Why Do I Sound Low on Discord?

Voice chat remains a critical feature distinguishing Discord from other social media platforms.

You can voice chat with other users on servers, video call your friends or stream live games as other gamers cheer on and share their voice messages.

However, you need to be audible to make the voice chats successful. If your friends can’t hear you, communication will be poor, affecting your interactions.

If you haven’t intentionally changed any sound settings on the app or your device, you may wonder, why do you sound low on Discord?

Read on to discover the possible causes of sounding low on Discord and how to fix the issue.

This post examines why you sound low on Discord and how to troubleshoot the issue.

Overview of Sounding Low on Discord

Discord’s voice chat is a critical feature differentiating it from other social media platforms.

Unlike in other apps like Messenger and WhatsApp, there is no ringing and incoming calls on Discord. You only need to join a voice channel; your friends will see you join and start the video chat.

However, video chatting on Discord can become frustrating if either party does not hear the other. This happens when your sound is low, or the recipient’s voice is inaudible.

If you are wondering why you sound low on Discord, whereas the microphone works perfectly on other apps, this post will examine the possible causes and how to troubleshoot the problem.

Why Do I Sound Low on Discord?

There are several reasons why you may sound low on Discord.

Let’s discuss the causes in-depth below and provide troubleshooting tips for each reason.

Reason #1: Incorrect Discord Voice Settings

For the best video chat experience on Discord, the voice and video settings need to be correct. These settings include choosing the right input and output device, the input mode, sound sensitivity, and voice activity.

The most common culprit among these settings is selecting the wrong microphone and speaker, especially if you use external headphones and microphones.

Follow the steps below to select the correct input and output device in your Discord’s voice settings:

1. Open Discord on your PC.
2. Click the settings icon at the bottom left.
3. Select “Voice & Video” from the left navigation.
4. Click the down arrow under “Input Device.”
5. Select the correct input device from the available options.
6. Click the down arrow under “Output Device.”
7. Select the right output device from the available options.
8. Click “Let’s Check” and speak, placing your mouth near the microphone and speaking audibly.
9. The app should play back your voice if the settings and input and output devices selected are correct.

Reason #2: Low Input and Output Volume on the Discord App

While your device input and output volume might be high, you may have set the app’s input and output volume low.

This is usually the case when you sound low on Discord but perfectly audible on other apps.

Follow the below steps to correct your Discord’s input and output volume on your PC:

1. Open Discord on your PC.
2. Click on the settings icon at the bottom left.
3. Select “Voice & Video” from the left panel.
4. Move the “Input Volume” slider to the farthest right.
5. Do the same with the “Output Volume” slider.

Reason #3: Low Microphone Input Volume on the Device

Your sound may be low on Discord due to your device’s low microphone input volume.

If you use a Windows PC, follow the below steps to increase the input volume:

1. Click the Start icon.
2. Type “Control panel” into the search box.
3. Select “Control Panel.”
4. Choose “Hardware and Sound.“
5. Select “Sound.”
6. Click on the “Recording” tab.
7. Right-click on your microphone.
8. Select “Properties.”
9. Click on the “Levels” tab.
10. Move the slider to 100%.
11. Click on “Apply” and then “OK.”

Reason #4: Interference From Voice Modification Apps or Software

Voice modification apps and software can make you sound low on Discord.

They have voice settings that can override your device’s or Discord’s voice settings.

If you use such an app or software, disable or delete it to see if that resolves your Discord sound issues.

Reason #5: Poor Voice Detection

Do you know why your Discord sound is smooth and audible in a quiet room?

Background noise interferes with your hardware’s and Discord’s voice detection, making your sound low or undetectable. Ensure there is the minimal background noise when video chatting on Discord.

At the same time, you need to place your face near the microphone and speak audibly for the microphone to detect your voice. Failure to talk near the microphone will result in a low or no sound.

Reason #6: App Bug

Sometimes, you may sound low on Discord due to an app bug interfering with the audio system.

To fix such an issue, try the following solutions.

Update Your Discord App

The Discord desktop app automatically updates whenever there is an available update.

However, you can check for an update manually using the following steps:

1. Open Discord on your PC.
2. Press the “CTRL + R” keys simultaneously.
3. You’ll see the app flash or go blank for a few seconds.

Reset Discord Audio Settings

Follow the steps below to reset Discord’s audio settings on your PC:

1. Open Discord on your PC.
2. Click the settings icon beside your profile picture.
3. Select “Voice & Video.”
4. Scroll down and click “Reset Voice Settings.”
5. Click on “Okay.“

Winding Up

You may sound low on Discord for several reasons.

These include incorrect app voice settings, low microphone input volume, an app bug, interference from voice modification apps or software, and poor voice detection due to background noise.

The troubleshooting tips in this post should help you resolve the problem.