How to Adjust and Test Microphone Level on PS4

If party members say you sound too quiet, distorted or buried in room noise, the PS4 microphone level is the first setting to check. This guide shows where the level control is, how to set it with the on-screen meter and how to confirm the result.

Before you start

Changing the microphone level is a local console setting, so you don't need an online service to adjust it. A test with another person does need an online party or in-game voice chat, because that is the only way to hear how your voice reaches someone else.

• Connect the microphone you plan to use. This can be a headset plugged into the controller's audio jack, a USB headset or microphone, or the PlayStation Camera's built-in microphone.
• Make sure the controller is on and paired, because you navigate the settings with it.
• If you have changed the level before, note where the slider sits now so you can go back to it.

Step-by-step instructions

• From the home screen, open Settings.
• Go to Devices, then Audio Devices.
• Check that Input Device shows the microphone you want. If more than one is connected, select the correct one.
• Select Adjust Microphone Level.
• Speak at your normal gaming volume and watch the level meter.
• Move the slider until the meter responds clearly to your voice without staying pinned at the top, then confirm and leave the screen.

You can also reach the same control during a game. Hold the PS button to open the quick menu, choose Sound and Devices (labelled Sound/Devices on some system software versions), then Adjust Microphone Level. Menu labels vary between system software versions. If you can't find the option in the quick menu, use the Settings path above.

The other entries on the Audio Devices screen do different jobs. Output Device and Output to Headphones control what you hear, for example chat audio only or all audio. They do not change how loud your microphone is for others. If you switch to a different input device, check the level again, because microphones differ in sensitivity.

Check the output

Start with the meter on the Adjust Microphone Level screen. When you speak normally, the meter should move clearly but not jump to the maximum on every word. Then stay silent for a few seconds. If the meter still moves a lot, the microphone is picking up background noise such as fans, a TV or a keyboard, and a lower level or a closer mic position will help.

The meter shows input level only, so you can't hear yourself through it. For a real check, join a party with a friend and ask whether you sound loud enough, clean or clipped, and whether they hear game audio or room noise from your side. Also check the game's own voice chat settings, since some games have a separate chat volume or microphone sensitivity that works alongside the system level.

Common problems and next steps

• The meter doesn't move: confirm that Input Device shows your microphone, reseat the plug and make sure the mic isn't muted in the quick menu or by a switch on the headset.
• Adjust Microphone Level is unavailable or greyed out: the console may not detect a microphone, so reconnect it or try another port or headset.
• A headset on the controller jack isn't detected: the jack expects a headset plug that carries both audio and microphone. A headphone-only plug won't send your voice.
• Others say you're too quiet: raise the slider a step at a time and move the boom microphone closer to your mouth.
• Others hear distortion: lower the slider until loud speech no longer pushes the meter to its maximum.
• Others hear echo or game sound: the microphone is probably picking up your TV speakers, which is common with the camera microphone. A headset usually solves this.

If none of these steps help, try the same headset on another device. If it fails there too, the headset or cable is the likely cause. If it works elsewhere, recheck the console's input device selection and the game's voice chat settings.