Lethal Company: Troubleshooting Audio Issues – Fixing ‘Can’t Hear One Person’ Problems

Lethal Company, the cooperative horror game by Zeekerss, thrives on teamwork and communication. The game’s inherent terror is amplified when you can’t hear your teammates screaming about incoming monsters or coordinating a scavenging run. One particularly frustrating issue that many players encounter is the “Can’t Hear One Person” bug, where you can hear everyone else in your group perfectly fine, but one specific person’s audio is completely absent. This article provides a comprehensive guide to diagnosing and fixing this common problem in Lethal Company, ensuring your crew stays connected and alive.

Understanding the Problem: Why Can’t I Hear One Person?

Before diving into solutions, it’s crucial to understand the potential causes of this issue. The “Can’t Hear One Person” problem in Lethal Company can stem from a variety of factors, often related to:

* **In-Game Voice Chat Settings:** Incorrect or conflicting in-game voice chat settings are the most common culprit.
* **Steam Voice Chat Settings:** Steam’s voice chat settings can override or interfere with the game’s voice communication.
* **Hardware Issues:** Problems with the affected person’s microphone, headset, or audio drivers can prevent their voice from being transmitted correctly.
* **Software Conflicts:** Other applications or programs running in the background might be interfering with Lethal Company’s audio processes.
* **Network Issues:** Although less common in this specific scenario (since you can hear others), network inconsistencies can sometimes contribute to audio problems.
* **Lethal Company Bugs:** It’s always possible that the issue is a bug within the game itself.
* **Outdated game files:** Game files can be corrupted due to updates or simply being outdated.

Knowing these potential causes will help you systematically troubleshoot and identify the root of the problem.

Troubleshooting Steps: A Comprehensive Guide

This section outlines a series of troubleshooting steps, starting with the simplest and most common solutions, and progressing to more advanced techniques. Follow these steps in order, testing after each one to see if the issue is resolved.

1. Verify In-Game Voice Chat Settings

The first and most important step is to verify Lethal Company’s in-game voice chat settings. Ensure the following:

* **Voice Chat Enabled:** Make sure voice chat is actually enabled in the game’s settings. Go to the main menu, then **Settings > Audio**, and verify that the **Voice Chat** option is toggled **ON**. If it’s off, toggle it on and restart the game.

* **Voice Chat Mode:** Lethal Company offers different voice chat modes. Check the **Voice Chat Mode** setting. The options are usually **Push to Talk** or **Open Mic**. If you’re using **Push to Talk**, make sure the correct key is bound and that the person you can’t hear is actually pressing the key when they speak. If you’re using **Open Mic**, ensure their microphone isn’t muted or set to a very low sensitivity.

* **Voice Chat Volume:** Ensure the **Voice Chat Volume** slider is set to an audible level. If it’s set to zero, you won’t hear anyone. Increase the volume gradually to find a comfortable level.

* **Microphone Selection:** Sometimes, the game might be using the wrong microphone. Under **Input Device**, make sure the correct microphone is selected. If multiple microphones are listed (e.g., your headset mic, a webcam mic, etc.), choose the one the person you can’t hear is actually using. If they’re unsure, have them check their Windows or macOS audio settings (explained later).

* **Output Device:** Check the **Output Device** to make sure it is set correctly. Try selecting your headset instead of “Default Device” to see if this fixes the issue.

**How to Verify In-Game Settings (Step-by-Step):**

1. Launch Lethal Company.
2. From the main menu, click **Settings**.
3. Go to the **Audio** tab.
4. Carefully examine the **Voice Chat**, **Voice Chat Mode**, **Voice Chat Volume**, **Input Device**, and **Output Device** settings.
5. Make any necessary adjustments.
6. Restart the game and have the affected person speak to see if they can now be heard.

2. Check Steam Voice Chat Settings

Steam has its own independent voice chat system that can sometimes interfere with in-game voice chat. To ensure Steam isn’t the culprit, check the following:

* **Steam Voice Chat Device:** Verify that Steam is using the correct microphone. In the Steam client, go to **Steam > Settings > Voice**. Under **Microphone**, make sure the correct microphone is selected. Use the **Test Microphone** button to confirm that Steam is picking up their voice.

* **Steam Voice Chat Volume:** Ensure the microphone volume in Steam is set to an appropriate level. If it’s too low, Steam might not be transmitting their voice effectively.

* **Steam Voice Chat Input Mode:** Check the **Voice Transmission Type**. “Open Microphone” might be preferable for Lethal Company, but ensure the threshold is adjusted appropriately to avoid constant background noise activation. “Push to Talk” requires the correct key to be bound and used consistently.

* **Steam Voice Chat Echo Cancellation/Noise Reduction:** Sometimes, these features can cause more problems than they solve. Try disabling them temporarily to see if it resolves the issue.

