Discord Mic Not Working? A Comprehensive Troubleshooting Guide
Discord is a vital communication tool for gamers, communities, and remote teams alike. However, a common and frustrating issue many users encounter is their microphone not being detected or working correctly. If you’re experiencing the “Discord not picking up mic” problem, don’t panic! This comprehensive guide will walk you through various troubleshooting steps to identify and resolve the issue, ensuring you can get back to clear and effective communication.
## Understanding the Problem
Before diving into solutions, it’s crucial to understand the possible causes of a Discord microphone malfunction. These can range from simple configuration errors to more complex hardware or driver issues. Common culprits include:
* **Incorrect Input Device:** Discord might be using the wrong microphone.
* **Muted Microphone:** The microphone might be muted within Discord or at the system level.
* **Incorrect Volume Settings:** The microphone volume might be too low in Discord or the operating system.
* **Outdated or Corrupted Drivers:** The microphone driver might be outdated, corrupted, or incompatible with your operating system.
* **Discord Permissions:** Discord might not have permission to access your microphone.
* **Conflicting Applications:** Other applications might be interfering with Discord’s microphone access.
* **Hardware Issues:** The microphone itself might be faulty or improperly connected.
* **Discord Bugs:** Occasionally, bugs within the Discord application can cause microphone issues.
* **Audio Subsystem Issues:** Problems with your operating system’s audio subsystem can affect Discord’s ability to detect and use your microphone.
## Initial Checks: The Foundation of Troubleshooting
Before delving into more complex solutions, start with these fundamental checks. These are quick and easy to perform, and often resolve the issue:
1. **Physical Connection:**
* **Check the cable:** Ensure your microphone is securely connected to your computer. If using a USB microphone, try a different USB port.
* **Inspect the cable:** Look for any signs of damage to the microphone cable.
* **Test with another device:** If possible, test the microphone with another computer or device to rule out a hardware problem with the microphone itself.
2. **Microphone Mute:**
* **Hardware Mute:** Many microphones have a physical mute button or switch. Make sure it’s not enabled.
* **Software Mute:** Check your operating system’s volume mixer to ensure the microphone isn’t muted system-wide (more on this below).
3. **Discord Mute and Deafen:**
* **Unmute Yourself:** Within Discord, ensure you are not muted in the voice channel. Look for the microphone icon in the voice channel panel; if it has a slash through it, click it to unmute yourself.
* **Undeafen:** Make sure you are not deafened. If the headphones icon has a slash through it, you are deafened, meaning you cannot hear or speak. Click the icon to undeafen.
4. **Restart Discord:**
* **Completely close Discord:** Right-click the Discord icon in the system tray (usually at the bottom right of your screen) and select “Quit Discord.”
* **Restart the application:** Reopen Discord and check if the microphone is working.
5. **Restart Your Computer:**
* A simple restart can often resolve temporary software glitches that might be affecting Discord.
## Configuring Discord Audio Settings
If the initial checks didn’t solve the problem, it’s time to examine Discord’s audio settings. Incorrect settings are a common cause of microphone issues.
1. **Accessing Voice & Video Settings:**
* **Open Discord:** Launch the Discord application.
* **User Settings:** Click the gear icon (User Settings) located next to your username at the bottom left of the Discord window.
* **Voice & Video:** In the User Settings menu, scroll down and click on “Voice & Video” under the “App Settings” section.
2. **Input Device:**
* **Select the Correct Microphone:** In the “Input Device” dropdown menu, choose the correct microphone. If you have multiple microphones (e.g., built-in microphone, headset microphone, USB microphone), make sure you’ve selected the one you intend to use with Discord.
* **Default Device:** If your desired microphone is set as the default device in your operating system, you can select “Default” in the dropdown menu. However, explicitly selecting the microphone is often more reliable.
3. **Input Volume:**
* **Adjust the Slider:** Use the “Input Volume” slider to adjust the microphone’s input level. Start with a moderate level (around 70-80%) and adjust as needed. Speak into the microphone while adjusting the slider and observe the input level indicator bar above the slider. The bar should light up green when you speak.
