Audio troubleshooting for Discord
Voice chat is one of the most popular features in Discord. Users get crystal clear voice channels that seamlessly bring people from all over the world together, whether they’re gaming, staging community events, or just chatting with friends.
Why is my audio not working on Discord?
Unfortunately, Discord can run into technical issues at times that lead to audio cut outs. These audio issues can be caused by a variety of reasons, but one thing’s for sure: not having any sound is annoying, especially when you’re trying to record something important on Discord. Let’s take a look at a few methods of fixing audio issues on Discord.
Why is there no sound when sharing Discord?
One of the first things you should do if you’re not getting any sound when sharing Discord is to perform some basic checks. Test if your headphones or speakers are definitely working by attempting to play sound from a different source, like a YouTube video. If you hear sound from your audio device, then you know the issue is with Discord and not your equipment.
At this point it’s a good idea to first restart Discord, and if there’s still no sound then try the old reliable – restarting your computer!
What do you do if you can’t hear audio on Discord?
The next thing you can check if you can’t hear any audio on Discord is that your headphones or speakers are compatible with Discord’s latest audio subsystem. You can revert to the legacy audio subsystem to resolve this issue, by following the steps below in the Discord desktop application:
- In the User Settings tab in Discord, click into the Voice & Video tab.
- Scroll down until you find the Audio Subsystem section, and select the Legacy option from the dropdown menu
- Click Okay when the program asks you to double check your choice, and allow Discord to restart.
How do I fix the audio on Discord?
Another commonly overlooked step in fixing audio on Discord is to make sure your audio device is set as your computer’s primary input & output device. This is a simple fix:
- Open Sound Settings
- Choose your headphones or speakers from the dropdown menus for both input and output devices
- Restart Discord.
Why is my microphone access denied on Discord?
If you find that you’re unable to unmute your microphone on Discord, you may have been Server Muted or Deafened by an admin or Server Owner. In these cases, you will have to reach out to the server owner or admins and ask them to reverse the Server Mute or Deafen.
Why does my mic sound weird in Discord?
After checking that your mic sounds fine with other programs like Zoom or Skype, you can change the settings in Discord to improve audio quality. Make sure the input level of your microphone is at least 80%. You can cycle through the Advanced section and uncheck each of the voice processing features one by one to test which, if any, are interfering with your mic quality.
How to get better mic quality?
Your mic quality may be suffering due to an unreliable internet connection. If this is the case, make sure that the Enable Quality of Service High Packet Priority option in the Advanced section of the Voice and Video tab is switched on. This helps to transmit information from Discord, and should fix bandwidth related issues.
After verifying and applying your audio settings, close Discord and open up the Sound Settings on your computer. In the Advanced sound settings on Windows, you can assign the Input and Output devices for each application, as well as adjust the volume.
Why am I automatically muted on Discord?
Windows users may have their sound automatically muted when they join a Discord chat because Windows is detecting communications activity and responding incorrectly. To change this on PC, you can follow the instructions below:
- Open Control Panel
- In Control Panel search for Sound
- Go to the Communications tab
- In the list of options under When Windows detects communications activity select Do nothing.
How do I unmute Discord browser?
On the desktop browser version of Discord, next to your username on the right side you will see a microphone and a headphones icon. Clicking the microphone icon will mute or unmute your mic, meaning no one will be able to hear your voice on the chat. Clicking the headphones icon will mute or unmute the audio from the call, meaning you won’t be able to hear anyone else.
Why can’t I unmute in Discord?
Sometimes you can’t unmute Discord if microphone access is being blocked from elsewhere. To fix this, you need to allow Discord to access your microphone via Windows settings:
- Use the Win + I shortcut to open the Settings window, and click Privacy
- Select Microphone from the left side, and then make sure the Allow apps to access your microphone option is turned on
- In the section that allows you to choose which apps can access your microphone, make sure Discord is selected
- Restart your computer and check if the problem persists.
Why is there no sound when I stream on discord mobile?
If you’re using Discord on your phone, make sure that your operating system is compatible with the Discord app. You can browse the OS requirements here. Even if your OS is compatible with the app, it may be out of date for your device, and require an update.
Once you’ve double checked that everything’s fine with your phone’s OS, try updating the Discord app itself. If that doesn’t fix the sound problem, check your phone’s app permissions for Discord and make sure you’re allowing it to use your microphone.
How do I optimize Discord settings?
As mentioned earlier, you can cycle through the Advanced section in the Discord settings and uncheck some of the voice processing features to optimize performance.
If you have an unreliable internet connection, you should make sure that the Enable Quality of Service High Packet Priority option is switched on. This helps to transmit information from Discord, and should fix bandwidth related issues.
How do I get better audio on Discord?
Check out our guide to Discord audio settings to find out further tips for getting the best quality sound on Discord voice chat.
How do I fix my Discord audio glitch?
One common issue faced by Discord users is the audio glitching when performing an action like screen sharing. To fix Discord audio glitch you should first try updating relevant drivers, checking that your internet connection is stable, and testing if your microphone is working properly.
If you’re still getting audio issues, try resetting your Voice settings:
- Click into the Voice & Video tab in App Settings
- Hit Reset Voice Settings to clear all local mutes and volumes
- Click Okay when prompted.
