If Discord and your game work separately but game audio disappears when you use them together, check your headset’s connection and microphone settings first. For Bluetooth earbuds or headphones, work through the checks below.
Why game audio changes when you join Discord
Bluetooth headphones can change their audio mode when a voice application starts using the microphone. This can explain why otherwise clear audio becomes muffled after joining a Discord call. Discord’s explanation of Bluetooth call audio
On Windows 10, a headset may expose separate Stereo and Hands-Free devices. Activating its microphone can interrupt audio sent to the Stereo output. Windows 11 can show unified devices instead, so you may not see separate entries with these names. Microsoft’s Bluetooth audio documentation
This explanation does not apply to every wireless headset. If you use a USB wireless receiver or wired headphones, also check the volume and output settings later in this guide.
Choose a different microphone in Discord
If another microphone is available, try changing Discord’s input device before disabling anything in Windows.
- Open User Settings using the gear beside your Discord profile.
- Go to Voice & Video.
- Select your laptop microphone, webcam microphone, or another connected microphone as the input.
- Select your headphones as the output.
- Run the microphone test to check that your voice is being captured.
Choose the actual device rather than leaving the selection on Default while troubleshooting. The exact layout can vary between Discord versions. Discord’s voice troubleshooting guide
Watch the headset microphone setup video
Disable the Bluetooth microphone if it keeps being used
If changing the input does not help, you can test with the headset microphone disabled. This also makes that microphone unavailable to other applications, so identify another microphone first if you need to speak.
- On Windows 11, open Settings → System → Sound → More sound settings.
- On Windows 10, open Settings → System → Sound → Sound Control Panel.
- Open the Recording tab.
- Find your Bluetooth headset’s microphone, right-click it, and disable it.
Its name may include Hands-Free AG Audio, but device labels vary. Make sure you are disabling the microphone under Recording. To undo the change, enable the same recording device again. Halo Support’s Bluetooth microphone workaround
Close and reopen Discord and the game, then compare the results.
Check the microphone selected inside the game
Your game’s voice chat may still be using the Bluetooth microphone even after you change Discord’s input.
Open the game’s audio or voice chat settings and select the other microphone there too. If you do not use in-game voice chat, temporarily turn it off and check whether the problem changes.
Using Bluetooth headphones for playback while selecting another device for microphone input is also a workaround described by game support. That other microphone does not have to be a newly purchased wired model. Arrowhead Game Studios’ guidance
Check attenuation if the game only becomes quieter
If game volume drops mainly when someone speaks, look for Attenuation in Discord’s Voice & Video settings. Set it to 0%, then test again. Discord’s attenuation instructions
Also check the Communications tab in the Windows Sound control panel and select Do nothing. This controls automatic volume reduction during communications; it does not change the Bluetooth audio profile. Microsoft’s guidance on communications volume
Check Windows volume and output settings
With the game running, open Settings → System → Sound → Volume mixer. Check that the game is not muted and is using the intended output.
Confirm that Windows also has your headphones selected for playback. A connected monitor or another speaker may otherwise receive the sound. Microsoft’s Windows audio troubleshooting guide
Can you keep using the headset microphone with stereo audio?
Some Windows 11 systems support stereo playback while a Bluetooth LE Audio microphone is active. Microsoft lists Windows 11 version 24H2 or newer, compatible PC hardware, manufacturer drivers, and an LE Audio headset among the requirements. This is not available on every Windows 11 computer. Microsoft’s LE Audio quality requirements
Check Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Devices for the LE Audio setting and review the manufacturers’ specifications. A Bluetooth version number alone does not establish LE Audio compatibility. How to check Windows LE Audio support