* **Too Low:** If the input level indicator bar barely moves, increase the input volume.
* **Too High:** If the input level indicator bar is constantly maxed out (red), decrease the input volume to prevent distortion.
4. **Output Device:**
* While the problem is with your microphone, ensure the Output Device is correctly set as well. Sometimes driver or setting conflicts can cause unexpected behavior.
5. **Test Your Microphone:**
* **Let’s Check Button:** Click the “Let’s Check” button below the input volume slider. This will record a short sample of your voice and play it back to you, allowing you to assess the microphone’s sound quality and volume level.
* **Adjust Accordingly:** If the playback sounds too quiet or distorted, adjust the input volume and test again until you achieve a clear and audible recording.
6. **Input Mode:**
* **Voice Activity:** Discord offers two input modes: “Voice Activity” and “Push to Talk.”
* **Voice Activity:** This mode automatically detects when you’re speaking and activates the microphone. Adjust the input sensitivity slider to control how sensitive the microphone is to sound. If the microphone activates even when you’re not speaking, lower the sensitivity. If the microphone doesn’t activate when you’re speaking, increase the sensitivity. Be sure to minimize background noise when using voice activity.
* **Push to Talk:** This mode requires you to press and hold a designated key to activate the microphone. This is ideal for environments with a lot of background noise. To configure Push to Talk, select the “Push to Talk” option, click the “Shortcut” box, and press the key you want to use to activate the microphone. Adjust the “Push to Talk Release Delay” slider to control how long the microphone remains active after you release the key.
7. **Advanced Voice Settings:**
* **Attenuation:** This setting automatically reduces the volume of other applications when you’re speaking in Discord. While it can be useful, it can sometimes interfere with microphone detection. Try disabling “Attenuation” to see if it resolves the issue.
* **Echo Cancellation:** This feature reduces echo in your audio. While generally helpful, it can sometimes cause problems with microphone quality. Try disabling “Echo Cancellation” to see if it helps.
* **Noise Reduction:** Similar to echo cancellation, noise reduction aims to improve audio quality by reducing background noise. However, it can sometimes negatively impact microphone detection or sound quality. Try disabling “Noise Reduction.”
* **Automatic Gain Control:** This feature automatically adjusts the microphone’s input volume. While it can be convenient, it can also sometimes cause inconsistencies in your audio. Try disabling “Automatic Gain Control.”
* **Advanced Voice Activity:** This allows you to use the Krisp noise suppression option. While helpful for removing noise, it can sometimes cause microphone issues. Try disabling it to see if it helps.
## Checking Operating System Audio Settings
Discord relies on your operating system’s audio settings to function correctly. Incorrect settings in your operating system can prevent Discord from detecting or using your microphone.
### Windows
1. **Sound Settings:**
* **Right-click the speaker icon:** Located in the system tray (usually at the bottom right of your screen).
* **Open Sound Settings:** Select “Open Sound settings” or “Sounds”.
2. **Input Device Selection:**
* **Choose your microphone:** In the Input section, make sure your desired microphone is selected from the dropdown menu.
3. **Device Properties:**
* **Click Device Properties:** Click the “Device properties” button below the input device selection.
4. **Adjust Input Volume:**
* **Volume Slider:** Adjust the volume slider to a suitable level. Ensure it’s not muted.
5. **Microphone Privacy Settings:**
* **Privacy Tab:** In the Sound settings window, click on “Sound Control Panel” on the right.
* **Recording Tab:** In the Sound window, click the “Recording” tab.
* **Select Your Microphone:** Right-click on your microphone and select “Properties.”
* **Levels Tab:** Go to the “Levels” tab and adjust the microphone volume. You can also adjust the microphone boost if needed, but be careful as excessive boost can introduce noise.
* **Advanced Tab:** Go to the “Advanced” tab. Ensure the “Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device” option is *unchecked*. This prevents other applications from interfering with Discord’s microphone access. Try changing the default format to “2 channel, 16 bit, 48000 Hz (DVD Quality)” if you are having issues.
