How To Fix The PS5 Mic Echo

The PlayStation 5 comes with the latest 3D audio support, but even that doesn’t seem good enough when your headset is echoing dreadfully. Mic echo is more common than you’d think, and it can be a real pain. Here are some tips on how to fix the PS5 mic echo.

To fix the PS5 mic echo, try using a headset mic and lower the mic sensitivity and system volume. You can also turn off 3D audio for headphones, and try to keep your environment as quiet as possible to reduce external noise. If the issue persists, you might want to reset your PS5 console.

There are several reasons why your PS5 might echo. It could be a problem with your mic, your settings, or your controller. Perhaps it isn’t you, and your friend’s mic is actually causing the echo. If you’re using a Bluetooth headset, the most likely culprit is interference. Let’s go over each of these solutions one by one and see if we can fix the mic echo on your PS5.

What Causes Mic Echo on the PS5?

Mic echos can originate from a handful of different sources. It might be something you’re doing, or it might be an issue with the PS5 itself. As we mentioned in our Ultimate PS5 Owner’s Guide, this is more likely to be an issue if you’re using an external USB mic with your PS5, and if you’re experiencing other PS5 audio glitches, be sure to see our separate guide for that. Here’s a breakdown of major sources that cause mic echo:

1. Hardware causes: A low-quality or damaged headset obviously degrades audio quality and might cause an echo. This is especially true if you’re using a Bluetooth headset prone to dropouts or interference. 
   
2. Wrong settings: Mic sensitivity play a big part in the quality of your voice input. It will pick up a lot of background noise if it’s too high, and even slight movements can create an echo.
   
3. Bad environment: When you’re in a noisy room with loud TV or people talking around you, your mic will have a hard time filtering out all the background noise, resulting in unnecessary echoes.
   
   Surroundings also matter — if you’re in a place with lots of WiFi connections or other electronic devices, they might interfere with the Bluetooth mics and cause echoes.
   
4. Faulty audio input: The PS5 gives several external audio input options. If you’re using your headset mic, make sure other audio sources are turned off. PS5 controller mics are especially notorious for picking up distorted audio, and many users have had to deal with the echoes as a result.

Controller Mic Vs. Headset Mic

The PS5 DualSense controller (on Amazon) comes with a built-in mic that comes in handy in certain situations. But let’s be honest — it doesn’t replace a proper gaming headset. One big reason is that it’s inside the controller with many other electronics and can therefore pick up vibrations and other noises, which add to the bad audio quality.

Though the PS5 has some mitigating factors like weakening the vibration intensity, the overall performance still suffers.

On the other hand, gaming headsets are designed specifically for voice input and do a much better job in this department, not to mention the added features and comfort that come with them. So if you’re looking for the best audio experience, it’s worth getting a gaming headset for your PS5.

You can use Airpods with your PS5 using a Bluetooth adapter, but any adapter method is going to be more likely to introduce lag or mic echo. This isn’t too surprising, to find errors with this setup. PS5 Headset doesn’t play super nicely with Xbox, so it’s no surprise Apple’s Airpods aren’t seamless on the PS5.

How Can You the Fix PS5 Mic Echo?

Now let’s get to the main question — how do you fix this annoying problem? You have a few options to try:

• Fix 1 – Use an external mic: The PS5 controller mic is more likely to cause an echo. Try using a headset with a good mic like the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Wireless Gaming Headset (on Amazon) instead.
  
• Fix 2 – Reset the mic sensitivity: This is the first thing you should do, as it’s often the culprit. To reset the mic sensitivity, follow these steps:
  
  1) Go to Settings -> Sound -> Adjust Microphone Level.
  
  2) Select your headset from the Output Device menu.
  
  3) Move the ‘Microphone level’ slider to the left a notch or two and test your mic until you find the sweet spot.
  
• Fix 3 – Reset the controller: Some users have reported a small glitch where, despite connecting an external mic, sometimes the controller mic still picks up the audio and causes echoes. A quick reset of the controller can fix this problem:
  
  1) Flip the controller, locate the small hole near the Sony logo and use a paperclip or toothpick to press and hold the reset button for 3-5 seconds.
  
  2) After the controller restarts, reconnect the external mic (if you’re using one) and test the microphone.
  
• Fix 4 – Lower the volume: If your speaker is too loud and leaking sounds into the microphone, it can create echoes. So make sure you keep the volume at a reasonable level. Also, move to a quieter environment, or at least further away from the noisy TVs.
  
• Fix 5 – Restart your PS5: Sometimes, a quick restart can help with various audio glitches, including the echo problem.
  

Alongside these fixes, there are a couple other matters to keep in mind:

Audio Input

As we mentioned before, the PS5 controller mic isn’t the best when it comes to echoes, and an external headset is actually a lot better. It’s also highly recommended to turn off the controller mic manually while using an external headset, and there are valid reasons for this.

First, if you connect the headset while the controller mic is on mute, the system doesn’t change the audio input to the headset only, and you could have two mics active at once. Many users have shared their frustration with this “bug,” and it’s still not clear if Sony has addressed it.

Second, you lose some great sound-enhancing features when the controller mic is set to default. For example, the Vibration Intensity and Trigger Effect Intensity are automatically lowered with the controller mic, so you can’t enjoy the DualSense to its fullest anyways. 

• To mute the controller mic, press the mic button just under the PS button. You’ll see it turn orange, which means the mic is off. 
  
• To turn off the controller mic completely, go to Settings -> Sound -> Microphone, and toggle the microphone status to mute.

Controller Mic and 3D Audio

One significant selling point of the PS5 is the 3D audio support, which, no doubt, is an impressive technology and greatly improves the gaming experience. The bad news, though, is that all headphones don’t support 3D audio, and when you use it with a controller mic, it just doesn’t work well.

In fact, it can actually create more echoes. So, if you’re having trouble with echoes, try disabling the 3D audio.

• Go to Settings -> Sound -> Audio Output.
  
• Scroll down to the Headphones section and toggle off the ‘Enable 3D Audio.’

Troubleshooting Tips

Besides all the technical solutions we mentioned above, here are a few more general tips that might help you fix the echo problem:

1. If you’re using a headset mic, make sure it’s properly positioned and not too close to your mouth. Speak normally, and don’t shout into the mic.
   
2. Avoid background noise and try to move to a quieter place if possible.
   
3. A pop filter can also help reduce noise and plosives that cause echoes.
   
4. Check if your controller is low on battery. A dying controller can also have sound issues.
   
5. Wireless interference can also cause audio glitches, so if you’re using a wireless headset, try moving it closer to the PS5 and remove any obstacles between them.
   
6. Some games have their own audio options that you can tweak. So, if you’re having trouble with a specific game, check the game settings as well.
   
7. Make sure your PS5 console is updated to the latest firmware version.