Why is Discord lagging?
Lagging on Discord is often caused by CPU usage issues. Using high power applications like video editing software, streaming services, and games means there’s a high chance your computer’s CPU is running at full throttle.
To give your computer a little extra assistance and protect your CPU usage, turn on your Hardware Accelerator.
How do I fix Discord sound quality?
The quality of your sound on Discord can be improved by enabling Noise Suppression, a new feature that reduces unwanted noise being picked up by your microphone. With Noise Suppression enabled, Discord will start filtering out background sounds, and you can easily switch it on by checking the box in the Advanced section of the Voice & Video settings tab.
Why does my voice sound like a robot on Discord?
If you’re getting distortion in voice chat it’s typically a sign of a connection issue, either on your end or with the Discord servers. The most common fix for robot voice in Discord is to switch the server region to a server that is closest to your physical location (if you’re already on the closest server then try the one after that). You can do this by following these steps:
- Right click the Voice Channel of your server and hit Edit Channel
- Scroll down to the Region Override section and choose a new server region from the dropdown menu
What is bitrate in Discord?
The “bitrate” of a server refers to the number of bits of audio information transferred per second. A higher bitrate means higher audio quality, but it also means more bandwidth usage. If your Discord audio is poor, adjust the bitrate. Remember that only server administrators can do this.
Is higher bitrate better for audio?
By choosing a higher bitrate setting for your audio on Discord, you’ll get a better quality sound. There’s a reason why people don’t just automatically set their bitrates to the highest possible level though – it takes up more bandwidth! People with unreliable connections shouldn’t set their bitrate above 64kbps on Discord.
Remember, bitrate affects video quality too, so make sure to get the balance right when you’re streaming or screen sharing with your friends.
How to use a soundboard on Discord?
Soundboards are programs that allow you to play sound effects and modify audio. You can use a soundboard on Discord by routing your mic through a virtual audio device, which acts as a way of connecting applications together. Think of it like a virtual audio cable, sending sound from one source to the other. You can do this by following the steps below:
- Select and install a virtual audio device.
- In Discord’s User Settings, click into the Voice & Video tab
- From the dropdown menu select CABLE Output as your Input source
How to use a soundboard?
Once you’ve installed a virtual audio device and selected it as your input device in Discord, you’re nearly ready to use your soundboard. The next thing to do is to make sure your mic is also being heard in the chat. Follow the instructions below to get your soundboard working.
- Open Sound Settings in Windows
- Choose the Input Device as Microphone.
- Click into Device properties and then Additional device properties.
- In the Listen tab, select Listen to this device and choose CABLE Input under Playback through this device.
How to make a soundboard for Discord?
To build a soundboard for Discord you’ll need to use an external program to upload and save sounds. There are a number of websites and apps that will do all this for you, and you can find a round-up of some of the best options here.
One example would be Soundboard, a free service that allows you to upload as many audio files as you want, add logos and descriptions, and name tracks.
Can a stream deck be a soundboard?
Yes, stream decks can be used as soundboards on Discord. The Elgato Stream Deck, for example, has a soundboard function that allows you upload and play audio files from your computer using the stream deck buttons. All you need to do then is to use a virtual audio cable to route your soundboard mix to Discord, as outlined above.
How to get a Voice Changer for Discord?
There are plenty of voice changer applications available today, all of which allow you to modify your voice on Discord. To get a voice changer for Discord, first search for voice changer programs that are compatible with the platform, like the aptly named Voice Changer.
Once you’ve installed the voice changer, go into the Voice & Video settings on Discord, and select your voice changer as the input device. If your voice changer isn’t showing up on the list, you can use a virtual audio cable to route the program into Discord.
Are Voice Changers allowed on Discord?
In the Discord Community Guidelines there is no reference to the use of voice changers being prohibited. Therefore voice changers are allowed on Discord, although improper use of voice changing software to harass or bully someone will not be accepted on the platform.
Individual server admins will have specific rules for their channels, but it’s unlikely that anyone would object to the use of voice changers. They’re fun!
Can you use a Voice Changer while streaming?
You can modulate your voice in real time during live streams on Twitch or other platforms, or while talking to your friends on Discord. Most good voice changer applications will support integration into streaming programs. Take a look at a list of the best real time voice changers here.
How do streamers change their voice?
Streamers transform their voices using voice changer programs that modify any audio that’s picked up by their microphones. When configured as input devices in streaming programs like Twitch, these voice changer apps route the affected audio into the stream for the entire audience to enjoy.
How can I change my stream voice?
If you want to change your streaming voice, you can use mixing software like Reaper combined with a virtual audio cable to add filters to your mic audio. You can then enhance your voice by adding some compression or saturation, or even reverb for special announcements or shout outs. You can also use a pitch filter to make your voice lower or higher.
Whether you’re modifying your voice, playing with a sound board, routing audio, or optimizing your audio on Discord, we hope that you found the answers you were looking for in this guide. If you’re still hungry for more audio tips, subscribe to our blog below and we’ll continue to serve up helpful information that’s sure to answer any questions you might have!