6. **App Permissions:**
* **Privacy Settings:** In Windows Settings, go to “Privacy” -> “Microphone.”
* **Allow Access:** Ensure that “Allow apps to access your microphone” is turned on.
* **Discord Permission:** Scroll down and make sure that Discord is allowed to access your microphone. If it’s turned off, toggle it on.
### macOS
1. **System Preferences:**
* **Open System Preferences:** Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select “System Preferences.”
* **Sound:** Click on the “Sound” icon.
2. **Input Tab:**
* **Select Your Microphone:** Click on the “Input” tab and select your desired microphone from the list of available devices.
3. **Input Volume:**
* **Adjust the Slider:** Adjust the input volume slider to a suitable level. Speak into the microphone and observe the input level meter. It should light up when you speak.
4. **Microphone Permissions:**
* **Security & Privacy:** Go back to System Preferences and click on “Security & Privacy.”
* **Privacy Tab:** Click on the “Privacy” tab.
* **Microphone:** Select “Microphone” from the list on the left.
* **Discord Permission:** Make sure that Discord is checked in the list of applications that are allowed to access your microphone. If it’s not checked, click the lock icon at the bottom-left corner of the window, enter your administrator password, and then check the box next to Discord.
## Updating or Reinstalling Audio Drivers
Outdated or corrupted audio drivers can cause a variety of microphone problems. Updating to the latest drivers or reinstalling them can often resolve these issues.
### Windows
1. **Device Manager:**
* **Open Device Manager:** Right-click the Start button and select “Device Manager.”
2. **Sound, Video and Game Controllers:**
* **Expand the Category:** Expand the “Sound, video and game controllers” category.
3. **Update Driver:**
* **Right-click your Microphone:** Right-click on your microphone (or the audio device associated with your microphone, such as your sound card) and select “Update driver.”
* **Search Automatically:** Choose “Search automatically for drivers.” Windows will search for and install the latest drivers for your device. Follow the on-screen instructions.
4. **If Windows Can’t Find a Driver:**
* **Visit the Manufacturer’s Website:** If Windows can’t find a driver, visit the website of your microphone manufacturer or your computer manufacturer (if you’re using a built-in microphone). Download the latest drivers for your specific microphone model and operating system.
* **Install Manually:** Once you’ve downloaded the drivers, run the installer file to install them.
5. **Reinstall Driver:**
* **Uninstall Device:** If updating the driver doesn’t work, try uninstalling the device. Right-click on your microphone in Device Manager and select “Uninstall device.”
* **Restart Your Computer:** Restart your computer. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver when your computer restarts.
### macOS
macOS generally handles driver updates automatically. However, you can check for software updates to ensure you have the latest drivers and system software:
1. **System Preferences:**
* **Open System Preferences:** Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select “System Preferences.”
2. **Software Update:**
* **Click Software Update:** Click on the “Software Update” icon.
* **Check for Updates:** macOS will check for available updates. Install any updates that are found, including updates related to audio drivers.
## Discord Application Reset and Reinstallation
If none of the above steps have worked, the problem might be with the Discord application itself. Resetting Discord’s settings or reinstalling the application can often resolve these issues.
1. **Clear Discord’s Cache and Local Data:**
* **Close Discord Completely:** Right-click the Discord icon in the system tray (usually at the bottom right of your screen) and select “Quit Discord.”
* **Open Run Dialog:** Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
* **Enter the Following:** Type `%appdata%` and press Enter.
* **Delete Discord Folder:** Locate the “Discord” folder and delete it. This folder contains Discord’s cache and local data.
* **Open Run Dialog Again:** Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box again.
* **Enter the Following:** Type `%localappdata%` and press Enter.
* **Delete Discord Folder:** Locate the “Discord” folder and delete it. This folder contains Discord’s temporary files.
* **Restart Discord:** Reopen Discord. This will reset Discord’s settings to their default values.