**How to Check Steam Settings (Step-by-Step):**

1. Open the Steam client.
2. Click **Steam** in the top-left corner.
3. Select **Settings**.
4. Go to the **Voice** tab.
5. Examine the **Microphone**, **Input Volume**, **Voice Transmission Type**, **Echo Cancellation**, and **Noise Reduction** settings.
6. Adjust settings as needed and test the microphone.

3. Verify Hardware and Driver Functionality

Hardware problems with the affected person’s microphone, headset, or audio drivers can prevent their voice from being transmitted. Have them perform the following checks:

* **Microphone Connection:** Ensure the microphone is properly connected to the computer. For USB microphones, try a different USB port. For 3.5mm microphones, make sure the cable is securely plugged into the correct port (usually the pink port).

* **Microphone Mute:** Verify that the microphone is not muted, either physically on the headset or within Windows/macOS settings. Some headsets have a physical mute switch or button on the earcup or cable. Also, check the sound settings in your operating system.

* **Headset Volume:** Ensure the headset volume is turned up. Sometimes the headset volume control can be set very low, even if the Windows/macOS volume is high.

* **Audio Drivers:** Outdated or corrupted audio drivers can cause microphone problems. Have the person update their audio drivers. This can usually be done through the device manager in Windows or through system updates on macOS.

* **Test Microphone in Windows/macOS:** Use the built-in sound recording tools in Windows or macOS to test the microphone independently of Lethal Company and Steam. This will help determine if the problem is specific to the game or a more general hardware issue.

**How to Test Microphone in Windows (Step-by-Step):**

1. Right-click the speaker icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner).
2. Select **Open Sound settings**.
3. Under **Input**, choose the correct microphone from the dropdown menu.
4. Speak into the microphone and observe the **Test your microphone** bar. If the bar doesn’t move, the microphone is not working correctly. Click “Start test” and follow the prompts.
5. Click **Device properties** for more advanced options.

**How to Test Microphone in macOS (Step-by-Step):**

1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner.
2. Select **System Preferences**.
3. Click **Sound**.
4. Click the **Input** tab.
5. Select the correct microphone from the list.
6. Speak into the microphone and observe the **Input level** meter. If the meter doesn’t move, the microphone is not working correctly.

**How to Update Audio Drivers in Windows (Step-by-Step):**

1. Press **Win + X** and select **Device Manager**.
2. Expand the **Sound, video and game controllers** section.
3. Right-click on the audio device and select **Update driver**.
4. Choose **Search automatically for drivers**.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions.

4. Check Windows/macOS Sound Settings

The operating system’s sound settings can sometimes override game settings. The affected person should check the following in their Windows or macOS settings:

* **Microphone Privacy:** Ensure that Lethal Company has permission to access the microphone. In Windows, go to **Settings > Privacy > Microphone** and make sure the toggle for “Allow apps to access your microphone” is turned on, and that Lethal Company is listed and enabled. On macOS, go to **System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Microphone** and make sure Lethal Company is checked.

* **Default Communication Device:** Set the correct microphone as the default communication device. In Windows, go to **Settings > System > Sound > Input** and make sure the correct microphone is selected as the default. Then click **More sound settings**, go to the **Recording** tab, right-click on the correct microphone, and select **Set as Default Communication Device**.

* **Microphone Levels:** Ensure the microphone level is set to an appropriate level. In Windows, go to **Settings > System > Sound > Input**, then click **Device properties**, and adjust the volume slider under **Input volume**. In macOS, go to **System Preferences > Sound > Input** and adjust the **Input volume** slider.

* **Exclusive Mode:** Some audio devices have an “Exclusive Mode” setting that can cause conflicts with other applications. In Windows, go to **Settings > System > Sound > Input**, then click **Device properties**, click **Additional device properties**, go to the **Advanced** tab, and uncheck the boxes under **Exclusive Mode**.

**How to Access Windows Sound Settings (Step-by-Step):**

1. Right-click the speaker icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner).
2. Select **Open Sound settings**.
3. Adjust input and output settings as described above.
4. Click **More sound settings** for advanced options.

**How to Access macOS Sound Settings (Step-by-Step):**

1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner.
2. Select **System Preferences**.
3. Click **Sound**.
4. Adjust input and output settings as described above.

5. Disable Conflicting Applications

Certain applications, especially those that use microphones or audio processing, can interfere with Lethal Company’s voice chat. These include:

* **Discord:** While Discord is commonly used for voice chat, it can sometimes conflict with in-game voice chat systems. Try closing Discord completely while playing Lethal Company.

* **OBS Studio/Streamlabs OBS:** Streaming software can interfere with audio input and output. Close these programs while playing Lethal Company.

* **VoiceMeeter/Virtual Audio Cable:** These audio routing tools can create complex audio configurations that might conflict with the game. Close them or ensure they are configured correctly.

