How to Fix Can’t Hear Anyone on Discord?

If you’re unable to hear your friends on Discord, rest assured that this is a relatively common issue, typically coming from Discord’s internal audio settings or from those within Windows itself. Should you notice a green outline around a user’s icon, it indicates their audio is being transmitted, though you’re unable to hear it for some reason.

We’ve identified several potential causes for this audio issue and detailed them below:

• Discord Muted in Volume Mixer – It’s possible that Discord is muted within the volume mixer. Verify that this is not the case by checking your volume mixer settings.
• Incompatible Sound Driver – In the event that you’ve only just installed Discord and are facing audio issues, examine the audio driver first as it might be outdated or incompatible with the latest version of Discord.
• Incorrect Output Device Selected – The issue might be occurring because the incorrect output device is selected in Discord’s settings. Make sure you inspect the voice and video settings to correct this.
• Improper Discord Voice Settings – Certain enabled features within Discord’s voice settings might disrupt audio transmission. Resetting these settings to their defaults could help resolve the problem.

1. Use the Legacy Audio Subsystem

Using the Legacy Audio Subsystem within Discord is similar to offering older technology a lifeline for compatibility. When newer updates don’t go well with your hardware or drivers, this setting can bridge the gap, allowing Discord to communicate with your audio setup using a previous, more universally compatible system. This switch can often restore audio functionality where modern settings fail to deliver.

1. Open Discord and open Settings.
2. Select Voice & Video from the sidebar.
3. Scroll down to the Audio Subsystem area and select Legacy.
4. Test to see if the audio issue is resolved.

2. Reset Voice Settings

Resetting voice settings clears any custom configurations that might be causing the sound issue. When you reset these settings, Discord reverts to its default state, often resolving conflicts or errors within the audio setup that may have been accidentally introduced. This fresh start can eliminate glitches related to input or output devices, making sure a smooth communication experience once again.

1. Open Discord and proceed to Settings.
2. Click on Voice and Video in the sidebar.
3. Scroll to the bottom and select Reset Voice Settings.

   

4. After resetting, verify if the audio issue persists.

3. Check Volume Mixer

This utility allows you to individually manage the audio output of each application on your system. There might be instances where Discord is unintentionally muted or its volume set to an inaudible level directly within the mixer. By making sure Discord’s output is active and audible here, you eliminate one of the simplest yet often overlooked reasons behind sound issues.

1. Right-click the speaker icon and select Open Volume Mixer.
2. Look for the Discord slider. If you see a red circle icon over the speaker, then Discord is muted. Click to unmute.

   

4. Use the Web Version Instead of the Application

If the problem continues, consider switching to the web version of Discord. When using the web version of Discord, you bypass any persistent configuration issues or potentially corrupted files within the desktop application. As the web version operates differently, utilizing your browser’s audio handling, it can offer a quick and hassle-free workaround to sound obstacles you’re experiencing in the app.

Should the issue not occur while using the browser version, the problem could be related to a specific sound setting or an outdated audio driver within the application.

5. Set the Speaker as the Default Communication Device

This useful adjustment within your sound settings directs your PC to utilize these speakers for all communication-related audio. Therefore, if Discord has been using another audio output by default, this change will make sure that all sound from voice chats gets piped directly and exclusively to the speakers you actually want to use.

It’s a simple fix that can clear up any confusion your computer might have about where to send Discord’s audio output.

1. Right-click on the speaker icon and choose Sounds.

   

2. Select the Playback tab.
3. Find and right-click on your speaker to select Set As Default Communication Device.

   

4. Click Apply, followed by OK.

6. Update Audio Driver

Audio drivers facilitate communication between your computer’s operating system and its sound hardware. If these drivers are outdated, this communication may become disrupted, leading to potential sound issues in applications like Discord. By updating the driver, you can ensure that the hardware is operating at full capacity with improved compatibility and fewer bugs, thus potentially resolving any audio issues you’re experiencing.

7. Use the Correct Output Device

When Discord sends audio signals out, if they’re directed to an incorrect device, like a headset you’re not wearing or a secondary monitor with no speakers, you won’t hear a thing. By selecting the appropriate speaker or headphones in the settings, you’re basically guiding the audio to your ears, thus solving the mystery of the missing sound.

1. Go to the Discord settings and navigate to Voice and Video.
2. Open the dropdown for the output device.
3. Choose your Speaker Device and verify if the issue has been fixed.

   

8. Change Server Region

Changing the server region can fix issues related to network latency, commonly known as ping. High latency can disrupt the smooth flow of voice data, leading to you not hearing your friends. By selecting a server region closer to your geographical location, or one that is performing better, you could experience a more stable connection and resolve the audio issues.

1. To modify the server region for the entire server, open the server settings and choose a different region.
2. For a group call, click on the region dropdown and select an alternate region.

   

3. Check if changing the region resolves the audio issue.

9. Reinstall Discord

Reinstallation cleans any potentially corrupt data that could be causing the sound malfunctions. By removing and then installing the latest version, you make sure that Discord runs on a clean slate with updated files, free from previous glitches or conflicts.

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type appwiz.cpl and hit OK.

   

3. Find Discord in the list, right-click it, and select Uninstall.

   

4. After uninstallation, visit Discord’s official website to download and install the latest version of the application.