Steam: headset doesn't work - it could be because of that

This guide shows you what you can do if your headset doesn't work in Steam.

Steam: recognize microphone

First, you should check that your microphone is recognized by Steam.

1. Open Steam and click on "Settings" under "Steam".
2. A new window is going to be opened. Choose "Voice".
3. Your selected microphone should now appear under "Recording device". You can select a different microphone via "Change device".
4. If your microphone is set, check whether the push-to-talk function is activated. If so, you always have to press a specific key to activate the microphone.
5. It can also happen that your voice activation is not sensitive enough. We recommend activating the push-to-talk function at this point.

Microphone problems

If your problem does not only occur in Steam, you should always check your headset:

1. Check whether the jacks on the headset have been inserted into the correct sockets.
2. In addition to incorrect settings, missing drivers can also be the reason for the problems.

In further practical tips, we will show you what to do if your microphone does not work in TeamViewer or if it is noisy in Windows 7.