Did you connect to the chat in the broadcast or multiplayer, only to find that for some reason the microphone does not work in "Steam"? Everything was fine in the settings and other applications, but Steam’s voice overlay refuses to start? Then this material is for you.
If before there was a sound from the microphone, but then it disappeared, or if you have never been able to take part in the voice chat “Steam”, try to remove the error using the instructions provided in the article.
Global settings
When the microphone does not work in "Steam", the first step is to check and restart the basic sound parameters. Some features may not be available in Parental Controls. If you use this type of protection, first enter a four-digit code to return full access to the program. Then:
- Open Steam Settings.
- Go to the Voice tab.
- Click on the “Change device” button.
- The program will offer to configure the settings for different types of devices. Open the Micro menu, click on the item “Use by default”.
Do not forget to save the result: Steam resets the new settings if you exit the menu in the standard way.
If the problem occurs only in specific games, check their settings in the "Steam". Speakers as the main sound source can block microphone audio communication. Toggle this option manually; if that doesn't work, try uninstalling the latest updates and downloading an older version of the game.
Microphone check
We started the diagnosis by checking that the microphone works correctly with other applications. Now let's try to understand if there are other fundamental problems that impede voice communication:
- Inspect the USV port or audio plug to which the device is connected. Change the connectors if possible. If there is damage to the plug, it is recommended that the microphone be repaired.
- Update the drivers for the sound card, and separately, the driver for the microphone.
- Turn off microphone apps and try connecting to Steam chat again.
- Launch the game, turn on the overlay and go to settings, then click “Microphone Control”. If there is no sound, but it is in other situations, then the game turns off the device. Download and install the codecs used by the application.
Server issues
Sometimes the answer to the question of why the microphone does not work in "Steam" lies in the low quality of network communication. If everything is fine with the speed, then the cause of the problems in the server settings or technical problems. But even in this case, you can configure the connection manually for better results.
Go to settings, then set the value from 2500 and higher. This is enough for most games, including the "loaded" MMORPG.