Why Do I Hear Myself In My Headset? (SOLVED)

Headsets enable you to communicate effectively with a second party or listen to your favorite content. However, for various reasons, you might end up hearing yourself in your headset, which can be quite annoying. The good news is that you can troubleshoot and fix this issue quickly.

So, why am I hearing myself in my headset? You could be hearing yourself in your headset for a variety of reasons. The most likely reason is that there is feedback from the headset of the person you are speaking to over your headset. Other factors that may cause this include an activated recording device, like a mic that you are unaware of, as well as the bass boost feature or the mic monitor feature.

Simple Fixes for Hearing Yourself Through a Headset

1. Other People’s Speakers

If the person you’re speaking to is also using a headset, your voice might be fed from their speakers to their microphone, causing you to hear your own voice.
Fix: Ask them to either turn off or reduce the volume of their headset.

2. Other Recording Devices

Multiple active recording devices, like your computer’s integrated microphone, can result in an echo. Here’s how to disable them:

1. Go to “System > Sound”
2. Open Sound Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound.
3. Click the “Recording” tab.
4. Right-click on any device other than your headset and select “Disable.”
5. Click Apply and then click OK.

3. Mic Monitor

Mic monitor lets you hear your own voice to gauge volume but can sometimes cause unpleasant feedback. To disable it:

1. Go to “System > Sound.”
2. Open Sound Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound.
3. Click the “Recording” tab.
4. Right-click on your headset and select ‘Properties.’
5. Disable the “Listen to this device” option.
6. Click Apply and then click OK.

4. Microphone Boost

This feature increases the volume to improve audio quality but can create an echo. To turn it off:

1. Go to “System > Sound.”
2. Open Sound Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound.
3. Click the “Recording” tab.
4. Right-click on your headset and select ‘Properties.’
5. Click the “Levels” tab.
6. Uncheck the “Microphone Boost” option.
7. Click Apply and then click OK.

The above did not work? Check solutions according to your device below.

Windows 10/11

Solution 1:

You should disable Microphone Boost. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Go to System -> Sound
2. Click the “Recording” tab.
3. Right-click the headset.
4. Select “Properties.”
5. Click the Levels tab.
6. Uncheck the “Microphone Boost.”
7. Click “Apply.”
8. Close the window.

Solution 2:

You might have enabled your mic for playback. Here are the steps to enable this feature:

1. Navigate to the “Listen” tab.
2. Check “Listen to this device.”
3. Select your speakers from the Playback through this device drop-down.
4. Press “OK” to save the change.

You’ll now hear your mic through your speakers, not your headphones.

Other PC

The settings below will work on any version of Windows or other PCs. You might have to find similar settings on a MAC, and the exact steps might not work.

1. Issues with Other People’s Speakers

Problems arising from other people’s speakers are a frequent cause of echo. When you communicate with someone whose microphone picks up your voice from their speakers, it can create an echo.

To mitigate this:

• Move the speakers away from the microphone.
• Lower the speaker volume.
• Encourage the use of headphones.

2. Integrated Microphones on PCs

Many computers have built-in microphones. If you’re using multiple recording devices simultaneously, this can cause an echo effect. Here’s how to address this issue:

1. Click “Start.”
2. Search for “Control Panel.”
3. Select “Hardware and Sound.”
4. Choose “Sound.”
5. Go to the “Recording” tab.
6. Right-click on devices other than your headset and select “Disable.”

3. Hearing Yourself in Your Headset

Some headsets are designed to let you hear your voice, which can help you gauge sound quality. However, delays between speaking and playback can occur due to various factors like software or an internet connection. To adjust this feature:

1. Open the “Microphone Properties” window.
2. Click the “Listen” tab.
3. Ensure “Listen to this device” is unchecked.
4. Click “Apply.”
5. Close the window.

PS4 or PS5

Microphones on PS4 and PS5 often produce an echo due to heightened sensitivity. This can cause the microphone to pick up sound from the headphones and replay it. Headsets with superior noise-canceling abilities rarely face this problem, as they effectively prevent audio leakage from the device into the microphone.

Solutions if Your Headset Echoes

If your headset doesn’t have efficient noise-canceling:

1. Position the headset further away from the microphone.
2. Lower the audio output levels.
3. Alternatively, adjust the chat-game audio balance.

Addressing Mic Monitoring Issues

If the above steps don’t resolve the issue, it might be due to mic monitoring. While this feature provides feedback on the sound quality others receive, it can be disruptive. Here’s how to disable or adjust it:

1. Go to “Settings.”
2. Select “Devices.”
3. Choose “Audio Devices.”
4. Navigate to “Side-tone Volume.”
5. Slide the volume bar all the way to the left.

Note: The exact steps might vary based on your PS4/PS5 model. Consult your user manual if the standard procedure doesn’t resolve the issue.

Xbox One

You can hear yourself on your Xbox One if mic monitoring is activated. There is a 3.5mm jack on your Xbox One. You can pair it with the 3.5mm Xbox One Chat Headset. Ensure that your headphones have a functional mic monitoring feature. You can fix the sound issue by lowering the volume to zero.

Discord

Your Discord headset can pick up your game sound if the playback device or the recording device is incorrectly configured. You should go to the Sound Control Panel and disable the Stereo Mix device to solve the issue.

You might have the same experience because of a bug or glitch in the Discord app. If you suspect that this is the underlying cause of the problem, update your audio drivers. You can also power cycle the device to fix bugs and other minor software issues.

I Want To Hear Myself in My Headset: Windows 10 and Windows 11

You have two options if you want to hear yourself in Windows 10 and Windows 11. You can deactivate the Microphone Boost or enable your mic for playback.

Here are the specific steps that you should follow to do this:

1. Deactivate Microphone Boost.

1. Click the “Recording” tab.
2. Right-click on your headset.
3. Select “Properties.”
4. Click the “Levels” tab.
5. Uncheck the “Microphone Boost.”
6. Click “Apply.”
7. Close the window.

2. Enable Your Mic Playback.

1. Go to the “Listen” tab.
2. Check the “Listen to this device” box.
3. Select your headset from the “Playback through this device” drop-down.
4. Press “OK” to save the changes.

Conclusion

Now you understand why you might hear yourself in your headset. While it can be irritating, it’s also easy to fix. With the tips provided, you can quickly resolve the echo, ensuring clear communication or undisturbed listening. And if you find out that the issue lies with your headset, consider checking out our guide on the best-wired headsets available.