Frustrated because your Discord volume is really low? You’re not alone. Millions of users struggle with Discord audio problems every day, wondering why they can’t hear their friends properly or why their own voice sounds quiet to others. The good news? Most Discord volume issues can be fixed with simple settings adjustments that anyone can do.
Whether you’re dealing with Discord voice volume very low problems, trying to figure out how to increase Discord volume, or struggling with how to fix low sound on Discord, this guide has you covered. We’ll walk you through every type of Discord volume issue and show you exactly how to solve them step by step.
Key Takeaways
- Discord volume issues typically fall into 3 categories: output volume (hearing others), input volume (others hearing you), and attenuation (Discord making other apps quiet)
- 90% of Discord volume problems can be fixed by checking 5 key settings areas: Discord settings, system settings, individual user volumes, audio subsystem, and hardware acceleration
- Individual user volume controls can solve problems when only specific people are quiet
- System sound settings often conflict with Discord audio settings
- Advanced solutions exist for persistent volume issues including third-party apps and driver updates
Why Is Your Discord Volume Really Low?
Discord volume really low problems can be frustrating, especially when you’re in the middle of an important conversation or gaming session. Understanding why these issues happen is the first step to fixing them.
There are three main types of Discord volume problems:
Output Volume Issues: This is when you can’t hear other people clearly. Their voices sound faint, distant, or muffled even when they’re speaking normally. This is the most common “discord volume really low” complaint.
Input Volume Issues: This happens when other people can’t hear you well. They keep asking you to speak up or your voice sounds quiet and distant to them. This relates to “discord input volume too low” problems.
Attenuation Issues: This is when Discord makes everything else quiet on your computer. When someone talks in Discord, all your other apps (games, music, videos) suddenly get much quieter. This is the “discord makes everything else quiet” problem.
To figure out which type of issue you have, ask yourself:
- Can you hear others in Discord? (If no, it’s an output issue)
- Can others hear you clearly? (If no, it’s an input issue)
- Do other apps get quiet when Discord is active? (If yes, it’s an attenuation issue)
How to Increase Discord Volume?
If you’re wondering how to increase Discord volume, you’re in the right place. These solutions will help you fix Discord output volume too low problems and make sure you can hear everyone clearly.
Basic Discord Volume Settings
Start with these simple Discord settings that solve most volume problems:
- Check Your Main Volume Slider
- Click the gear icon (Settings) in the bottom-left corner of Discord
- Select “Voice & Video” from the left menu
- Look for the “Output Volume” slider under the “Voice” section
- Make sure this slider is at least at 100% (you can go up to 200%)
- Adjust Individual User Volumes
- Right-click on any user in your voice channel
- Select “Volume” from the menu that appears
- Adjust their individual volume slider (you can set this up to 200%)
- This is perfect when only certain people sound quiet
- Check Your Device Selection
- In Voice & Video settings, look at “Output Device”
- Make sure you’ve selected the correct headphones or speakers
- If you’re not sure, try different devices from the dropdown menu
System Volume Settings
Sometimes the problem isn’t Discord itself but your computer’s sound settings:
- Check Windows Volume Mixer
- Right-click the speaker icon in your taskbar
- Select “Open Volume mixer”
- Make sure Discord’s volume slider is up high
- Also check that your main device volume isn’t muted
- Mac Sound Settings
- Click the Apple menu and select “System Preferences”
- Choose “Sound” then “Output”
- Make sure your output device is correct and volume is up
- Check “Input” tab for microphone settings too
How to Fix Low Sound on Discord?
When Discord volume is really low, you need a systematic approach to troubleshoot the problem. Here’s how to fix low sound on Discord step by step.
Step 1: Basic Discord Settings Check
Before trying anything complex, check these basic Discord settings:
- Open Discord and click the gear icon for Settings
- Go to “Voice & Video” in the left menu
- Under “Voice” section, check:
- Output Volume: Set to at least 100%
- Input Device: Make sure correct microphone is selected
- Output Device: Make sure correct speakers/headphones are selected
- Under “Video” section, check:
- Ensure your camera and microphone permissions are enabled
Step 2: Advanced Discord Settings
If basic settings don’t fix the problem, try these advanced options:
- Audio Subsystem Settings
- In Voice & Video settings, scroll down to “Audio Subsystem”
- Try changing from “Standard” to “Legacy” (or vice versa)
- Restart Discord after making this change
- Disable Noise Suppression
- In Voice & Video settings, look for “Noise Suppression”
- Try turning this feature off temporarily
- Sometimes noise suppression can make voices quieter
- Quality of Service Settings
- In Voice & Video settings, find “Ensure Quality of Service High Packet Priority”
- Enable this option for better audio quality
Step 3: System-Level Troubleshooting
If Discord settings don’t solve the problem, check your system:
- Update Audio Drivers
- Right-click the Start button and select “Device Manager”
- Expand “Sound, video and game controllers”
- Right-click your audio device and select “Update driver”
- Choose “Search automatically for drivers”
- Check App Permissions
- Windows: Go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone
- Make sure Discord has permission to access your microphone
- Mac: Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Microphone
What About Discord Output Volume Too Low?
