It occurs when affected users attempt to utilize the game chat and find their voice is not detected. In some cases, users are unable to hear others as well. For some, the problem arises on the first day of gameplay, while others experience it after the game has functioned normally for an extended period. Before exploring more detailed solutions to rectify the voice chat in Sea of Thieves, ensure the audio is not muted in the game. Verify that your microphone is operational with other applications and games. Additionally, Sea of Thieves is known to have issues with USB mics and Logitech headsets/mics; if you are using these devices, consider replacing them. Also, try unplugging and then reconnecting your mic to see if the issue resolves.
Solution 1: Update Your System Drivers
System drivers are continuously updated to enhance performance by fixing known bugs and adapting to technological advancements. An outdated sound driver might be the cause of the current voice chat error. Updating your system drivers could resolve this issue.
Solution 2: Reinstalling the Sound Driver
Hardware drivers are essential for device functionality. Your sound card utilizes its driver to interface with the OS and game. A corrupt sound card driver might lead to voice chat issues. In such a case, reinstalling the drivers might correct the problem.
Solution 3: Clean Boot Windows to Check for Software Conflict
Windows applications share system/network resources with third-party applications. If a resource critical to Sea of Thieves is blocked by a conflict, the game’s voice chat may fail to function. Clean booting your system can help identify if a software conflict is causing the issue.
Solution 4: Temporarily Disable Your Antivirus/Firewall
Antivirus and firewall programs are vital for device and data security, but they have been known to interfere with online games. Your antivirus/firewall (notably Kaspersky) could be causing the voice chat issue. You can test this by temporarily disabling these services. Warning: Proceed at your own risk. Disabling your antivirus/firewall may expose your system to severe security threats, such as viruses and trojans.
Solution 5: Enable Mic Access for Sea of Thieves in Windows Privacy Settings
If mic access for Sea of Thieves is disabled in Windows Privacy Settings, the game’s voice chat won’t work. Enabling mic access in privacy settings can correct the issue.
Solution 6: Set the Required Audio Devices as Default Devices
For Sea of Thieves, audio is routed through the default audio input and output devices. If these defaults differ from the devices you wish to use, the voice chat might not work. Making the desired devices default could resolve this issue. If voice chat issues persist, exit Sea of Thieves and the Xbox app, disable all audio devices in the Playback/Recording tabs of Sound settings except the one you want to use, then restart the game to see if voice chat functions correctly.
Solution 7: Manually Open Ports Required by Sea of Thieves
Servers identified by IP addresses use ports to understand the requested service by an application. Closed or improperly configured ports can lead to game voice chat issues. Opening specific ports required by Sea of Thieves might resolve the problem. To open ports for Sea of Thieves, follow method 2 in How to Fix Sea of Thieves Marblebeard Error Code. If issues persist, consider using a 3rd party service such as Xbox Chat or Discord for voice communication.
