12 Ways to Fix Discord Audio Cutting Out Errors

"Whenever I'm on a voice channel or call, the other person's audio cuts out randomly while they're talking." —Reddit User

Discord is a go-to for gamers, remote workers, and communities alike, but the audio cutting out issue is driving users crazy. Whether you're chatting with friends or in a meeting, hearing your voice suddenly drop can be frustrating.

Here are 12 ways to fix Discord audio cutting out errors and get back to smooth communication, and avoid the sudden jaggy robot voice.

Bonus Tips: Besides Discord Audio Cutting Out errors, if you also have issues such as background noise in recorded Discord video and audio, you can use AI Audio Noise reduction tool in VideoProc Converter AI to enhance your media quality.

Download VideoProc Converter AI to reduce audio noise, and enjoy professional-grade audio quality for Discord screen recordings, podcasts, lectures, etc.

1. Restart Your Network Devices

A quick but effective fix for Discord audio cutting out is to restart your router and modem. Simply unplug both, wait 30 seconds, and plug them back in. This can help resolve any network-related hiccups that might be causing audio channels to cut out.

Bonus Tip:

1. Adding a Wi-Fi antenna to the back of your PC can sometimes improve your connection, especially if you're using a wireless network.
2. Check for any firmware updates for your modem or router, as outdated firmware can lead to connectivity issues and audio problems in apps like Discord.

2. Reset Your Voice Settings

If things are still glitchy, try resetting your voice settings in Discord. This can help if there's a misconfiguration causing the issue.

How to Reset:

Step 1. Go to User Settings > Voice & Video.

Step 2. Scroll down, and click "Reset Voice Settings."

Make sure your input/output devices are properly set in both Discord and your system settings.

3. Disable Echo Protection

Echo protection settings in Discord can sometimes cause the mic to cut in and out. Disabling this might help solve the issue.

How to disable:

Step 1. Go to User Settings > Voice & Video

Step 2. Scroll down to toggle off Echo Cancellation.

4. Switch to Push-to-Talk Mode

If you're using voice activation and experiencing Discord audio cutting out errors, try switching to Push-to-Talk mode. This can help eliminate background noise and prevent Discord from accidentally cutting out your audio.

How to Enable Push-to-Talk:

Step 1. Go to User Settings > Voice & Video, and select Push to Talk.

Step 2. Assign a shortcut key to use it conveniently using the Record Keybind button.

Step 3. Test the Push to Talk Release Delay to your liking.

Note: For the web Discord version, the Push to Talk feature will only work when the browser tab is activated.

5. Adjust Windows Exclusive Control Settings

Exclusive control settings in Windows can sometimes interfere with Discord's audio. Disabling this can help prevent conflicts between Discord and other apps like games.

For instance, a Reddit user mentioned that they are playing Blizzard games and voice chatting in Discord, and third party programs prevent the game from accessing the speakers and the headset, resulting in Discord audio cutting out issues.

How to Enable Exclusive Control for Your Headset and Microphone:

Step 1. Press Windows + R and type mmsys.cpl, and press Enter.

Step 2. Right-click your speakers or headset under the Playback tab and select Properties.

Step 3. Go to the Advanced tab and uncheck "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device."

Step 4. Repeat for your microphone in the Recording tab.

6. Disable Discord Overlay in Games

If you're playing a game while using Discord, try disabling the Discord overlay. Sometimes, the overlay can interfere with your mic or audio.

How to Disable:

Go to User Settings > Game Overlay, and turn off the overlay feature.

7. Check Your Headset's Settings

Sometimes the issue can be related to your headset's settings. For instance, a Reddit user mentioned that he is using the Blue Yeti microphone while the Discord audio cutting out issues crop up.

How to Fix:

Disable any third-party software or drivers that come with your microphone (like Logitech's G-Hub for Blue Yeti).

In Windows Sound Settings, disable any extra audio output devices that you're not using.

Bonus Tips:

If you're using a USB headset, try swapping to an aux cord instead. USB headsets can sometimes cause issues with Discord, and using a wired connection might bypass some of those problems.

8. Reconfigure Audio Device Defaults

Windows settings can sometimes override Discord’s audio settings, causing conflicts. Make sure that your default devices are correctly set.

How to Reconfigure:

Step 1. Right-click the speaker icon on your taskbar and select Sounds.

Step 2. Under both the Playback and Recording tabs, right-click your headset or microphone and ensure it is set as both the Default Device and Default Communication Device.

Some Windows versions use Output and Input for Playback and Recording.

Step 3. Disable any unused devices to prevent conflicts.

9. Set the Right Input Sensitivity

If Discord is not picking up your voice properly, adjusting the input sensitivity might help.

How to Adjust:

In User Settings > Voice & Video, uncheck automatically determine input sensitivity.

Adjust the slider until your voice is consistently detected (it should be green when speaking).

10. Adjust Discord Audio Channel Server Region

Audio issues can be tied to the server you're connected to. Sometimes, changing the audio server region can help. Here's how to do it:

Step 1. Hover over the voice channel and click the gear icon.

Step 2. Hit the Edit Channel option.

Step 3. Under the region override menu, choose a different region.

This might solve any latency or connectivity issues that are causing the audio to cut out.

11. Switch to a Web Browser

If you're using the Discord app, try switching to the web version (discord.com) to see if the issue persists. Some users find that the standalone app can be buggy at times.

12. Check for Low RAM or PC Performance Issues

If you're using a low-RAM system, such as an older laptop, it might struggle to handle Discord's voice processing alongside other tasks. Upgrading your RAM or closing unnecessary applications might help.

Wrap Up

There's no one-size-fits-all solution to Discord audio cutting out errors, but with these troubleshooting steps, you've got plenty of options to try. Whether it's tweaking your settings, updating drivers, or simply restarting your network, one (or more) of these methods should help you get back to smooth conversations in no time.

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