How to Adjust Microphone Level in Black Ops 6

How loud you sound in Black Ops 6 depends on two controls. One is the game's own voice chat settings. The other is the input level your PC or console applies to the microphone before the game receives the signal. If your teammates say you are too quiet, too loud or distorted, check both.

Before you start

• Connect the headset or microphone you actually play with and leave it plugged in. Wireless headsets should be paired and charged.
• Check that the hardware mute is off. Many headsets have a mute button or a flip-up boom that mutes the mic.
• Know which chat you use. Black Ops 6 in-game voice chat is controlled by the game. Console party chat and third-party voice apps use their own volume controls.
• If your headset has its own companion app or a mic gain dial, note its current setting so you can undo changes later.

Changing the level is a local setting on your device and in the game. Voice chat itself runs through Call of Duty's online services, so your voice is sent over the network to other players. Activision has said that voice chat in recent Call of Duty games may be monitored for moderation. Check the current Call of Duty privacy and voice chat policies for what is recorded and how long it is kept.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Set the system input level

Start here so the game receives a clean signal. Fixing the level at the source works better than boosting a weak signal later.

• Windows 11: open Settings, go to System, then Sound. Under Input, select your microphone and adjust the Input volume slider. Use Start test to see the detected level.
• Windows 10: open the Sound control panel and go to the Recording tab. Select your microphone, open Properties and adjust the slider on the Levels tab. Set the same device as the default.
• PlayStation 5: open Settings, go to Sound, then Microphone, and use Adjust Microphone Level with the headset you play with.
• Xbox: mic gain is usually set on the headset itself or in its companion app. Some Xbox headsets also offer audio options in the console's audio settings. Check your headset's documentation for which controls it supports.

A sensible starting point is a level where normal speech reaches the middle to upper part of the meter, and loud speech does not hit the top.

2. Adjust the in-game voice chat settings

In Black Ops 6, open Settings and go to the Audio section, then find the voice chat options. Labels and layout can change between game updates, so look for these controls rather than an exact menu path.

• Voice Chat: make sure it is enabled.
• Microphone or input device (PC): choose the same microphone you set up in Windows instead of relying on the default.
• Microphone Volume: sets how loud your voice is sent to others. Change it in small steps.
• Voice Chat Recording Mode: choose Push to Talk or Open Mic.
• Open Mic Recording Threshold: available with Open Mic. A higher threshold ignores more quiet sound but can cut off soft speech.
• Voice Chat Volume: controls how loud other players are for you. It does not change how loud you are.

Change one setting at a time and test after each change. That way you know which control made the difference, and you can return to the previous value if it gets worse.

Check the output

• If the game's audio settings include a microphone test, speak at your normal in-match volume and watch the meter. Speech should register clearly without staying pinned at the maximum.
• On Windows, compare with the meter in the system Sound settings. If the Windows meter barely moves, raise the input level there before raising it in the game.
• Ask a teammate in a lobby or private match how you sound. Ask specifically about volume, distortion and background noise. Meters show signal level, not sound quality.
• Test with Push to Talk and with Open Mic if you switch between them, because the threshold affects only Open Mic.

A higher level does not mean better sound. Pushing gain too far causes clipping, which teammates hear as harsh distortion, and it also picks up more of the room. If the mic sounds thin or noisy at a reasonable level, the limit is likely the microphone or its placement rather than a setting.

Common problems and next steps

Teammates cannot hear you at all

Confirm that voice chat is on and that the correct input device is selected in both the system and the game. Check the hardware mute and the recording mode. With Push to Talk, nothing is sent until you press the bound key or button. On PC, check that microphone access is allowed for desktop apps in Windows privacy settings. If you are in a console party, your voice goes to the party, not to the in-game lobby chat.

Your mic is too quiet

Raise the system input level first, then the in-game microphone volume. Move a boom mic closer to the corner of your mouth. If you use Open Mic, lower the recording threshold slightly so quieter speech is not cut off.

Your mic is too loud or distorted

Lower the input level at the source. That means the Windows slider, the PS5 microphone level or the headset gain. Then adjust the in-game volume. Turn off any extra mic boost or enhancement options in your headset software if they push the signal too hot.

Background noise or keyboard clicks come through

Switch to Push to Talk, or raise the Open Mic threshold until typing and fan noise no longer trigger transmission. Reducing the input level and moving the mic closer to your mouth also helps, because your voice then stands out more from the background.

The mic works elsewhere but not in the game

On PC, the game may be using a different input device than your other apps. Select the device explicitly in the game settings. Some players also find it helps to set the microphone's sample rate in the Windows device properties to match the output device. If the problem started after you plugged in or removed a device, restart the game so it detects the current input and output devices.