How to Adjust Microphone Level in Warzone 2

If your squad says you sound too quiet, too loud or distorted, check two places: the voice chat settings inside Warzone 2 and the input level set by your operating system or console. This guide covers both and shows how to confirm that the change worked.

Before you start

Changing the microphone level happens on your own device and needs no extra software. Voice chat itself runs through the game's online service, so you need to be signed in and connected to test it with other players. If you care about how voice data is processed or moderated, check the publisher's current privacy and voice chat policies.

• Connect your headset or microphone before you launch the game so it shows up as an available input device.
• Decide which microphone you want to use. A headset mic, a webcam mic and a USB mic can all appear as separate inputs.
• Update the game. Settings labels in Warzone 2 have changed across seasonal updates, so the names on your version may differ slightly from the ones below.
• Write down your current values so you can restore them if a change makes things worse.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Set the system input level

Set a sensible level at the system first and fine-tune it in the game afterwards. Turning both up to maximum is a common cause of distortion.

• Windows: open the Sound settings, select your microphone in the Input section and adjust its input volume in the device properties. The layout differs slightly between Windows 10 and Windows 11. In the classic Sound control panel, the same slider is under the Recording tab, then Properties, then Levels.
• PlayStation 5: open Settings, then Sound, then Microphone, and use Adjust Microphone Level while you speak.
• Xbox: options depend on your headset. Check the console's audio settings and any gain or mic level control built into the headset or its companion app.
• All platforms: check for a physical mute switch or gain dial on the headset.

2. Adjust voice chat in the game

• Open the game's Settings and go to the Audio section.
• Find the voice chat options. Confirm that voice chat is turned on.
• Check that the selected microphone device matches the input device you configured. On PC, choosing the specific device rather than a system default helps avoid surprises when devices change.
• Move the microphone volume slider in small steps instead of large jumps.
• Choose a recording mode. Push to talk transmits only while you hold the key. Open mic transmits automatically, and its recording threshold sets how loud a sound must be before you are heard.
• If you use open mic, raise the threshold when background noise keeps triggering your mic. Lower it when the start of your words gets cut off.
• While you are in this menu, check that the output device is the headset or speakers you actually use.

3. Optional PC format settings

The Advanced tab of the microphone properties in the Windows Sound control panel sets the default format (sample rate and bit depth). It also has an option that lets applications take exclusive control of the device. The defaults usually work. If you hear crackling or another app seems to lock the microphone, try a common sample rate or turn off exclusive control, then restart the game. Revert the change if it doesn't help.

Check the output

• Watch the input meter in your system sound settings or on the PS5 microphone level screen while you speak at normal volume. It should move clearly but not stay pinned at the top.
• In the game, use the microphone test option if your version has one, or look for the speaking indicator next to your name when you talk.
• Record a short clip with a system voice recorder to listen for clipping, hiss or background noise. Fix those at the device or system level.
• Ask a squadmate how you sound. This is the most reliable check, because in-game voice chat is compressed and sounds different from a local recording.
• Remember that what other players hear also depends on their own voice chat volume and any per-player volume or mute settings they use.

Common problems and next steps

• Nobody hears you: confirm that voice chat is on, the right microphone is selected and nothing is muted. On console, being in a platform party sends your voice to party chat instead of game chat. On Windows, check that desktop apps are allowed to use the microphone in the privacy settings.
• You sound too quiet: raise the system input level before raising the in-game slider. Check the headset's gain and the boom position, which should sit close to your mouth but not directly in front of it.
• You sound loud or distorted: lower the system level first. Turn off any extra boost in the driver's Levels tab or the headset's software.
• Background noise or keyboard clicks come through: switch to push to talk, or raise the open mic threshold. Use noise suppression in your headset software if it has it.
• Your voice cuts in and out: the open mic threshold is probably too high. Lower it gradually.
• Teammates hear an echo of the game: your microphone is picking up your speakers. Use headphones or lower the speaker volume.
• Settings reset or the wrong device is used: set your microphone as the default input device, connect it before launch and select it explicitly in the game.
• It still sounds wrong: test the same microphone in another app. If the problem shows up there too, the cause is the device or its driver rather than Warzone 2.