Voice Chat Not Working Sea of Thrones PC? Here’s How to Fix It Fast
Ahoy, pirate! You’ve just boarded your sloop, cannons are loaded, treasure maps unfurled — and then… silence. Your crewmates’ voices? Gone. The frantic shouts of “Skeletons on the beach!” or “Man the capstan!”? Nowhere to be heard. If you’re playing Sea of Thieves on PC and your voice chat not working, you’re not alone — and more importantly, you’re not doomed to sail mute seas forever. This guide dives deep into why your mic might be failing and how to get your crew talking again — without losing your sanity or your loot.
Why Voice Chat Matters in Sea of Thieves
Let’s be real: Sea of Thieves is a game built on cooperation, chaos, and communication. Whether you’re coordinating cannon fire during a galleon battle or whispering stealth tactics before ambushing a fort, voice chat is the lifeblood of teamwork. Text chat can’t match the immediacy of yelling “Kraken!” as tentacles rise from the deep. When voice fails, immersion breaks, coordination crumbles, and fun sinks faster than a hole-ridden brigantine.
Many PC players report sudden voice chat dropouts, one-way audio, or complete mic silence — often after game updates, Windows patches, or driver changes. The good news? Most issues are fixable with a few targeted tweaks.
Step 1: Check In-Game Audio Settings
Before diving into system-level fixes, start inside the game. Open Sea of Thieves, head to Settings > Audio, and verify:
- Voice Chat is Enabled (obvious, but often overlooked after updates)
- Push-to-Talk vs. Open Mic — if using Push-to-Talk, ensure your assigned key isn’t conflicting with other software
- Input/Output Device Selection — sometimes the game defaults to the wrong mic or speakers after a reboot
Pro Tip: Test your mic using the built-in “Test Microphone” feature. If the green bar moves as you speak, the game detects your mic — meaning the issue likely lies outside the game.
Step 2: Validate Windows Sound Settings
Windows often redirects or mutes audio devices without warning. Here’s how to lock it down:
- Right-click the speaker icon in your taskbar → Open Sound settings
- Under “Input,” ensure your correct microphone is selected as the default device
- Click Device properties → make sure “Disable” is unchecked and volume is at 100%
- Go to App volume and device preferences → locate Sea of Thieves → confirm it’s using the right input/output
Case Study: One Reddit user discovered their mic was working in Discord and OBS, but silent in Sea of Thieves. The culprit? Windows had reassigned the game’s audio output to a disconnected Bluetooth headset. Resetting it to “Default” fixed everything.
Step 3: Update or Reinstall Audio Drivers
Outdated or corrupt audio drivers are a common villain. To update:
- Press
Win + X→ Device Manager - Expand “Audio inputs and outputs” and “Sound, video, and game controllers”
- Right-click your audio device → Update driver → “Search automatically”
- If that doesn’t help, Uninstall device → restart PC → Windows will reinstall fresh drivers
For Realtek, NVIDIA HD Audio, or USB headset users, visit the manufacturer’s site for the latest firmware. Some users report that rolling back to a previous driver version actually resolves voice issues introduced by recent Windows updates.
Step 4: Grant App Permissions (Windows 10/11)
Microsoft tightened mic privacy in recent OS versions. Even if your hardware works, Sea of Thieves might be blocked from accessing it.
Go to:
Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone
→ Toggle “Microphone access” ON
→ Scroll down to “Let apps access your microphone” → ensure Sea of Thieves is enabled
Bonus: While you’re here, check “Camera” and “Background apps” permissions — some players report voice issues linked to broader privacy restrictions.
Step 5: Disable Conflicting Software
Background apps like Discord, OBS, Voicemod, or even antivirus suites can hijack or mute your mic. Try:
- Closing all other voice-enabled apps before launching Sea of Thieves
- Temporarily disabling overlays (Steam, Xbox Game Bar, NVIDIA GeForce Experience)
- Running the game as Administrator (right-click shortcut → “Run as administrator”)
Real Player Experience: A Twitch streamer found that Voicemod’s virtual audio cable was intercepting his mic signal. Disabling Voicemod’s “Voice Changer” feature restored in-game chat instantly — no reboot required.
Step 6: Verify Game Files and Network
Corrupted game files or unstable connections can also break voice functionality.
On Steam:
- Library → right-click Sea of Thieves → Properties → Local Files → “Verify integrity of game files”
On Xbox App (PC):
- My Library → Sea of Thieves → three dots → “Manage” → “Verify and Repair”
Also, check your network:
- Use a wired Ethernet connection if possible
- Restart your router
- Disable any aggressive QoS or firewall rules that might throttle UDP voice packets
Step 7: Advanced Fixes — Registry & Config Files
If you’re still stuck, it’s time to go deeper — but cautiously.
Some users have resolved persistent voice issues by:
- Deleting the Sea of Thieves config folder (