My microphone works in other apps but not in Discord. Why?

Two usual causes. First, Discord is using a different input device than the other apps — open Voice & Video and verify the Input Device dropdown shows your actual mic, not 'Default' or a disconnected device. Second, OS-level permission is missing for Discord specifically — Windows Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone (especially the 'desktop apps' toggle) or macOS System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.

Discord shows my mic level moving but nobody can hear me.

Discord detects audio at the system level but isn't transmitting it. Three usual reasons: Input Mode is Push to Talk and you're not holding the key; Input Sensitivity threshold is too high and only loud peaks transmit (toggle Automatic on); or you're server-muted by a moderator. Check the mic icon in the voice channel — if it has a red X over it, you're muted. Right-click your name in the channel to see whether you're server-muted.

What is Discord error 3002 / 'No Microphone'?

Discord can't find any audio input device at all. Check that your mic is physically connected, then Voice & Video → click the Input Device dropdown. If it's empty or shows only 'Default', Discord doesn't see any device. Most often a fix: verify the mic appears in Windows Sound settings (or macOS System Settings → Sound → Input). If it doesn't, the hardware or driver is the issue, not Discord.

Why is my Push to Talk key not working?

Three possibilities. The binding may have been reset by a Discord update — Voice & Video → Push to Talk Shortcut → Edit Keybind, press your preferred key, save. The key may be intercepted by another app (game overlays, Steam, OBS hotkeys). Or 'Push to Talk Release Delay' is at zero — bump to 100-200 ms so brief releases between words don't cut you off mid-sentence.

How do I test whether the mic or Discord is the problem?

Run the microphone test on this page. If the level bars react to your voice here, your mic and OS are fine — the issue is inside Discord (work through the 6 steps above). If the bars don't move here either, the problem is upstream — broken mic, missing driver, or OS permission. Then test in another app like Windows Voice Recorder or Mac Voice Memos to confirm.

Discord keeps using my old mic after I unplugged it.

Discord caches the device name and keeps it selected even after the hardware is gone. Voice & Video → Input Device dropdown → pick the new device explicitly. If your new mic doesn't appear in the dropdown, refresh it by clicking elsewhere in settings and back, or restart Discord. The 'Reset Voice and Video Settings' button in the Debugging section also fixes stuck device selections.

My Bluetooth headset doesn't appear in Discord's input list.

Bluetooth headsets need to be in the headset profile (HFP) for microphone use, not the headphones-only profile (A2DP). On Windows, check the system sound settings — your headset usually appears twice, once as 'Headset' (input + mono output) and once as 'Headphones' (output only). Discord can only see the 'Headset' version. On Mac, System Settings → Sound → Input — if the headset isn't there with a microphone icon, it's stuck in A2DP-only mode; disconnect and reconnect to reset.

Discord Microphone Not Working? Fix It Right Now

Speak into your mic and watch the level bars below — if they move here, your hardware is fine and the problem is inside Discord. The 6 fixes below cover almost every Discord-specific mic failure, in the order they're worth trying.

How to Fix Discord Mic Not Working — 6 Steps

Select the correct input device in DiscordThe single most common cause: Discord defaulted to the wrong mic, especially after plugging in a headset or after a system restart. Open Discord → click the gear icon next to your username (User Settings) → Voice & Video. Under Input Device, click the dropdown and pick your actual mic — not 'Default'. Speak, and watch the Input Volume bar below the dropdown go green.
Check Input Mode — Voice Activity vs Push to TalkStill in Voice & Video, scroll to Input Mode. If it's set to Push to Talk, your mic is silent unless you hold a specific key — and if you don't know which key, nobody hears you. Switch to Voice Activity for hands-free transmission, or check the Shortcut binding and try it. The Mic Test button (Let's Check) below confirms which mode actually works for you.
Adjust Input Sensitivity (Discord-specific)Below Input Mode is Input Sensitivity. By default it's Automatic — Discord decides when your voice is loud enough to transmit. If your voice is quiet or you've disabled Automatic, the threshold may be set so high that normal speech doesn't trigger transmission. Toggle Automatic on, or drag the manual slider so the green bar regularly crosses the threshold line when you talk.
Give Discord OS-level microphone permissionWindows 11/10: Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone. Turn on 'Microphone access', 'Let apps access your microphone', and scroll down to 'Let desktop apps access your microphone' — Discord is a desktop app, so this last toggle is the one that matters. macOS: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone → enable Discord. After granting, fully quit Discord (system tray on Windows, Cmd+Q on Mac) and reopen — running apps don't pick up new permissions.
Reset Voice and Video settingsWhen nothing above works, Discord has a built-in reset. Voice & Video → scroll to Debugging → Reset Voice and Video Settings. This wipes input device choice, sensitivity, audio subsystem, and noise-suppression settings back to defaults. Useful after switching microphones, after a Discord update, or when settings get into a confused state from manual tweaking.
Check Discord server status, then restartIf your mic was working an hour ago and suddenly stopped, check status.discord.com — Discord has voice-region outages occasionally and the 'Awaiting Endpoint' error is a typical sign. If status shows all green, quit Discord entirely (right-click the tray icon → Quit Discord on Windows; Cmd+Q on Mac), and reopen. If that fails, restart the computer — stuck audio drivers after sleep are a common cause that a reboot clears.

Test other devices:Camera·Speakers