If your Discord mic picks up every tiny sound in your room, such as keyboard clicks, breathing, or a fan, your voice activation threshold is set too low. This setting controls how loud a sound must be before Discord transmits your audio. When the threshold is too low, background noise triggers your mic constantly, causing voice breakups and annoying others in the channel. This article explains how to find the correct threshold level and adjust it so your voice is heard clearly without unwanted noise.
Key Takeaways: Adjusting Discord Voice Activation Threshold
- User Settings > Voice & Video > Input Mode > Voice Activity: Switch from Push to Talk to Voice Activity to use threshold settings.
- User Settings > Voice & Video > Input Sensitivity > Automatically Determine: Disable this to manually set the threshold slider.
- User Settings > Voice & Video > Input Sensitivity slider: Drag the slider right to raise the threshold, requiring louder sounds to activate the mic.
What Is Voice Activation Threshold and Why Does It Matter?
Discord’s voice activation system uses a decibel-based threshold to decide when to transmit your audio. The threshold is the minimum loudness level that triggers your mic. If the threshold is set too low, even soft noises like a mouse click or a sigh will activate the mic. If set too high, your voice may cut in and out or not be heard at all. The correct threshold allows your voice to be transmitted clearly while filtering out background noise.
Discord offers two input modes. Push to Talk requires you to hold a key to transmit. Voice Activity mode automatically transmits when your sound exceeds the threshold. For most users, Voice Activity mode is more convenient, but it requires careful threshold adjustment to avoid false triggers.
Steps to Adjust the Voice Activation Threshold
- Open User Settings
Click the gear icon in the bottom-left corner of the Discord window, next to your username and avatar. - Go to Voice & Video Settings
In the left sidebar, scroll down to App Settings and click Voice & Video. - Select Voice Activity as Input Mode
Under Input Mode, choose Voice Activity. Push to Talk does not use the threshold slider. - Disable Automatic Input Sensitivity
Under Input Sensitivity, uncheck the box labeled Automatically determine input sensitivity. This reveals the manual sensitivity slider. - Adjust the Threshold Slider
Drag the slider to the right to raise the threshold. A higher threshold means louder sounds are required to activate the mic. As you speak, a green bar shows your voice level. Adjust so the bar moves only when you speak at a normal volume, not when you breathe or click your mouse. - Test the New Setting
Speak normally into your mic. The circle next to your name in a voice channel should light up only when you speak. If it lights up from background noise, increase the threshold further. If your voice cuts out, lower the threshold slightly.
Common Issues After Adjusting the Threshold
My Voice Still Cuts Out Even With a High Threshold
If your voice cuts out, the threshold is too high. Lower the slider slightly until your voice transmits smoothly. Also check your mic’s physical position and volume. A distant or quiet mic may need a lower threshold.
Background Noise Is Still Picked Up After Adjusting
If background noise still triggers the mic, the threshold is still too low. Raise it further. You can also enable Discord’s Echo Cancellation and Noise Suppression features in the same Voice & Video settings page. These filters reduce background hum and keyboard sounds. For persistent noise, use a noise gate in a third-party app like VoiceMeeter.
The Slider Does Not Appear
The manual sensitivity slider only appears when you disable Automatically determine input sensitivity. If the checkbox is grayed out, make sure you selected Voice Activity as your Input Mode. Push to Talk mode hides the slider entirely.
Threshold Resets After Restarting Discord
This is rare but can happen if Discord’s settings file is corrupted. Reset Discord settings by going to User Settings > Voice & Video > Reset Voice Settings. Then reapply your threshold adjustment. If the problem continues, reinstall Discord.
| Item | Voice Activity Mode | Push to Talk Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Auto-transmits when voice exceeds threshold | Requires holding a key to transmit |
| Best for | Hands-free use, quiet environments | Noisy environments, selective transmission |
| Threshold adjustment | Manual slider available | Not available |
| Background noise risk | Higher if threshold is too low | Lower, because mic only opens when key is held |
| Setup complexity | Requires careful slider tuning | Requires choosing a key binding |
After adjusting your voice activation threshold, you should experience cleaner audio transmission. Test your setting in a private voice channel before joining a public one. For even better audio quality, explore Discord’s advanced voice filters like Krisp noise suppression, which is available in the same Voice & Video settings panel.