Xbox One Mic Not Working: Can Hear But Can’t Talk [17 FIXES]

The “Xbox One mic not working, can hear but can’t talk” issue may come up when you have faults within the headset or the controller. Though, We successfully resolved the problem by updating the controller’s firmware, reconnecting the headset, and more.

Key Takeaways

• The Xbox One mic may not work properly due to a defective headset, outdated controller firmware, or incorrect Xbox settings.
• You can update the Xbox controller and console, adjust the mic settings on the console and in-game, or reassign the controller to the profile to fix this problem.
• Resetting the console and replacing the headset are the last resorts you should try when nothing else is effective.

What Causes The Xbox One Mic Not Working: Can Hear But Can’t Talk Issue?

Some reasons known to cause the problem are;

• Faulty headset or the USB cable.
• Misconfigured Xbox configurations.
• Outdated console software or controller firmware.
• Privacy settings.
• Incorrect in-game audio settings.
• Wireless hinderances or poor connection.
• Xbox server outages.

Also Read: How To Link Xbox To Steam?

How To Fix “Xbox One Mic Not Working: Can Hear But Can’t Talk?”

Attempt these simple solutions that frequently resolve Xbox errors, such as performing a power cycle on the Xbox console and getting an Xbox Live server status.

Re-Establish The Connection 

Try reconnecting the headset to the controller. Plug out the headset and clean its audio plug gently with a tissue or soft cloth. Also, clean the controller’s audio jack with a cotton bud before plugging the headset. Then, reconnect the controller to your Xbox to remove any connection glitches. Lastly, softly blow over the mic to remove any accumulated dust particles. 

Check The Mute Button

Make sure your mic is not muted. You can press the “Mute” button on your headset and check if it unmutes the voice audio on the console.

Also Read: How To Fix Xbox Series S Won’t Turn On Issue Important: In some cases, you might need to press the mute button multiple times for it to work.  

Increase The Headset Volume

You might have previously lowered the volume for your headset mic and forgot to turn it up again. Hence, enable the headset mic on your console and increase its volume when you want to talk in a voice chat.

Check the Headset mic settings with the following steps:

1. On the “Homescreen,” press the “Guide” button on the controller.
2. Navigate to the “Audio And Music” icon on the bottom panel of the side menu.

   

3. Ensure that the “Headset Mic” feature is turned on.
4. For “Headset Volume,” move the slider to the extreme right.
5. For “Mic Monitoring,” move the slider to the extreme left so other people can hear you.

   

Unmute Mic On Party Chat

Players may mute their mic to avoid unnecessary disturbance during the gameplay. Therefore, see if that is the case on your Xbox One and unmute the mic for Party chat. Besides, check out this guide on unblocking people on Xbox.

This is how you can unmute your mic during an Xbox Party:

1. Again, access the side menu and go to the third option on the upper panel, “Parties And Chats.”
2. Click on the current Party chat.

   

3. Select your player profile.
4. Make sure the mic is not on mute. If there is an option to “Unmute,” press it to enable voice chat for your profile.
5. You can also press the “Y” button on your Xbox One controller to unmute yourself.

   

Check Audio Output

The default audio output for Party chats may be set to “Speakers,” thereby restricting the mic’s working on the console. So, change it to “Headset And Speakers” to use the mic while talking to your Xbox friends.

This is how you can modify the audio output: 

1. Launch the “Settings” page and stay on the “General” section.
2. Go to “Volume And Audio Output.”

   

3. Select “Headset And Speakers” in the “Party Chat Output” box.

   

Inspect Mic Settings

We found that the mic input may not work when we restrict its communication access for voice chats. Therefore, verify that you have allowed your friends or other people on the server to communicate with you via voice or party chats.

