Check Your Windows and Game Audio Settings First
Your microphone is probably muted or set to the wrong device somewhere between Windows, your audio hardware, and Rainbow Six Siege itself. Start by opening Windows Settings, going to System > Sound, and scrolling down to Input. Make sure your microphone is listed under Choose your input device and that it is not muted. You will see a small speaker icon with a line through it if it is muted — click it to unmute.
Next, test the microphone in Windows before you open the game. In that same Sound settings page, look for Volume level under your microphone name. Speak into your mic and watch the blue bar move. If it does not move at all, Windows cannot detect sound from that device. If the bar moves, your microphone works in Windows and the problem is in the game or your audio hardware.
Now open Rainbow Six Siege and go to Settings > Audio. Under Microphone, check that the correct device is selected in the dropdown menu. If you see "Default Device" or a device name that does not match your actual microphone, click the dropdown and select the right one. Some players have multiple audio inputs listed (headset, built-in mic, USB devices) and the game defaults to the wrong one.
Key Takeaways
- Check Windows Settings under System > Sound to confirm your microphone is not muted and is set as the active input device.
- Test your microphone in Windows by speaking and watching the volume level bar move before troubleshooting the game.
- Open Rainbow Six Siege Settings > Audio and select the correct microphone from the Microphone dropdown menu.
- Restart the game completely after changing audio settings, because the game does not always reload audio devices while running.
- If your microphone works in other games or apps but not in Siege, disable exclusive mode in your audio device properties.
Disable Exclusive Mode on Your Microphone Device
Some microphones and audio interfaces use exclusive mode, which locks the device so only one program can use it at a time. Rainbow Six Siege may not be able to access your microphone if another program claimed it first, or if the microphone itself is set to exclusive mode. Right-click the speaker icon in your Windows taskbar and select Open Sound settings. Scroll down to Advanced and click App volume and device preferences.
Find Rainbow Six Siege in the list. If it shows a microphone device, click on that device name and look for an option to change it. If you do not see Siege listed, the game has not tried to use audio yet — close this window, restart the game, and come back. Once Siege is listed, make sure the microphone device matches what you selected in the game settings.
To disable exclusive mode on the microphone itself, right-click the speaker icon again and go to Sound settings > Advanced > Volume mixer. Find your microphone in the list, click it, and select Device properties. Click the Additional device options link at the bottom. In the window that opens, go to the Advanced tab and uncheck Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device. Click explore and OK.
Restart the Game and Check for Driver Updates
Audio settings in Rainbow Six Siege do not always reload while the game is running. Close the game completely — not just the window, but the entire process. Wait 10 seconds, then reopen it. Go back to Settings > Audio and confirm your microphone is still selected. Test your mic in a match or in a custom game against bots.
If restarting does not work, your microphone driver may be outdated or corrupted. Open the Windows Start menu and type Device Manager. Click it to open. Expand the Audio inputs and outputs section and find your microphone. Right-click it and select Update driver. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software. Windows will check for a newer version and install it if one exists.
After updating the driver, restart your computer. This is important — driver updates often do not take effect until you reboot. Once your computer restarts, open Rainbow Six Siege again and test your microphone.
Check for Conflicts with Other Audio Software
Programs like Discord, OBS, Voicemeeter, or audio control software from your headset manufacturer can claim your microphone and prevent other programs from using it. If you have Discord open, check that Rainbow Six Siege is not muted in Discord's settings. Open Discord, go to User Settings > Voice & Video, and make sure Input Device is set to your microphone. Then check that you have not muted the microphone icon in the Discord window itself (the small speaker icon at the bottom left).
If you use OBS, Voicemeeter, or similar software, close those programs completely before launching Siege. Some of these tools hold onto the microphone even when you are not actively using them. Once you close them, restart Rainbow Six Siege and test again.
If you use a gaming headset with its own control software (SteelSeries, HyperX, Corsair, etc.), open that software and check that the microphone is not muted or set to a different input. Some headset software has its own volume and mute controls separate from Windows.
Test Your Microphone Hardware
Plug your microphone into a different USB port if you are using a USB microphone. Some USB ports on your computer do not provide enough power, especially if you have many other devices plugged in. Try a port on the back of your tower if you were using a front panel port, or vice versa.
If your microphone uses a 3.5mm jack, make sure it is plugged into the microphone input (usually pink or labeled with a microphone icon), not the headphone output. Some computers have multiple audio jacks and it is straightforward to plug into the wrong one. Unplug it and plug it back in firmly — a loose connection can cause the microphone to drop in and out.
Test your microphone in another program to confirm it actually works. Open the Windows Voice Recorder app (search for "Voice Recorder" in the Start menu), click the microphone icon to record, speak for a few seconds, and click the stop button. If you can play back what you recorded, your microphone hardware is working. If you cannot hear anything, the microphone itself may be broken or the connection is bad.
Verify Game Permissions and Firewall Settings
Windows may have blocked Rainbow Six Siege from accessing your microphone. Open Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone. Make sure the toggle at the top is turned On. Scroll down to Allow apps to access your microphone and look for Rainbow Six Siege in the list. If it is there, make sure the toggle next to it is On. If it is not in the list, the game has not requested permission yet — close this window, restart the game, and come back.
Your firewall or antivirus software could also block the game's audio. If you use third-party antivirus or firewall software (not just Windows Defender), open it and look for a list of blocked or restricted programs. Add Rainbow Six Siege to the allowed list if it is blocked. The exact steps depend on which software you use, but most have a settings or security section where you can manage program permissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
My mic works in Discord but not in Rainbow Six Siege. What is different?
Discord and Siege may be set to use different microphone devices. Open Discord Settings > Voice & Video and note which device is selected. Then open Rainbow Six Siege Settings > Audio and select the same device. If they are already the same, try disabling exclusive mode on that device (see the exclusive mode section above). Some audio devices behave differently depending on which program is using them.
I see my microphone in the Siege audio settings but it is greyed out. What does that mean?
A greyed-out device means Windows or another program is using it exclusively and Siege cannot access it. Close Discord, OBS, or any other program that might be using your microphone. Restart Siege. If it is still greyed out, restart your computer and try again without opening other audio programs first.
My USB microphone worked yesterday but stopped working today. What changed?
Windows may have disabled the device or reassigned it to a different port. Unplug the microphone, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. Go to Device Manager (search in the Start menu), expand Audio inputs and outputs, and look for your microphone. If you see a yellow warning icon next to it, right-click it and select Update driver. If the microphone does not appear at all, try a different USB port.
Can I use a controller headset microphone in Rainbow Six Siege on PC?
Yes, but you need to connect the headset to your PC, not your controller. Plug the USB adapter or 3.5mm jack into your computer. Windows should recognize it as an audio device. Go to Settings > Sound, confirm it is listed as your input device, then select it in Rainbow Six Siege Settings > Audio.
My microphone is working but my teammates say they cannot hear me. What should I check?
First, confirm your microphone is not muted in the game. Look at the bottom left of the Siege screen during a match — there should be a microphone icon. If it has a line through it, you are muted. Click it to unmute. If it is already unmuted, ask a teammate to test your voice in a custom game. If they still cannot hear you, your microphone volume in Windows may be too low. Go to Settings > Sound > Input and increase the volume level slider under your microphone.