When Discord output volume is too low, it means you’re having trouble hearing others. This is one of the most common Discord volume really low complaints. Here are specific solutions for this problem.
Audio Subsystem Solutions
The Audio Subsystem setting in Discord can significantly affect your volume:
- Switch Between Standard and Legacy
- Go to Discord Settings > Voice & Video
- Scroll down to “Audio Subsystem”
- If it’s set to “Standard,” change it to “Legacy”
- If it’s set to “Legacy,” change it to “Standard”
- Restart Discord completely after making this change
- Test Both Subsystems
- Try each subsystem for at least 10 minutes
- Some systems work better with Legacy, others with Standard
- This single fix resolves many Discord output volume too low issues
Device Compatibility Issues
Sometimes your audio hardware doesn’t play well with Discord:
- Try Different Audio Devices
- If you’re using USB headphones, try regular headphones
- If you’re using Bluetooth audio, try wired connection
- Test with different devices to isolate the problem
- Check for Hardware Conflicts
- Close other audio apps (Spotify, YouTube, games)
- See if Discord volume improves when other apps are closed
- This helps identify if there’s a conflict between applications
Why Does Discord Make Everything Else Quiet?
If you’ve noticed that Discord makes everything else quiet, you’re experiencing the attenuation feature. This is actually supposed to happen, but you can control it.
Understanding Discord Attenuation
Discord’s attenuation feature automatically lowers the volume of other applications when someone is talking. This is designed to help you focus on conversations, but it can be annoying if you don’t want it.
How to Disable Attenuation
Here’s how to stop Discord from making everything else quiet:
- Turn Off Attenuation in Discord
- Open Discord and click the gear icon (Settings)
- Go to “Voice & Video” in the left menu
- Scroll down to find “Attenuation”
- Drag the slider all the way to 0% (this turns it off completely)
- Windows Communication Settings
- Right-click the speaker icon in your taskbar
- Select “Sounds” then “Communications” tab
- Choose “Do nothing” instead of reducing other sounds
- This prevents Windows from lowering volume for communication apps
- Exclusive Mode Settings
- Right-click the speaker icon and select “Sounds”
- Go to “Playback” tab, right-click your device and choose “Properties”
- Uncheck “Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device”
- Click “Apply” then “OK”
Is Discord Input Volume Too Low Affecting Your Calls?
When Discord input volume is too low, other people can’t hear you well. They might keep asking you to speak up or say your voice sounds muffled. Here’s how to fix this common Discord voice volume very low problem.
Microphone Volume Settings
Start with Discord’s microphone settings:
- Adjust Input Volume in Discord
- Go to Discord Settings > Voice & Video
- Find “Input Volume” under the “Voice” section
- Drag the slider higher (you can go up to the maximum)
- Test your microphone by speaking and watching the indicator
- Test Your Microphone
- Below the Input Volume slider, click “Let’s Check”
- Speak normally and see if the indicator moves
- If it doesn’t move, your microphone isn’t detecting your voice
System Microphone Settings
Sometimes the problem is with your system’s microphone settings:
- Windows Microphone Settings
- Right-click the speaker icon and select “Sounds”
- Go to “Recording” tab
- Find your microphone, right-click and choose “Properties”
- Go to “Levels” tab and increase the volume to 100
- Also check “Enhancements” tab for any boost options
- Mac Microphone Settings
- Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Sound
- Select “Input” tab
- Choose your microphone and adjust the input volume
- Make sure “Use ambient noise reduction” is unchecked if you’re having volume issues
Why Is Discord Chat Volume Low During Streams?
Streaming on Discord can introduce unique volume problems. If you’re experiencing Discord chat volume low issues during streams or screen shares, here are specific solutions.
