Match the symptom before changing settings

Red cross on the voice iconThe voice service is disconnected. Use the scoreboard reconnect sequence, then restart WARDOGS.
You hear players but cannot transmitCheck the selected input device, Windows microphone access and push-to-talk binding.
Your icon appears but nobody hears youTest the microphone in Windows, disable Exclusive Control and confirm you are using the intended channel.
Nobody can hear anybodyAsk one teammate to check too. A match-wide result is more consistent with a service problem than one broken microphone.
Only one channel failsRetest local and squad separately. The device works if one channel transmits, so focus on channel state and bindings.

Fix the microphone input path

  1. 01

    Set the Windows input device

    Open Windows sound settings, select the microphone you actually use and confirm the input meter moves while you speak. Disconnect unused headsets or virtual microphones for the test.

  2. 02

    Allow microphone access

    In Windows Privacy & security → Microphone, allow microphone access and allow desktop apps to use it. WARDOGS cannot transmit if Windows blocks the game before audio reaches it.

  3. 03

    Disable Exclusive Control

    Open the microphone's additional properties, choose Advanced and clear both Exclusive Mode options. Team17 recommends this when the device is detected but voice still fails.

  4. 04

    Restart after changing devices

    Close the game fully, set the intended device as the default input, then relaunch. Hot-swapping while connected can leave voice attached to the old device.

Check the channel, range and keybind

WARDOGS uses local proximity voice, so players outside your local range will not hear that channel. Squad voice is the better test when your squadmate is far away.

  • Open the control settings and confirm both voice keys are still bound.
  • Hold the key while speaking; do not treat one channel as a toggle unless the control screen says so.
  • Test local beside another player and squad with a confirmed squad member.
  • Watch for the transmit indicator. No indicator points to a binding or service-state problem.
  • Temporarily close software that can take control of the microphone, then reconnect voice.

Know when to stop troubleshooting your PC

If several players lose voice at the same time, or the reconnect procedure immediately returns to a red cross, the external voice provider may be unavailable. Repeating driver reinstalls will not fix a shared service failure.

Keep the match server and time, check the official Steam discussions for matching reports, and retry after a full game restart. If only your account or device remains affected, post your input-device name and which channels fail in Team17's Report a Problem forum.

Common questions

Why can I hear squad voice but not nearby players?

Your microphone and voice connection are working. Stand beside a teammate, verify the local voice binding and remember that proximity voice has limited range.

Does Discord stop WARDOGS voice chat?

Not normally. It can expose a device-selection conflict, however, especially when Windows changes the default communication device or another app takes Exclusive Control.

Should I reinstall the game?

Not first. Reconnect voice, restart the game, verify the Windows input path and test both channels. Reinstalling is a poor first diagnostic because most voice failures do not involve missing game files.

Sources and verification

Sources are separated by authority. Community observations are useful for diagnosis, but they do not replace current developer guidance.

  1. Team17 support: Voice comms disconnectOfficial developer reply with the scoreboard disconnect and reconnect sequence.
  2. Team17 support: Microphone detected but no voiceOfficial support guidance covering Windows microphone Exclusive Control.
  3. WARDOGS on SteamOfficial feature description confirming proximity voice chat.