Fix Discord Voice Settings Resetting After Each App Update

After updating the Discord app, many users find that their voice settings—such as input device, output device, volume levels, and noise suppression—have reverted to defaults. This happens because the update process can overwrite the local configuration file where these preferences are stored. In this article, you will learn why Discord voice settings reset after updates and how to prevent or recover them.

Why Discord Voice Settings Reset After Updates

Discord stores your voice settings in a local configuration file called settings.json. This file is located in the %appdata%\discord folder on Windows. When Discord updates, the installer may replace this file with a fresh default version, which erases your customizations. This behavior is intentional: the update process aims to ensure compatibility with new features by resetting potentially outdated settings. However, it can be frustrating if you have carefully tuned your input and output devices, noise suppression, and volume levels.

The reset typically affects the following settings:

• Input device (microphone)
• Output device (speakers or headphones)
• Input volume
• Output volume
• Noise suppression mode (e.g., Krisp, Standard, or Off)
• Echo cancellation
• Automatic gain control
• Voice activity detection sensitivity

The same issue can occur when you manually reinstall Discord or clear the app cache. Understanding this root cause helps you take proactive steps to preserve your settings.

Steps to Prevent Voice Settings From Resetting After Updates

1. Back Up the settings.json File Before Updating
   Press Win + R to open the Run dialog. Type %appdata%\discord and press Enter. In the folder that opens, locate the file named settings.json. Right-click it and select Copy. Paste it into a safe location, such as your Desktop or a dedicated backup folder. After the update completes, if your settings are reset, close Discord completely, copy the backup settings.json back into the %appdata%\discord folder, and restart Discord.
2. Disable Automatic Updates Temporarily
   Discord does not offer a built-in toggle to disable updates entirely, but you can prevent updates from downloading by running Discord as administrator and blocking the update process in Windows Firewall. Open Windows Security > Firewall & network protection > Advanced settings. Create outbound rules for discord.exe and update.exe located in %localappdata%\Discord. This stops Discord from checking for updates, but you must manually allow updates later to get new features and security patches.
3. Use Discord Canary or Public Test Build
   Discord Canary and the Public Test Build receive updates less frequently than the stable release. Install Discord Canary from the official Discord website. Because updates are less frequent, the chance of settings resetting is lower. Keep in mind that these builds may contain experimental features with bugs.
4. Reapply Settings After Update Using a Script
   If you are comfortable with scripting, you can create a batch file that copies a saved settings.json back to the %appdata%\discord folder after each update. Create a text file with the following content:
   @echo off
xcopy /y "C:\path\to\backup\settings.json" "%appdata%\discord\settings.json"
pause
   Replace the path with the actual location of your backup. Save the file as restore_discord_settings.bat and run it after every Discord update.

If Discord Voice Settings Still Reset After the Main Fix

Discord Keeps Resetting Input Device After Every Restart

If your input device resets even without an update, the issue may be caused by Windows granting exclusive control to another app. Open Windows Settings > System > Sound > More sound settings. Go to the Recording tab, right-click your microphone, and select Properties. Under the Advanced tab, uncheck Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device. Click OK and restart Discord.

Discord Resets Output Volume After Update

Output volume settings are also stored in settings.json. If only the output volume resets, try the backup method described in the previous section. Additionally, check if Windows has a separate volume mixer setting for Discord. Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and select Open Volume Mixer. Ensure Discord’s volume slider is not set too low or muted.

Noise Suppression Mode Keeps Changing to Standard

Noise suppression mode is part of the voice settings that can reset after updates. If you use Krisp noise suppression, note that it requires an active Discord Nitro subscription or a server boost on the server you are in. If your subscription expires, Discord automatically reverts to Standard noise suppression. To restore Krisp, ensure your Nitro subscription is active, then go to User Settings > Voice & Video and select Krisp under Noise Suppression.

Discord Update Types: Stable vs Canary vs Public Test Build

Item	Stable	Canary
Update frequency	Weekly to bi-weekly	Daily to weekly
Settings reset risk	Higher	Lower
Stability	Most stable	May contain bugs
Recommended for	Regular use	Testing new features

Discord Stable is the default client most users run. It receives updates regularly, which means settings are more likely to reset. Discord Canary updates less frequently, reducing the chance of reset, but it is less stable. Choose based on your tolerance for bugs versus your need for consistent settings.

By backing up the settings.json file before each update, you can restore your voice settings in seconds. You can also consider switching to Discord Canary for fewer updates or using a script to automate the restoration. If you experience resets outside of updates, check Windows exclusive control settings and your Nitro subscription status. With these steps, you will no longer lose your carefully tuned voice configuration after a Discord update.