Why Can’t I Hear Anyone on Discord? Troubleshooting Guide

Discord has become the go-to communication platform for gamers, communities, and friends alike. Its versatility and feature-rich environment make it ideal for voice chats, but sometimes, users run into a frustrating issue: not being able to hear anyone in Discord voice calls. If you’re experiencing this problem, you’re not alone. Many users have reported similar audio issues, and thankfully, there are several effective solutions to get your Discord audio back on track.

This guide will walk you through various methods to troubleshoot and fix the “why can’t I hear anyone on Discord” problem. We’ll cover everything from basic settings adjustments to more advanced solutions, providing step-by-step instructions to help you restore your Discord audio and rejoin the conversation.

Let’s dive into the solutions.

Method 1: Switching to the Legacy Audio Subsystem

Discord’s audio subsystem is crucial for voice communication. In some instances, the latest audio subsystem might not be fully compatible with certain systems, leading to audio problems. Switching to the Legacy subsystem, which is often more stable, can resolve these issues.

1. Launch your Discord application.

2. Navigate to User Settings by clicking the gear icon located at the bottom-left of the Discord window, next to your username.

3. In the User Settings menu, select the Voice & Video tab from the left sidebar. Scroll down until you find the Audio Subsystem section.

4. Open the dropdown menu under “Audio Subsystem” and choose Legacy.

5. Click Okay on the confirmation prompt to apply the changes.

6. Close the settings window and test your audio by joining a voice channel to see if you can now hear other users.

Method 2: Designating Default Communication Devices

Sometimes, Windows might not be correctly configured to use your preferred audio output device for communication, leading to Discord sound issues. Setting your default communication device ensures that Discord uses the correct speakers or headphones.

1. Right-click on the Volume icon in your system tray, usually found in the bottom-right corner of your taskbar.

2. Select Open Sound settings from the context menu.

3. In the Sound settings window, find and click on Sound Control Panel located on the right side under “Related Settings”.

4. In the Sound Control Panel, under the Playback tab, select your desired audio output device (headphones or speakers). Click the Set Default dropdown menu and choose Set as Default Device. A green checkmark will appear on the device icon.

5. Again, select your audio device, click the Set Default dropdown menu, and this time choose Set as Default Communication Device.

If your device isn’t listed, you might need to enable disabled devices:

1. Right-click in any empty space within the Sound window. Ensure both Show Disabled Devices and Show Disconnected Devices are checked.

2. Right-click on your audio device and select Enable. It should now be visible and selectable for setting as default.

Method 3: Manually Setting Input and Output Devices in Discord

Incorrect input and output device settings within Discord itself are a common cause of audio problems. Manually specifying the correct devices can often resolve the “Discord can’t hear anyone” issue.

1. Open your Discord client.

2. Go to User Settings by clicking the gear icon at the bottom-left.

3. Select the Voice & Video tab on the left menu.

4. Under Input Device, choose your microphone from the dropdown menu. Under Output Device, select your speakers or headphones. Make sure you select the correct devices that you are currently using.

Method 4: Refreshing Discord

Sometimes, minor glitches or temporary bugs within the Discord application can cause audio malfunctions. A simple refresh can often clear these issues and restore normal functionality.

You can refresh Discord by pressing Ctrl + R (or Command + R on macOS) while the Discord application is open. This will force the application to restart, check for updates, and reload, potentially resolving temporary audio glitches.

Method 5: Utilizing Discord in a Web Browser

If the desktop client is persistently giving you trouble, using Discord in a web browser is a viable alternative to check if the issue is client-specific.

1. Open your preferred web browser.

2. Go to https://discord.com in the address bar and press Enter.

3. Click on Open Discord in your browser.

4. If you have an account, click Login at the top-right. Otherwise, follow the prompts to register.

5. Enter your credentials and click Login. Test if audio works correctly in the browser version. If it does, the issue might be with your desktop client installation.

Method 6: Changing the Server Region

Server region issues can sometimes affect voice call quality and connectivity. If you’re experiencing audio problems, especially consistently on a specific server, changing the server region might help. This option is generally for server owners or administrators.

If you have server administration permissions:

1. Navigate to your server and click the dropdown arrow next to the server name at the top-left.

2. Select Server Settings from the dropdown menu.

3. In the Server Settings, under the Overview tab, find the Server Region section.

4. Click the Change button next to the current region.

5. Choose a suitable region, ideally one geographically closest to most voice call participants.

6. Click Save Changes to apply the new server region.

Method 7: Reinstalling the Discord Client

As a last resort, if none of the above methods have worked, reinstalling the Discord client can resolve deeply rooted issues within the application installation.

1. Uninstall Discord:

   1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
   2. Click on Apps.
   3. Find Discord in the list, select it, and click Uninstall. Follow the uninstallation prompts.

2. Reinstall Discord:

   1. Open a web browser and go to https://discord.com.

   2. Click Download for Windows (or Download for Mac depending on your OS).

   3. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall Discord.

Final Thoughts

Experiencing audio problems on Discord can be disruptive, but by systematically working through these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the “why can’t I hear anyone on Discord” issue. If you continue to face difficulties, consider checking Discord’s support resources or community forums for further assistance.