Voice communication is an important part of ARC Raiders, especially when coordinating with teammates during high-risk extractions or intense combat moments. If you’re seeing a “failed to detect microphone” message or your voice chat simply doesn’t work, the problem is usually not your headset itself—but how the game interacts with your system.
Why ARC Raiders Fails to Detect Your Microphone
ARC Raiders relies heavily on system-level audio detection rather than automatic device switching. When something goes wrong, it’s usually due to one of these reasons:
- Windows is blocking microphone access for desktop games
- The wrong microphone is set as the default input device
- ARC Raiders is pointing to an inactive or disabled mic
- Another app is taking exclusive control of your microphone
- Voice chat is disabled or misconfigured in-game
Step 1: Check Windows Microphone Privacy Permissions
Before ARC Raiders can use your microphone, Windows must allow desktop apps to access it. Even a correctly connected headset will not work if this permission is off.
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What to check:
- Press Windows + I to open Settings
- Go to Privacy & Security
- Select Microphone under App permissions
Make sure all of the following are enabled:
- Microphone access
- Let apps access your microphone
- Let desktop apps access your microphone
If any of these are disabled, ARC Raiders will fail to detect your mic entirely.
Step 2: Set the Correct Microphone as Default in Windows
Many players use multiple audio devices—headsets, controllers, webcams, or external mics. ARC Raiders may try to use the wrong one if Windows hasn’t clearly defined a default.
How to fix it:
- Open Control Panel
- Go to Hardware and Sound → Sound
- Switch to the Recording tab
- Find the microphone you actually use
- Right-click it and choose:
- Set as Default Device
- Set as Default Communication Device
After applying this, speak into your mic and check if the green activity bar moves. If it doesn’t, Windows is still not receiving input.
Step 3: Manually Select Your Microphone Inside ARC Raiders
ARC Raiders does not always automatically sync with Windows audio changes, especially if devices were connected after the game launched.
In-game check:
- Launch ARC Raiders
- Open Settings
- Go to Audio or Voice Chat
- Locate Input Device or Microphone
- Manually select the same mic you set as default in Windows
Avoid leaving this option on “Default” if your mic isn’t being detected.
Step 4: Confirm Voice Chat Is Enabled in ARC Raiders
If your microphone is detected but teammates still can’t hear you, the issue may be related to voice chat settings rather than hardware.
Things to verify:
- Voice chat is turned On
- Push-to-Talk is mapped to a working key (if enabled)
- Open mic sensitivity is not set too low
- You are not muted in squad or proximity chat
Also check whether ARC Raiders uses team chat, proximity chat, or both, and test accordingly.
Step 5: Disable Exclusive Control for Your Microphone
Some applications like Discord, OBS, or audio drivers can take exclusive control of your mic, preventing ARC Raiders from accessing it.
How to disable it:
- Open Control Panel → Sound
- Go to the Recording tab
- Right-click your microphone → Properties
- Open the Advanced tab
- Uncheck:
- “Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device”
- Click Apply and restart the game
This step alone resolves the issue for many players.
Step 6: Close Background Apps Using the Microphone
If ARC Raiders still fails to detect your mic, close apps that commonly interfere with voice input:
- Discord (especially with input monitoring enabled)
- NVIDIA Broadcast
- OBS or streaming software
- Voice changers or audio filters
After closing them, restart ARC Raiders and test again.
Step 7: Restart the Game After Any Audio Changes
ARC Raiders does not always refresh audio devices in real time. If you changed any of the following, fully restart the game:
- Default microphone
- Privacy permissions
- Exclusive mode settings
- Audio drivers or devices
A simple relaunch often allows the game to properly re-detect your microphone.
If the Microphone Still Doesn’t Work
If none of the steps above fix the issue:
- Test your microphone in another desktop game
- Try a different USB port or reconnect your headset
- Update your audio drivers from the manufacturer
- Verify game files if playing through a launcher
A failed to detect microphone error in ARC Raiders is almost always caused by system permissions or incorrect input selection—not faulty hardware. Once Windows, your audio device, and the game are all pointing to the same microphone, voice chat should work reliably.More Game Error Fixes
Clear communication is a big advantage in ARC Raiders, especially during coordinated extractions. Taking a few minutes to set things up correctly can make every run smoother and more successful. Play Now!
