If you’re a regular Discord user, there’s a good chance you’ve encountered a frustrating issue at least once: your microphone isn’t showing up or working. Whether you’re in the middle of a heated gaming session or trying to attend an important voice meeting, a missing mic input can be maddening. But don’t worry — you’re definitely not alone, and we’re here to guide you through fixing this issue step-by-step.
TL;DR (Too Long, Didn’t Read)
If your mic isn’t showing up in Discord, check your hardware connections, app permissions, and input settings in both Discord and your operating system. Try restarting the app or your computer, updating your drivers, or reinstalling Discord if necessary. Most mic issues are resolved by tweaking input settings or granting the right permissions. Keep reading for a detailed breakdown of fixes and tips that work.
Common Reasons Why Discord Doesn’t Detect Your Mic
Before we get into the solutions, it helps to understand what’s actually going wrong. Here are a few of the most common culprits for your mic not showing up in Discord:
- Wrong Input Device Selected: Discord may be using the wrong input source.
- App Permissions Not Granted: Windows or macOS may not be allowing Discord access to your microphone.
- Hardware Malfunctions: Faulty headphones, a broken mic, or loose cables could be to blame.
- Outdated Drivers: An old or corrupt audio driver might be stopping Discord from detecting the mic.
- Discord Bugs or Settings: Sometimes issues arise from bugs within the app or corrupted settings.
How to Fix: Discord Mic Not Showing Up
Let’s dive into specific solutions that can get your microphone working with Discord again.
1. Restart Everything
It may sound cliché, but simply restarting your computer and Discord should be your first step. That alone can solve a surprising number of device detection issues.
2. Check Hardware Connections
Verify if your microphone is physically connected and turned on (if it has a power switch). Try the following:
- Unplug and replug your microphone or headset.
- Try using a different USB port or audio jack.
- Use your microphone on a different device to rule out hardware issues.
3. Select the Correct Input Device in Discord
It’s possible Discord isn’t set to use the right microphone. Change this by doing the following:
- Open Discord and go to User Settings (gear icon at the bottom left).
- Navigate to Voice & Video under App Settings.
- Under the Input Device dropdown, manually choose your preferred mic (avoid Default unless you’re sure).
- Adjust input volume and click Let’s Check to test.
4. Grant Microphone Permissions to Discord
If Discord doesn’t have microphone access, it won’t be able to detect your device. Here’s how to grant it:
For Windows:
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone.
- Make sure “Allow apps to access your microphone” is turned On.
- Scroll down and ensure Discord is enabled (if it appears here).
For macOS:
- Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy.
- Click on Microphone in the left panel.
- Make sure the checkbox for Discord is ticked.
5. Update or Reinstall Audio Drivers
Sometimes outdated or corrupted audio drivers interfere with mic detection. Update them this way:
On Windows:
- Right-click the Start Menu and choose Device Manager.
- Expand the Audio inputs and outputs section.
- Right-click your mic device and select Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
If that doesn’t work, uninstall the device and then restart your computer — Windows will reinstall it automatically.
6. Reset Voice Settings in Discord
Sometimes you’ve just got a jumbled voice config. Discord gives you the option to reset it:
- Go to User Settings > Voice & Video.
- Scroll all the way down and click Reset Voice Settings.
- Click Okay to confirm.
Now relaunch Discord and test your mic again.
7. Disable Exclusive Mode (Windows Only)
Sometimes Windows locks down microphone access to a single app:
- Right-click the speaker icon in your system tray and select Sounds.
- Click the Recording tab, then double-click your microphone.
- Go to the Advanced tab.
- Uncheck the boxes under Exclusive Mode:
- Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device
- Give exclusive mode applications priority
- Click Apply and OK.
8. Make Sure It’s Not Muted or Disabled in System Settings
Confirm your microphone is not disabled or muted at the OS level:
- Right-click on the speaker icon in your tray, select Sounds or Sound Settings.
- Under the Recording tab, right-click your mic and enable it if disabled.
- Check levels to ensure it’s not muted or set to 0% volume.
9. Check for Background Apps Interfering
Apps like Zoom, Skype, or even background system software can hijack your mic, preventing Discord from accessing it. Make sure to:
- Close any video/audio apps running in the background.
- Temporarily disable antivirus or firewall software that might be affecting Discord’s permissions.
10. Reinstall Discord
If nothing else works, it may be time for a clean reinstallation:
- Uninstall Discord from your system.
- Download the latest version from the official site.
- Restart your computer, then reinstall the app.
This step clears out corrupted data or settings that a reset might miss.
Bonus Tip: Test Your Mic Outside Discord
Not sure if the issue is with Discord or your mic? Try testing it:
- On Windows: Use the Sound Recorder app or Control Panel > Sound > Recording.
- On macOS: Use the Voice Memos app.
Conclusion: Stay Calm and Troubleshoot Methodically
Microphone issues in Discord are annoying, but they’re rarely permanent. By checking connections, reviewing settings across both Discord and your operating system, and updating drivers or software, most users can get back to chatting without skipping a beat.
Just remember: even tech hiccups like this have a logical reason—and now, you have the tools to fix it.
