If you can't hear anything on Discord mobile, the fix is almost always a simple device setting you overlooked. The most common cause of discord mobile no sound is your phone's physical mute switch being on or the media volume being turned down separately from your ringer volume.
Check your device's silent switch and volume first
Before opening any settings inside Discord, physically check your phone. On iPhones, ensure the silent/mute switch on the left side is flipped toward the screen (orange should not be visible). On Android, check the quick settings panel to confirm the device is not in silent or do not disturb mode. Then, while Discord is open, press your volume-up button. If you see a media volume slider separate from a ringer slider, make sure the media slider is turned all the way up. This is the single most overlooked fix because mobile devices treat call volume, media volume, and ringer volume as independent controls.
Set the correct audio output on your phone
The second most common cause of no sound is that Discord is sending audio to the wrong output. Your phone can output sound through the earpiece (the small speaker you hold to your ear), the main speaker, a wired headset, or a Bluetooth device. If you have Bluetooth headphones connected but they are not powered on, or if your phone is connected to a car's audio system that is off, Discord may still try to send audio there. Open your phone's quick settings or Bluetooth menu and either disconnect the unused device or manually select your phone's built-in speaker. On iOS, you can also swipe into Control Center and tap the audio output icon in the Now Playing widget to see and change the active output. Discord's Input and Output Device selection within the app can be misconfigured, causing the app to use the wrong microphone or speakers.
Update the Discord app to fix Discord mobile no sound bugs
An outdated app version can cause audio failures because older builds may contain bugs that break audio output, or they may lack compatibility with your phone's latest operating system update. Discord releases frequent updates that patch these exact issues. On iOS, open the App Store, tap your profile icon, scroll to pending updates, and tap Update next to Discord. On Android, open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, tap Manage apps & device, then tap Update next to Discord under Updates available. After updating, test the audio again before troubleshooting further.
Verify Discord's voice settings in the app
Inside Discord, the voice settings control how your audio is routed. Open Discord, tap your profile avatar in the bottom-right corner, then tap the gear icon in the top-right to open User Settings. Scroll to App Settings and tap Voice. On the Voice page, confirm the Input Mode is set to Voice Activity (or Push to Talk if you prefer that). If it is set to something else or appears blank, change it to Voice Activity. This setting tells Discord when to send your audio, but it also affects whether the app is actively listening for incoming audio. Discord's official help pages document this as a primary setting to check. Server-specific audio settings (voice activity detection, noise suppression, echo cancellation) can be misconfigured by administrators, causing audio to be muted or hindered on a specific server. Volume and sensitivity controls within Discord's audio settings (input/output volume, microphone sensitivity) can be improperly adjusted, leading to distorted or inaudible audio.
Allow Discord's microphone and speaker permissions
Your phone's operating system controls which apps can access the microphone and speakers. If Discord lacks these permissions, it cannot play any audio. On Android, go to your phone's Settings, tap Apps, find Discord, tap Permissions, and ensure Microphone and Speakers (or Audio) are set to Allow. On iOS, go to Settings, scroll to Discord, and confirm Microphone is toggled on. Note that iOS does not have a separate "speaker" permission; if microphone permission is granted, audio output is typically allowed. After changing permissions, force-close Discord and reopen it.
Grant soundshare permission for stream audio
If you specifically cannot hear audio from a stream (someone sharing their screen or a game), Discord requires a permission called soundshare. When you first join a stream or when someone starts streaming, Discord may display a system prompt asking you to allow Discord to capture audio from the application being streamed. You must select Grant Access when this prompt appears. If you previously denied it, you will need to revoke that denial in your phone's app permissions settings. On Android, go to Settings, Apps, Discord, then look for a permission named "Soundshare" or "Audio capture" and enable it. On iOS, this permission is handled through the in-app prompt and cannot be adjusted in system settings afterward; you may need to restart the stream or rejoin the voice channel to trigger the prompt again.
Troubleshoot your Wi-Fi or mobile data connection
Unstable network connections, low bandwidth, or network congestion can cause audio to drop out completely or sound choppy. If you are on Wi-Fi, try switching to mobile data, or vice versa. A simple test is to join a voice channel and ask someone to speak; if you hear nothing but they can hear you, the issue is likely your incoming audio path. If both directions fail, the connection is the problem. Move closer to your router, restart your router, or toggle airplane mode on and off to force your phone to reconnect to the cellular network. Discord's real-time audio requires a steady stream of data; any interruption in that stream will silence the audio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can I hear people in a call but not in a stream?
This is a permission issue specific to streaming. You need to grant the soundshare permission when prompted during a stream. If you missed the prompt, leave the voice channel, rejoin, and wait for the prompt to appear again, then tap Grant Access.
Does Discord mobile support Bluetooth headsets for audio?
Discord may use the voice call profile, which can sound lower quality or be silent if the headset is not properly paired. Disconnect Bluetooth and test with your phone's built-in speaker to isolate the problem.
Why is Discord audio working on my desktop but not on my phone?
This usually points to a device-specific setting. Check your phone's silent switch, media volume, and audio output destination (earpiece vs. speaker vs. Bluetooth). Desktop computers do not have these same hardware switches, so the problem is almost always on the mobile device side.
Can a VPN cause no sound on Discord mobile?
Yes. VPNs can introduce latency, packet loss, or routing issues that disrupt real-time audio. Try disabling your VPN temporarily and test the audio in a voice channel.
What should I do if none of these steps fix the issue?
If you have checked the silent switch, volume, audio output, app permissions, soundshare permission, network connection, and updated the app, the issue may be a temporary bug. Force-close Discord completely, restart your phone, and try again. If the problem persists, contact Discord's support team through their help center with a detailed description of what you have already tried.
For the wider topic, see Discord audio and sound settings.