Stream-Specific Volume Issues
When streaming, you might notice:
- Game Audio Too Low Compared to Voice
- This is often due to Discord’s automatic volume balancing
- Try disabling “Automatic Volume Control” in Discord settings
- Manually adjust game volume and Discord volume separately
- Stream Audio Quiet for Viewers
- If you’re streaming and viewers say your audio is quiet
- Check your stream bitrate settings
- Increase audio bitrate in your streaming software
Screen Share Audio Problems
Screen sharing can create unique audio challenges:
- Enable Audio Sharing
- When you start screen sharing, make sure to check “Share audio”
- This option appears when you select a screen or window to share
- Without this, viewers won’t hear any audio from your computer
- Adjust Application Volume
- Some applications have their own volume controls
- Make sure the application you’re sharing has its volume turned up
- Check both the application’s internal volume and system volume
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Discord volume so low even when everything is at max?
When Discord volume is really low despite all settings being at maximum, the problem is usually with your audio subsystem or drivers. Try switching between Standard and Legacy audio subsystem in Discord’s Voice & Video settings. Also check if your audio drivers need updating – outdated drivers can cause severe volume reduction. If these don’t work, test with different audio devices to isolate whether it’s a hardware or software issue.
How do I make Discord louder than 100%?
Discord allows you to increase volume beyond 100% in two ways. First, the main Output Volume slider in Voice & Video settings can go up to 200%. Second, you can adjust individual user volumes up to 200% by right-clicking on them in the voice channel. If you still need more volume, consider using system-wide audio enhancement software like Equalizer APO or Voicemeeter, which can boost overall system volume beyond normal limits.
Why does Discord make my other apps quiet?
Discord makes everything else quiet due to a feature called attenuation. This automatically lowers other applications’ volume when someone speaks in Discord. To fix this, go to Discord Settings > Voice & Video and find the Attenuation slider. Drag it to 0% to completely disable this feature. You should also check Windows Sound Settings > Communications tab and set it to “Do nothing” to prevent system-level volume reduction.
Why can’t I hear specific people in Discord voice chat?
When you can’t hear specific people in Discord while others sound fine, the issue is usually individual user volume settings. Right-click on the quiet user in your voice channel and select “Volume” from the menu. Make sure their individual volume slider isn’t set too low. If that doesn’t work, ask if they’re having microphone issues on their end, as the problem might be with their input volume rather than your output settings.
How do I fix Discord microphone volume too low?
To fix Discord input volume too low, start by checking your microphone settings in Discord Settings > Voice & Video. Increase the Input Volume slider and test your microphone with the “Let’s Check” feature. If that doesn’t work, check your system’s microphone settings – in Windows, go to Sound Settings > Recording tab, select your microphone, and increase the volume in Properties > Levels. Also make sure no physical switches on your microphone or headset are turned down.
Why is Discord stream audio so quiet for my friends?
When Discord stream audio is very quiet for your friends, the issue is usually with your audio sharing settings or bitrate. Make sure you check “Share audio” when starting your screen share. Also, increase your audio bitrate in Discord Settings > Voice & Video under the “Video” section – higher bitrate provides better audio quality. Additionally, check that the application you’re streaming has its internal volume turned up and isn’t muted.
Can I boost Discord volume beyond the default limits?
Yes, you can boost Discord volume beyond default limits using several methods. Beyond Discord’s built-in 200% volume controls, you can use third-party audio enhancement software like Equalizer APO, Voicemeeter, or Letasoft Sound Booster. These applications work at the system level to increase overall volume. However, be careful not to boost volume too high as it can cause audio distortion and potentially damage your hearing or speakers over time.
Conclusion
Discord volume really low problems can be frustrating, but as you’ve learned, most issues have simple solutions. Whether you’re dealing with Discord voice volume very low, trying to figure out how to increase Discord volume, or struggling with how to fix low sound on Discord, the key is to approach the problem systematically.
Start with the basic Discord settings, then move to system-level configurations, and finally consider advanced solutions if needed. Remember that most Discord volume issues fall into three categories: output volume (hearing others), input volume (others hearing you), and attenuation (Discord making everything else quiet).
By following the steps in this guide, you should be able to resolve any Discord volume really low issues and get back to clear, enjoyable conversations with your friends and teammates. If you’re still having problems after trying all these solutions, consider checking out our related audio troubleshooting guides for additional help with system-level audio issues.
