Quick diagnosis

Test in this order so you do not mistake a puzzle rule for a broken microphone.

  1. Stand close to another player in an open area.
  2. Open Settings > Audio and speak normally.
  3. Watch the Microphone Activity indicator.
  4. Check whether Mute Mode is set to hold; if so, hold the assigned control while speaking.
  5. Open the moderation menu and confirm the affected player is not silenced.

If the activity indicator moves but a distant friend cannot hear you, the microphone is probably working. Distance, walls, soundproof glass, or the need for an in-world communication item may explain the silence.

If Microphone Activity does not move

  • Test the same microphone in another application or the platform’s system settings.
  • Fully reconnect the headset or microphone.
  • Check the physical mute switch and lower a boom microphone into position.
  • Confirm Big Walk has permission to use the microphone in your operating system or console privacy settings.
  • Reopen the audio menu after changing the input device.

The first four checks are either in the official Big Walk FAQ or standard platform permission checks. This page does not claim a current game-wide voice outage.

If voices echo or sound doubled

The official FAQ identifies a feedback loop as the likely cause. Have each player mute in turn until the doubling stops. The person causing it should use headphones or mute when not speaking so their microphone does not recapture speaker audio.

If voices drop in and out

The official FAQ connects intermittent voice with network trouble. Stop heavy downloads, move closer to Wi-Fi, or use Ethernet. If everyone is affected, check the host’s connection and performance; a low host frame rate can also contribute to network symptoms.

Expected behavior, not a confirmed bug

Voice fading over distance, becoming muffled through walls, changing through walkie-talkies, or disappearing behind soundproof glass is part of Big Walk’s design. Text chat follows comparable limits. Test shoulder-to-shoulder in an open place before reporting a fault.