7 Ways to Fix the Sea of Thieves Voice Chat Not Working on a Windows PC

Many players utilize voice chat in Sea of Thieves. However, some players also report their Sea of Thieves voice chat doesn’t work. For example, this is what SoT player said on Reddit, “I currently have just under 580 hours in the game (Sea of Thieves) on PC, and my voice chat did work for most of that, but ever since I came back this past couple of weeks it hasn’t worked in the slightest.” This is how you can fix the Sea of Thieves voice chat not working on a Windows PC.

Read also: 6 Ways to Fix the Lavenderbeard Sea of Thieves Error on a Windows PC

Check Voice Chat is Enabled in Sea of Thieves

First, start with basic troubleshooting methods like checking if voice chat is correctly enabled within the game’s audio settings. You can also check My Crew settings while you’re at. So, try checking and configuring settings like this.

1. Start your Sea of Thieves game.
2. Select Settings on the Game Options menu.
3. Set the Push to Talk setting to Hold if configured differently.
4. Drag the slider on the Crew Chat bar further right if that setting is set too low.
5. Select Keyboard and Mouse to check the Push to Talk setting. Make sure you’re pressing the correct key set there.
   
   

   The Push to Talk option

6. Return to the game options menu and select My Crew.
7. Select No for the Mute All Other Crews settings.
8. Restart Sea of Thieves after applying those settings.

Set the Correct Default Audio Input Device

A widely confirmed way to fix the Sea of Thieves voice chat not working is the set the correct default input device in Windows. The audio input and output devices you’re trying to utilize with Sea of Thieves must be the default ones set in Windows. Sound input and output options in Settings should also match default audio devices configured in the Control Panel. This is how you can set the correct default input/output devices in Windows 11/10.

1. Start Run by holding the Windows logo button and pressing R.
2. To access a Sound window, input mmsys.cpl in Run and click OK.
3. Click Recording in the tab bar.
4. Right-click the audio device (microphone) you need to utilize with Sea of Thieves and select Set as Default Device.
5. Go to the Playback tab, and right-click the output (speakers or headphone) audio device for Sea of Thieves to select the Set as Default Device option.
   
   

   The Disable option

6. Next, hold the Windows keyboard button and press S to access a search tool.
7. Enter sound settings and click the search result that matches.
8. Select the default microphone, or other input device, set on the Control Panel Sound window within the Choose your input device drop-down menu.
   
   

   The sound settings

9. Finally, select the default output audio device set in the Control Panel within the Choose your output device menu.

Select the Right Audio Input Device in the Windows Game Bar

Some SoT players say they’ve fixed the Sea of Thieves voice chat not working by changing the audio input device setting within the Windows Game Bar. Check if the default communication input set in the Game Bar is the one you’re trying to utilize with Sea of Thieves. If not, you can change it to the right microphone. You can change the audio input device set for the Windows Game Bar like this.

1. Open the Game Bar by pressing that overlay’s Windows logo + G key combination.
2. Click the speaker (Audio) button on the Game Bar.
3. Select the Voice tab.
   
   

   The Game Bar’s voice setting

4. Now select the microphone you’re trying to utilize in Sea of Thieves on the Windows Default Input drop-down menu.

Allow App Microphone Access

Another common reason for microphones not working is that mic access is disabled for apps. Microphones won’t work with games if they’re not allowed to access apps. This is how you can allow microphone app access in Windows 11/10.

1. Open the Windows search tool for finding files, apps, and settings.
2. Type microphone privacy settings into the search box.
3. Click the matching Microphone privacy settings result in the search tool.
4. Next, toggle on the Allow microphone option in Windows 11. If you’re a Windows 10 user, click Change and the Microphone access for this device setting.
   
   

   The Allow apps to access your microphone setting

5. Click the toggle switch on for the Sea of Thieves game app listed.
6. In addition, make sure the microphone is enabled for the Microsoft Store and Xbox Console Companion apps listed.

Change Your Microsoft Account Age

Sea of Thieves automatically blocks microphone usage for players under 18 (as confirmed within their Microsoft account settings). If you’re younger than 18, changing your age in your MS account could fix the Sea of Thieves microphone not working on your PC. These are the steps for changing your Microsoft account age.

1. Open this Microsoft account login page. Sign into your MS account if necessary.
2. Click the Your info tab on the left of the page.
   
   

   The Your info tab

3. Next, click the Date of birth setting.
4. Change the year of your date of birth to 2022 or lower.
5. Click Save to change the setting.
   
   

   The edit profile info box

6. Select to restart Windows 11 or 10.

Restart the Audio Service in Windows

The Windows Audio service handles the sound for games and software on your PC. Restarting Windows Audio could fix an issue with that service affecting microphone usage for Sea of Thieves on your PC. You can restart Windows Audio like this.

1. Locate Services by inputting services.msc search phrase in the Windows file finder tool.
2. Click Services to access that app.
3. Click Windows Audio with the right button on your mouse to select Restart service.
   
   

   The restart option

4. Double-click Windows Audio to view its property settings.
5. Select the Automatic setting on the Startup type menu for Windows Audio.
   
   

   The Startup type drop-down menu

6. Click Apply > OK inside Windows Audio Properties.

Disable VPN (Virtual Private Network) Connections

Some players have discovered that the Sea of Thieves voice chat doesn’t work with some VPNs, such as Express VPN. Are you utilizing a VPN on your PC? If so, disabling that VPN could fix the Sea of Thieves voice chat not working on your PC. This is how you can turn off a VPN in Windows.

1. Click the search box or its button on the taskbar, and input a VPN keyword.
2. Select VPN settings to access those options.
3. Click your listed VPN in settings.
4. Press Disconnect to sever its connection.
   
   

   The Disconnect option

Many players confirm those troubleshooting methods have fixed voice chat in their Sea of Thieves games. So, there’s a decent chance a resolution here will also fix the Sea of Thieves voice chat not working on your PC. If not, you can always contact the game’s help service about this gaming issue from this SoT support website. Input a voice chat keyword into the search box there, and click Raise a Support Request to do so.