Make the following changes to mic settings:

1. Move to the “Settings” gear and choose “Privacy And Online Safety” in the “Account” menu.

   

2. Select “Xbox Live Privacy.”

   

3. Choose “View Details And Customize.”

   

4. Proceed with “Communication And Multiplayer.”

   

5. On this screen, find the boxes reading, “Others Can Communicate With Voice, Text, Or Invites” and “You Can Communicate Outside Of Xbox Live With Voice And Text.”
6. Set these to “Friends” or “Everybody.”

   

7. Your mic should work now.

Also Read: How To Fix Xbox Series X Not Reading Disc

Check In-Game Audio Settings

In-game audio settings can also affect the mic’s working on Xbox One. Go to the “Settings” of the desired game and see if voice chat or mic feature is enabled. 

Upgrade The Controller’s Firmware

It is required to update the controller to the latest firmware version for smooth connectivity and performance of the headset mic on your console.

Update to the latest firmware versions using the instructions below:

1. Open the “Settings” page.
2. Highlight “Devices And Connections” on the left pane. Then, pick “Accessories.”

   

3. Click on the “Configure” option under the connected controller.

   

4. Look for the “Update Available” message in the “Firmware Version” box. If it is there, select this box. If not, your controller is up-to-date.

   

5. Hit “Update Now.”

   

6. Let the updates complete, and do not turn off the controller or console.

   

Important: Verify that the controller is fully charged. Plug in the USB cable if the battery is low.

Reassign Your Profile To The Controller

Another fix we tried for this error was reassigning our Xbox profile to the controller to fix connectivity problems and establish a stable connection. Other than this, check out the solutions for Xbox Series X not reading disc.

Below is the quick method for this fix:

1. Again, go to the “Devices And Accessories” section and press the “Configure” button.
2. Click “Assigned To” and reassign your player profile to the wireless controller.

   

Update The Console

The Xbox features tend to malfunction when pending system software updates are available. Therefore, timely update your Xbox One to avoid such errors.

Turn Down Nearby Sound

If other players on the voice chat are hearing an echo-like sound when you try to speak, it may be possible that the mic is picking up sound from a nearby TV or other device. Hence, reduce sounds in the background and then try to talk.

Switch To Open NAT

Verify the current NAT Type in the “Network Settings” of your Xbox One. If it is set to anything other than “Open,” consider changing the NAT type on the console. Open NAT allows better performance of the online features of Xbox.

Disable Parental Controls

While fixing the error, we noticed that using Parental Controls on the Xbox can also hinder the user’s ability to voice chat with other players since the owner may restrict some features.

Follow these steps to disable parental controls: 

1. Come to the “Settings.”
2. Select the “Account” tab on the left and move to “Family Settings.”

   

3. Enter the passkey.

   

4. Go to “Access Restrictions.”

   

5. Keep “Access To Content” as “Unrestricted.” Next, click on “Remove Access PIN.”

   

6. Restart the console.

Also Read: How To Clean Xbox & Controller

Inspect For Wireless Interferences (Wireless Headset)

In case you are using a wireless headset for mic input, ensure that no nearby wireless devices are hindering the connection between the headset and the console. Moreover, double-check that your headset has enough charge.

Use A Different Profile

Another solution we tried was logging out of our current Xbox player profile and using an alternate profile on the console. We tested the mic’s functioning, and it was working fine. So, we removed the default profile from the console and re-added it to eliminate any profile glitches or bugs.

Replace The Headset

Other than the above, ensure you do not have a faulty headset. Do this by connecting it to another device, such as a PC or a smartphone, and see if the headset mic works. If not, the trouble may lie in the headset, which you should replace.

Also Read: How To Fix Xbox Controller Blinks Twice And Turns Off

Reset The Console

Unfortunately, you might need to reset your Xbox One if the “Xbox One mic not working, can hear but can’t talk” issue persists despite getting a new headset. We recommend running a soft reset first by keeping your games and apps. If that fails to resolve the mic’s working, do a hard reset. The latter will delete all the data and restore the system to default, so create a backup if you want.

Related Articles:

• How To Clear Cache On Xbox?
• How To Turn Off Xbox Controller On PC?