* **Other Games with Voice Chat:** Running other games with voice chat enabled in the background can cause conflicts.

**How to Close Applications (Step-by-Step):**

1. Right-click on the application icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner) and select **Exit** or **Quit**.
2. Alternatively, open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) in Windows or Activity Monitor in macOS (search for it using Spotlight) and end the process.

6. Verify Game File Integrity

Corrupted or missing game files can cause a variety of problems, including audio issues. Steam has a built-in tool to verify the integrity of game files.

**How to Verify Game Files (Step-by-Step):**

1. Open the Steam client.
2. Go to your **Library**.
3. Right-click on Lethal Company and select **Properties**.
4. Go to the **Local Files** tab.
5. Click **Verify integrity of game files…**
6. Steam will scan the game files and redownload any corrupted or missing files. This process may take some time.

7. Reinstall Lethal Company

If verifying the game files doesn’t work, a complete reinstallation might be necessary. This will ensure that you have a clean and up-to-date version of the game.

**How to Reinstall Lethal Company (Step-by-Step):**

1. Open the Steam client.
2. Go to your **Library**.
3. Right-click on Lethal Company and select **Manage > Uninstall**.
4. Wait for the game to uninstall.
5. Reinstall the game by clicking **Install** on the Lethal Company page in your library.

8. Check Network Connection (Less Likely, But Possible)

Although less likely to cause a “Can’t Hear One Person” issue specifically, network problems can sometimes contribute to audio difficulties. The affected person should:

* **Restart Router/Modem:** A simple restart can often resolve temporary network glitches.

* **Check Internet Connection:** Ensure they have a stable internet connection.

* **Test Ping:** Have them ping a reliable server (e.g., google.com) to check for packet loss or high latency. Open Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS) and type `ping google.com`. Look for any dropped packets or unusually high ping times.

9. Contact Lethal Company Support

If none of the above solutions work, the issue might be a bug within Lethal Company itself. In this case, contact Zeekerss’ support or report the issue on the Lethal Company forums. Provide as much detail as possible about the problem, including:

* The exact issue (“Can’t Hear One Person”)
* The affected person’s hardware and software configuration (microphone, headset, operating system, etc.)
* Any troubleshooting steps you’ve already tried
* Whether the issue is consistent or intermittent

10. Temporary Workarounds

While you’re troubleshooting, consider these temporary workarounds to maintain communication:

* **Use Discord or another third-party voice chat:** This allows you to communicate outside of the game’s system.
* **Use text chat:** Although less ideal in frantic situations, text chat can still convey essential information.
* **Use visual cues and pre-arranged signals:** Establish visual signals for common situations (e.g., pointing to indicate a monster, nodding to confirm understanding).

Advanced Troubleshooting: Deeper Dive

If the basic troubleshooting steps haven’t resolved the issue, here’s a deeper dive into more advanced techniques:

* **Examine Windows Event Viewer/macOS Console:** These tools record system events, including errors related to audio devices. Check them for any clues about the cause of the problem.

* **System Restore (Windows):** If the issue started recently, try restoring your system to a previous point in time when the microphone was working correctly. Be cautious using this feature, as it will revert system files and installed programs to that point.

* **Clean Boot (Windows):** A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs, which can help identify if a third-party application is causing the conflict. To perform a clean boot, search for “msconfig” in the start menu, go to the “Services” tab, check “Hide all Microsoft services,” click “Disable all,” go to the “Startup” tab, click “Open Task Manager,” disable all startup items, and restart your computer.

* **Create a New User Account (Windows/macOS):** Create a new user account and test the microphone in Lethal Company. This can help determine if the issue is related to your user profile.

Preventing Future Audio Issues

While fixing the problem is the immediate goal, taking preventative measures can reduce the likelihood of future audio issues:

* **Keep Drivers Updated:** Regularly update your audio drivers and other hardware drivers.
* **Manage Background Applications:** Close unnecessary applications while gaming.
* **Use a High-Quality Microphone:** Invest in a decent microphone to improve audio quality and reliability.
* **Establish Clear Communication Protocols:** Discuss preferred voice chat settings and troubleshooting techniques with your group.
* **Regularly Test Audio:** Before starting a game session, quickly test your microphone and voice chat to ensure everything is working correctly.

Conclusion

The “Can’t Hear One Person” bug in Lethal Company can be incredibly frustrating, but with a systematic approach to troubleshooting, you can usually identify and resolve the issue. By carefully examining in-game settings, Steam settings, hardware configurations, and software conflicts, you can get your crew back online and communicating effectively, ensuring your survival in the treacherous world of Lethal Company. Remember to communicate with your teammates throughout the troubleshooting process, as their input and feedback will be invaluable in finding the solution. Good luck, and stay safe out there!