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Why Does My PS4 Mic Keep Cutting Out? How to Troubleshoot+Fix

There’s nothing more frustrating than being in the middle of a Call of Duty match and not being able to communicate to your friends that they’re being flanked. Multiplayer games require clever strategy and excellent communication, but what happens when you experience even a slight mic disturbance? Simply put, it’s game over. 

Your PS4 mic might be cutting out because of faulty or incompatible hardware, or because the settings on your PS4 aren’t correct. You can troubleshoot mic issues by testing the mic with another device, and double-checking your mic input settings. First, make sure you’re not just muted!  

A malfunctioning mic puts a damper on any PS4 multiplayer experience. Let’s look at some of the reasons why your mic might keep cutting out before moving on to the various fixes. And just so you know, we’re going to be covering troubleshooting for PC as well, in case part of you diagnosing your PS4 mic issue involves trying to make it work on your PC, or if you just like using the same headset for both!

Why is Your Mic Cutting Out? 

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Your mic might be causing problems because of faulty hardware or incorrect software configuration. If the mic isn’t cutting out because of hardware issues, the problem might lie with out-of-order PS4 or audio settings. 

At times, overused and loose mic cables can also cut the sound out. 

Troubleshooting Steps to Identify the Problems

Before you jump to a solution, it’s important to understand the reason behind the problem. Here are a few steps that can help you identify exactly what’s causing the issue:

Test Your Headset Mic With Another Device

You can quickly determine the reason behind your mic problem by using it with another device. If the mic works perfectly, then the problem may lie with your PS4 or its controller. 

Alternatively, you can try using a different set of headphones with your PS4 to determine the cause of the issue. Even the simplest pair of earphones with a mic will effectively get the job done.

Unmute!

Everybody has forgotten to unmute our mic at least once during a gaming session, especially in the middle of an intense match. In fact, this honest mistake is so common that some manufacturers design mics that beep periodically whenever they’re muted. 

It’s better to check whether your mic is muted before starting any gaming session, as fixing this problem only requires a push of a button. 

Check Hardware Compatibility

To someone who’s not sorta techy, all headphone jacks look the same. However, the type of jack you’re using actually determines the functionality of the mic.

There are three different plug types for jacks: TRRS, TRS, and TS. You can easily determine the type by counting the rings on the jack.

  • TRRS plug: Three black rings with support for both microphone input and audio.
  • TRS plug: Two black rings with support for either microphone input or audio at one time. 
  • TS plug: One black ring without support for microphone input.

If you connect a TRS plug into a TRRS socket, you won’t have a working mic. The same will happen if you connect a TRRS plug to a TRS socket. PS4 controllers have a TRRS socket, so make sure you have a headset with a TRRS jack as well. 

Connect the Headset Properly   

When you connect your headset to the controller, you should hear a satisfying click, ensuring a secure connection. You can also slightly pull the cable to check if it feels secure. 

If the cable is falling out or if you’re able to pull it out too easily, you might have a loose headphone jack. This can also be why your mic isn’t working, as the jack conductors might not be making proper contact.

Best Solutions to Fix A Mic That Isn’t Working

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It’s frankly impossible to successfully finish a multiplayer game without a working headset. The following are a few methods you can use to re-establish mic functionality on your PS4, starting with hardware issues and then exploring some software tweaks.

And, for those of you that have a dual-use headset like the Turtle Beach – Ear Force Elite 800 (on Amazon), we’re going to make sure to talk about some PC-specific fixes, since many people use 1 headset for their consoles and PCs interchangeably.

Check the Hardware Connections and Functions

If you’re able to hear your friends in the party chat, but they’re unable to hear you, you can try two things. First, you can check the headset connections. 

To do this, make sure all cables are plugged properly into their respective ports. It’s also advisable to check whether dust or any other obstacles are preventing your mic from working properly. 

If that doesn’t work, it’s appropriate to turn your attention from the headset connections to the actual boom mic itself. If your mic keeps cutting out, the problem might be with your mic boom. To fix this issue, you can purchase a new mic boom, or try this simple (but non-official) solution: 

  1. Connect your headset to your PS4 controller.
  2. Unplug the mic halfway out from the controller, and then connect it back. Keep repeating this step until you hear a buzz-like sound. 
  3. Test your mic again to check if it works. 

Check for Updates to the Sound Card Driver

If your mic isn’t working with your PC either, try updating the audio driver. You can either update your driver manually or automatically.

For a manual update, you can find the latest sound driver for your mic on your mic manufacturer’s website, and install it on your computer. Keep in mind that a manual update requires a little time and technical know-how.

If you don’t have the time or technical knowledge to manually update your sound card driver, you can do it automatically with Driver Easy. This software determines the correct driver status in your computer and installs the correct version for your PC. 

Check the Settings in Your PS4

If you’re sure that your headset and mic boom aren’t causing the problem, then there might be an issue with your console settings. You can follow these steps to check whether your PS4 is configured with the right settings.

  1. Go to the PS4 settings menu and select “Devices,” then “Audio Devices.”
     
  2. Select “Input Device,” then “Headset Connected to Controller.”
  3. Select “Output Device,” then “Headset Connected to Controller.” 
  4. Select “Volume Control (Headphones)” and maximize the level. 
  5. Select “Output to Headphones,” then “All Audio.”
  6. Select “Adjust Microphone Level” and follow the wizard for proper mic calibration. 

If your PS4 is still unable to detect your mic, try the next method.

Check Your PC’s Audio Settings

You can check the functionality of your microphone by plugging it into another working computer. If your mic still isn’t working, you might need to purchase a new headset. However, if your mic works on your computer, you might need to fix the audio settings. You can do this by following these steps.

  1. Connect your microphone to your computer. 
  2. On your desktop, go to the bottom right corner, select and hold the speaker icon, then select “Recording devices.”  
  3. Go to the “Sound” pane, select the “Recording” tab, and check whether the mic is set as the default option. If your mic is not set as default, select the “Set Default” button for proper configuration.
  4. Select OK to save the new settings. 
  5. Go back to the “Sound” pane and select the “Recording” button. Select your default mic, and then select the “Properties” option. 
  6. Select the “Levels” tab, and then adjust the “Microphone Boost” and “Microphone Level” to high or medium to unmute your mic. 
  7. Select OK to save the new settings. 
  8. Connect the microphone to your PS4 to check if it works. 

Replace Your PS4 Microphone  

It’s advisable to test your mic on other devices, such as your PC or phone. If your microphone doesn’t work with any device, you’ll have to purchase a new PS4 microphone. 

Test Your Mic After Fixing  

You can use the PS4’s mic monitoring feature, known as “Sidetone volume”, to check if your mic is working. Mic monitoring feeds your mic input into the headphones, allowing you to hear yourself talking. It’s an excellent way to hear how your friends hear your voice.