too loud, or distorted, go back to the “Audio” settings in the game to fine-tune.

Troubleshooting Common Voice Chat Problems

Even with proper setup, you might encounter some voice chat issues. Here are some common problems and how to fix them:

Problem 1: Can’t Hear Anyone

• Solution:
  • Check Output Device: Ensure your voice chat output device in Fortnite settings matches your active speaker/headphone device in Windows settings.
  • Voice Chat Volume: Make sure that voice chat volume is not set to zero in game settings.
  • Party Chat Only: Ensure “Party Chat Only” is off if you want to hear all members of your team. If it is set to ON then you will only hear party members and not other teamates.
  • Check for Muted Teammates: In the party/squad list menu in-game, ensure that you haven’t accidentally muted your teammates in-game.
  • Update Audio Drivers: Consider updating your audio drivers. Outdated drivers can sometimes cause issues. Head to the website for your sound card or audio device to update them manually, or use the Windows device manager to update drivers.
  • Check Windows Volume Mixer: Sometimes, individual application volumes might get set to zero in the Windows volume mixer. Make sure the Fortnite application volume is turned up here.

Problem 2: Microphone Not Working

• Solution:
  • Verify Device Connection: Make sure your microphone is properly plugged in and recognized by Windows. Refer to “Step 1” earlier in this guide.
  • Check Input Device: Ensure the correct voice chat input device is selected in the Fortnite audio settings. It must match the device selected in Windows.
  • Test Your Mic in Windows: Use the Windows microphone test to see if the microphone is functioning properly. If it is not working here, then the problem is with your operating system or your microphone hardware, not with the game.
  • Check Microphone Permissions: Ensure that Fortnite has permission to access your microphone. In Windows go to settings, then privacy & security, then microphone and check that “Let apps access your microphone” is enabled and that Fortnite is checked on in the “Let apps access your microphone list”.
  • Update Audio Drivers: If no sound is working it is good practice to make sure your audio drivers are up to date. Refer to the audio section in problem 1.
  • Try a Different Port: If using a USB microphone try a different USB port. Occasionally, there may be issues with a particular port.

Problem 3: Distorted or Low Audio Quality

• Solution:
  • Adjust Microphone Gain: In Windows sound settings (as described earlier), adjust your microphone’s input volume to a suitable level. Too much gain can cause distortion.
  • Check Cable Connections: Make sure your headphone and microphone cables are properly plugged in if using a wired device, if wireless make sure the headset is sufficiently charged and connected.
  • Reduce Background Noise: Move away from sources of background noise. Using push to talk is also a good way to reduce the likelihood that background noise is picked up by your mic.
  • Check Your Internet Connection: Poor internet connection can affect voice quality. Try a speed test to make sure your connection is running well. Restart your modem/router if needed. A poor connection may also introduce audio cut out and dropped audio.
  • Update Audio Drivers: As always check audio drivers are up to date.

Problem 4: Push to Talk Not Working

• Solution:
  • Verify Keybind: Ensure the keybind is correctly set in Fortnite settings. Sometimes keybinds can be unintentionally deleted or overwritten by another action.
  • Check Key Function: Try using the same key for something else in game and see if that works. If it doesn’t work then the problem could be with your keyboard. Make sure your keyboard is connected properly and working.
  • Restart Fortnite: A simple restart of the game can sometimes fix issues with keybinds not working.

Problem 5: Game Chat Isn’t Working

• Solution:
  • Verify “Party Chat Only” is OFF: As previously stated, in order to hear other teamates in game you must make sure “Party Chat Only” is switched OFF. If this is set to “ON” you will only hear party members.
  • Check Game Chat is Enabled: In Fortnite settings under voice chat ensure that voice chat is turned ON and enabled. You must have this enabled to use game chat.
  • Make sure you are in a game: Game chat is only available once the game has started, therefore you will not be able to hear or communicate with random teamates in the lobby.

Additional Tips for Better Voice Communication

• Speak Clearly and Concisely: Avoid mumbling or speaking too fast. Use clear, concise language when communicating.
• Use Callouts Effectively: Learn common Fortnite callouts for locations, enemy positions, and resources to make communication more efficient.
• Be Respectful and Courteous: Always use positive language and avoid getting toxic. Remember your teammates are likely trying their best and a bad attitude or insulting behavior will only make communication worse.
• Adjust Your Settings as Needed: Don’t be afraid to adjust your voice chat settings as necessary to optimize your audio experience. What works for one person may not work for another.
• Use a Quality Headset: A good gaming headset with a quality microphone will make a significant difference in your audio quality. It is also good practice to get one with a noise canceling microphone so that unwanted background noises are not picked up.
• Keep Your Drivers Updated: Regularly update your audio drivers to avoid any potential issues. Outdated drivers are a common cause of audio issues.
• Communicate Regularly: Communication is essential in Fortnite. Ensure you communicate regularly with your team, even when it seems quiet. Good teamwork is crucial to winning.

Conclusion

Voice chat is essential for success in Fortnite on PC. By following this comprehensive guide, you should be able to easily set up, configure, and troubleshoot any voice chat issues you may encounter. By following this guide you should be well on your way to coordinating your squad to victory and ensuring crystal clear voice chat. Remember, good communication is the key to success in Fortnite, so don’t hesitate to try these steps to elevate your game. Happy gaming!