2. **Reinstall Discord:**
* **Uninstall Discord:**
* **Windows:** Go to Control Panel -> Programs -> Programs and Features. Find Discord in the list and uninstall it.
* **macOS:** Drag the Discord application from the Applications folder to the Trash.
* **Download the Latest Version:** Visit the Discord website (discord.com) and download the latest version of the application.
* **Install Discord:** Run the installer file to install Discord.
## Checking for Conflicting Applications
Some applications can interfere with Discord’s microphone access. These applications might be using the microphone simultaneously or have conflicting audio drivers.
1. **Identify Potential Conflicts:**
* **Common Culprits:** Common applications that can conflict with Discord’s microphone access include other voice chat applications (e.g., Skype, TeamSpeak, Zoom), audio recording software (e.g., Audacity), and streaming software (e.g., OBS Studio).
2. **Close Conflicting Applications:**
* **Close Unnecessary Programs:** Close any applications that you suspect might be interfering with Discord’s microphone access.
3. **Test Discord:**
* **Check Microphone:** After closing the conflicting applications, check if your microphone is now working in Discord.
4. **Disable Exclusive Mode (Again):** Even if you’ve already unchecked the “Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device” option in your operating system’s sound settings, it’s worth checking again, especially if you’ve recently installed or updated any audio-related software.
## Testing with Another Microphone
If you’ve tried all of the above steps and your microphone is still not working in Discord, it’s possible that the microphone itself is faulty. Testing with another microphone can help you determine if the problem is with the microphone or with your computer or Discord.
1. **Connect Another Microphone:**
* **Borrow a Microphone:** Borrow a microphone from a friend or colleague, or use a spare microphone if you have one.
* **Connect the Microphone:** Connect the microphone to your computer.
2. **Configure Discord:**
* **Select the New Microphone:** In Discord’s Voice & Video settings, select the new microphone as the input device.
3. **Test the New Microphone:**
* **Use the “Let’s Check” Button:** Use the “Let’s Check” button to test the new microphone.
4. **If the New Microphone Works:**
* **Faulty Microphone:** If the new microphone works correctly, then the original microphone is likely faulty and needs to be replaced.
5. **If the New Microphone Doesn’t Work:**
* **Other Issues:** If the new microphone also doesn’t work, then the problem is likely with your computer, your operating system, or Discord itself. Revisit the previous troubleshooting steps, paying close attention to driver updates, operating system settings, and Discord configuration.
## Contacting Discord Support
If you’ve exhausted all of the troubleshooting steps in this guide and your microphone is still not working in Discord, it’s time to contact Discord support. They may be able to provide additional assistance or identify any underlying issues with your account or the Discord application.
1. **Visit the Discord Support Website:**
* **Go to support.discord.com.**
2. **Submit a Request:**
* **Click the “Submit a request” button.**
3. **Choose a Request Type:**
* **Select “Help & Support” as the request type.**
4. **Fill Out the Form:**
* **Provide Detailed Information:** Fill out the form with as much detail as possible, including:
* **Your Discord username and tag (e.g., Username#1234).**
* **A clear description of the problem you’re experiencing.**
* **The troubleshooting steps you’ve already tried.**
* **Your operating system (e.g., Windows 10, macOS Monterey).**
* **Your microphone model.**
* **Any error messages you’ve encountered.**
5. **Submit Your Request:**
* **Click the “Submit” button.**
Discord support will review your request and respond to you as soon as possible. Be patient, as it may take some time for them to investigate the issue and provide a solution.
## Conclusion
The “Discord not picking up mic” issue can be a frustrating problem, but by systematically working through the troubleshooting steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to identify and resolve the underlying cause. Remember to start with the basic checks, then move on to configuring Discord’s audio settings and checking your operating system’s audio settings. Update or reinstall your audio drivers if necessary, and consider resetting or reinstalling the Discord application. If all else fails, don’t hesitate to contact Discord support for assistance. With a little patience and persistence, you’ll be back to clear and effective communication in no time!