How to Unmute Yourself on Discord

What You’ll Need

A Discord account (free or paid)
Discord app installed on your device (desktop, mobile, or web browser)
A working microphone (built-in or external)
Permission to speak in the voice channel (if you’re in a server, the admin may have set a “mute all” or “voice” role that restricts speaking)

Step-by-Step

Join a voice channel – Open Discord and click on a voice channel (the ones with a speaker icon) to connect. If you’re already in a channel, skip to the next step.
Check your mute status – Once in the voice channel, look at the bottom-left corner of the Discord window (desktop) or the voice channel bar (mobile). You’ll see a microphone icon. If it has a red slash through it, you’re muted.
Unmute by clicking the icon – Click the microphone icon to unmute. On desktop, it’s in the bottom-left near your avatar. On mobile, it’s usually at the bottom of the screen while in the channel. The red slash should disappear.
Use the keybind (optional) – If you prefer keyboard shortcuts, press Ctrl+Shift+M (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+M (Mac) to toggle mute. This works even when Discord is in the background.

If you’re still not heard after unmuting, check your input device settings (see Troubleshooting).

Common Mistakes

Muting in the wrong place – There’s a mute button in the voice channel itself (for everyone) and a mute button on your own user. Make sure you’re clicking your own microphone icon, not the channel’s mute button.
Forgetting to unmute before speaking – Some users mute themselves when they’re not talking and forget to unmute. Always double-check the icon before speaking.
Using the wrong keybind – If you’ve customized your keybinds, the default Ctrl+Shift+M might not work. Go to User Settings > Keybinds to see your current toggle mute key.
Not checking the input device – Unmuting won’t help if Discord is using the wrong microphone (e.g., a webcam mic instead of your headset).

Tips

Use push-to-talk – If you have background noise, set your input mode to Push-to-Talk in Voice & Video settings. Then you can assign a key to hold while speaking, which avoids accidental unmuting.
Set a convenient keybind – Change your toggle mute key to something easy like F1 or a mouse side button. Go to User Settings > Keybinds to add a new keybind.
Use the overlay – When gaming, enable the in-game overlay to see your mute status and click to unmute without alt-tabbing.
Test before joining – Use the “Let’s Check” microphone test in Voice & Video settings to verify your mic works before entering a channel.

Troubleshooting

You unmuted but no one can hear you. First, check your input device: go to User Settings > Voice & Video. Under Input Device, select the correct microphone. Speak and watch the input sensitivity bar—if it doesn’t move, your mic isn’t being detected. Try a different USB port or restart Discord.

You see a red slash on the mic icon even after clicking. This might be a server mute. If a server admin or moderator has muted you (they can do this via the user list), you can’t unmute yourself. You’ll see a message like “You are muted by a server admin.” Contact a moderator.

You’re muted on mobile but can’t find the icon. On the mobile app, while in a voice channel, tap the bottom bar where your name appears. The mute button is usually a microphone icon in that panel. If it’s not there, tap the channel name at the top to expand options.

Keybind doesn’t work. Ensure Discord is in focus or running in the background with the keybind enabled. If you’re using push-to-talk, make sure you’re holding the correct key. Check your keybinds in User Settings > Keybinds.

You’re unmuted but your voice is too quiet. Adjust input volume in Voice & Video settings. Also, check if your mic is set to “Voice Activity” and the sensitivity is too high—lower the threshold so it doesn’t pick up background noise.

Discord says “No microphone” or “Mic not found.” Restart your computer, check if the mic works in other apps (like a voice recorder), and ensure Discord has permission to use the mic on your OS (Windows: Settings > Privacy > Microphone; macOS: System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Microphone).

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my mic keep muting itself?

Discord might be automatically muting you if it detects no audio for a while (that’s a feature in some server settings). Or, you might be accidentally pressing your mute keybind. Check your keybind settings and consider changing it if it’s near your movement keys.

Can I unmute myself if the server has muted me?

No. If a server admin or moderator has muted you, the mute is enforced server-side. You’ll see a message in the voice channel saying you’re muted by an admin. You can ask a moderator to unmute you.

How do I unmute on Discord mobile?

While in a voice channel, tap the bottom bar (where your name and avatar appear). A panel slides up with a microphone icon. Tap it to unmute. You can also use the headphone icon to mute yourself (deafen) if needed.

What is the default mute keybind?

The default toggle mute keybind is Ctrl+Shift+M (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+M (Mac). You can change it in User Settings > Keybinds.

Why can I hear others but they can’t hear me?

This usually means your input device is not set correctly or your mic is muted. Check your Voice & Video settings and ensure the correct mic is selected. Also, test your mic with the “Let’s Check” feature.

Does unmuting work if I’m in a channel with a “mute all” enabled?

If the channel has a “mute all” enabled by a moderator, you cannot unmute yourself. The channel mute overrides individual mutes. You’ll see a speaker icon with a slash in the channel header.

Sources: Discord Support. Menus and buttons can differ slightly by version. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.