why cant i hear people on sea of thieves pc

3 min read 19-01-2025

why cant i hear people on sea of thieves pc

Sea of Thieves thrives on teamwork and communication. Nothing's more frustrating than setting sail only to find you can't hear your crewmates. This guide will walk you through troubleshooting why you can't hear people on Sea of Thieves PC, helping you get back to plundering with your friends.

Common Causes of Audio Problems in Sea of Thieves

There are several reasons why your Sea of Thieves audio might be malfunctioning. Let's examine the most frequent culprits:

1. Game Audio Settings: The Usual Suspect

Volume Levels: Double-check your in-game audio settings. Make sure the volume sliders for both voice chat and game sounds are turned up sufficiently. Sometimes they're accidentally muted or set too low.
Voice Chat Settings: Sea of Thieves utilizes several voice chat options. Ensure you’ve selected the correct input and output devices, and that your microphone is enabled and correctly set. Experiment with different voice chat settings if needed. Some players report success with switching between "Open Mic" and "Push to Talk."
Game Sound Mix: Adjust the in-game sound mix to prioritize voice chat. You might need to lower the volume of other sound effects to better hear your crew.

2. Windows Audio Settings: System-Wide Problems

Default Devices: Verify that your microphone and speakers are correctly set as the default devices in Windows sound settings. An incorrect default can prevent Sea of Thieves from accessing your audio hardware.
Exclusive Mode: Applications can sometimes run in "exclusive mode," preventing other programs from accessing your audio hardware. Disable this setting in your sound device properties (usually found in the advanced tab).
Driver Updates: Outdated or corrupted audio drivers are a common source of audio issues. Update your audio drivers through your motherboard's manufacturer website or the Windows Device Manager.

3. Microphone Problems: Is Your Mic Working?

Microphone Connectivity: Check that your microphone is properly connected to your PC, whether it's a USB device or plugged into your sound card. Try plugging it into a different port to rule out a faulty connection.
Microphone Mute: Ensure that your microphone isn't muted either in the game settings, your system tray, or through any third-party overlay software like Discord or Steam.
Microphone Permissions: Windows might be blocking Sea of Thieves from accessing your microphone. Navigate to Windows Settings -> Privacy -> Microphone and ensure Sea of Thieves has permission to use it.

4. Conflicting Software: Interference from Other Applications

Overlays: Gaming overlays from platforms like Discord, Steam, or GeForce Experience might interfere with Sea of Thieves' audio. Try temporarily disabling these overlays to see if it resolves the issue.
Antivirus/Firewall: Sometimes, your antivirus or firewall software can block Sea of Thieves' communication, affecting your ability to hear others. Add Sea of Thieves to your exceptions list.
Background Processes: Close unnecessary background applications. Too many programs running simultaneously can consume system resources, potentially affecting audio performance.

5. Network Connectivity: Are You Connected?

Internet Connection: A poor internet connection can result in lag and audio dropouts. Ensure you have a stable and strong internet connection with low latency.
NAT Type: Your Network Address Translation (NAT) type can influence your online gaming experience. A strict NAT type might limit your ability to communicate with other players. Consult your router's manual on how to improve your NAT type.
Server Issues: While less frequent, server-side problems within Sea of Thieves can sometimes cause audio problems. Check the official Sea of Thieves status page to see if there are any reported outages or issues.

Still Having Trouble? Further Steps

If you've tried all the steps above and still can't hear players in Sea of Thieves, consider these additional actions:

Reinstall Sea of Thieves: A corrupted game installation can cause various issues, including audio problems. Completely uninstall and reinstall the game to ensure a clean installation.
Windows Audio Troubleshooter: Windows has a built-in audio troubleshooter. Run this to automatically detect and fix common audio problems.
Contact Rare Support: If you've exhausted all other options, contact Rare's support team for assistance. They may have additional troubleshooting tips or insights.

By systematically working through these solutions, you'll significantly increase your chances of resolving your Sea of Thieves audio issues and getting back to enjoying the game with your crew. Remember to test your audio after each step to identify the source of the problem. Happy sailing!