Symptoms
- Game sound plays but no voices from other players
- Chat audio works in the app but not in-game
- Volume for chat seems muted or very low
- Chat worked before but stopped after an update
Likely causes
- CommonChat audio balance set too low or muted in settingsMany consoles let you separately adjust game and chat volume.
- CommonWrong audio output device selected for chatChat audio can route differently than game audio.
- PossibleMuted specific players in the party by accidentEasy to mute someone unintentionally from a quick menu.
- PossibleHeadset or controller speaker malfunctionPhysical hardware issue would affect all audio, not just chat.
- Less commonApp or system update changed default audio settingsUpdates sometimes reset custom audio preferences.
What to do
- Check the in-game or system audio balance between game volume and chat volume.
- Confirm the correct output device, like your headset, is selected for chat audio specifically.
- Check the party member list for anyone accidentally muted.
- Test chat audio outside of a game, directly in the party or messaging app.
- Try a different headset or the controller's built-in speaker to isolate a hardware issue.
- Restart the console to reset any stuck audio routing.
- If chat audio fails on multiple headsets in multiple apps, check for a pending system update addressing audio bugs.
When to call a pro
This is a settings issue and doesn't typically require professional repair.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.