How do I fix voice chat issues in Fortnite?

Important: If you are in Egypt or the United Arab Emirates you won't be able to use voice chat in Fortnite due to the countries blocking VOIP technology.

• Check the Community Issues Trello board
• Check the Epic Games server status
• Turn up your voice chat volume
• Check your Fortnite voice chat channels
• Adjust the parental control settings
• Open required network ports
• Xbox troubleshooting
• PlayStation troubleshooting
• Nintendo Switch troubleshooting
• PC troubleshooting
• Mac troubleshooting
• Adjust the SIP-ALG router setting
• Ensure your Time Zone and Time are correct

Check the Community Issues Trello board

Our Fortnite Community team updates this Trello board with the latest known issues which may include voice chat problems. Be sure to check out the board first for the latest information to see if there are any known voice chat issues.

Check the Epic Games server status

Check the Epic Games Server Status page to make sure all systems are operational. If voice chat is affected by an outage or system-wide issue, your issue may be fixed when the outage is resolved.

Turn up your voice chat volume

Check your Fortnite voice chat channels

Make sure you're in the right voice chat channel. If you're in the incorrect channel this may cause issues with you being able to hear teammates if you are cross-playing on multiple platforms.

Fortnite has two channels to use: Party Channel and Game Channel. In-game, you can switch between chat channels using the Social menu:

• Party Channel connects players in the same party (queued up in the lobby together).
• Game Channel connects players on the same team but in different parties (filled into a team-based game mode).

You might also be in Xbox or PlayStation Party Chat, both of which will keep Fortnite's voice chat from working.

If you want to use Fortnite’s voice chat, you must leave Xbox or PlayStation Party Chat to use Fortnite voice chat, even if nobody else is there. If you don't know how to leave Xbox or PlayStation Party Chat, please check out Microsoft or Sony support.

Adjust parental control settings

If your account has parental controls turned on in Fortnite, you may need to work with your parent or guardian to change your settings so voice chat will work.

To enable voice chat from the parental control settings page, make sure Voice Chat is set to either Friends Only, Friends and Teammates, or Everybody (voice chat will not work if this option is set to Nobody).

If under 10, and your parents have given permission you can chat with:

• Friends Only

If 10 to 12, and your parents have given permission you can chat with:

• Friends Only
• Friends and Teammates

If 13 or older you can chat with:

• Friends Only
• Friends and Teammates
• Everyone

For more information on Parental Control check out: Parental Controls.

Open required network ports

Our voice chat uses a protocol called XMPP. This protocol requires that the network ports 5222 and 433 are opened to be able to connect to it. For more information on how to open your network ports check out this article here.

Xbox troubleshooting

Adjust DNS settings

You can adjust your DNS settings which may fix voice chat issues.

1. Press the Xbox button on your controller.
2. Go to System tab > Settings > Network > Select Network Settings > Advanced Settings.
3. Save the existing DNS servers on this screen by writing them down on a separate piece of paper or on your mobile device. If these changes don't work, you can change them back to the original DNS settings.
4. Select DNS settings, and then select Manual.
5. Enter the following new DNS servers:
   Primary DNS: 8.8.8.8
   Secondary DNS: 8.8.4.4
   
   Note: You'll need to enter both Primary and Secondary DNS settings.
6. If you're asked to set MTU, enter 1473.
7. Retry voice chat.

Set your privacy and online safety settings for cross-platform play

Make sure your privacy and online safety settings are set up for cross-platform play.

1. On Xbox, press the Xbox button to open the guide, and then go to System > Settings > Account.
2. Select Privacy & online safety > Xbox Live privacy > View details and customize > Communication & multiplayer.
   Note: If you’re setting up voice chat for a family member, from Account, select Family settings > Manage family members. Choose a family member, and then follow Step 2 above.
3. Choose settings for the following options:
   • You can play with people outside of Xbox Live.
     This allows or prohibits all cross-network play. Click Allow to use voice chat.
   • You can communicate outside of Xbox Live with voice & text.
     When you allow cross-network play, you control who can communicate with you. Choose Everybody, Block, or In-game friends.
4. Retry voice chat.

Clear Xbox cache

1. Press and hold the power button on the front of the Xbox until it turns off completely.
2. Pull the power cable out the back of the Xbox. Press and hold the power button on the Xbox several times to expel any remaining power and clear the cache. Leave unplugged for at least 30 seconds.
3. Plug the power cable back in.
4. Turn the Xbox back on as you would normally.
5. Please attempt to use your voice chat in Fortnite

Enable UPnP on your router

1. Navigate to your router login page.
   Note: For more details on logging in to your router, search online for guides related to your specific model.
2. Log in to your router using your router credentials.
3. Navigate to the UPnP menu on your router.
   Note: The steps to find this menu vary between routers, so search for specifics on your router. If UPnP isn't available, we recommend port forwarding.
4. Enable UPnP.
5. Save your changes.
6. Open the Settings app on your Xbox.
7. Select the Network tab.
8. Select the Test NAT type tile. You should now have Open NAT on your Xbox.
9. Retry voice chat.

PlayStation troubleshooting

Disable the Mute Game Voice Chat setting on Playstation 5

1. Click PS button on the controller while in the Playstation 5 main menu.
2. Select Sound.
3. Disable Mute Game Voice Chat setting.
4. Restart Fortnite.

Adjust DNS Settings

You can adjust your DNS settings which may fix voice chat issues.

1. Go to Settings > Network > Setup internet connection.
2. Choose your connection type.
   Note: Options are Wifi or LAN. (LAN is much faster.)
3. Choose Custom setup.
4. Choose Automatic IP address settings.
5. Do not specify a DHCP Hostname.
6. For DNS Settings select Manual.
7. Enter the following Primary and Secondary DNS:
   Primary DNS: 8.8.8.8
   Secondary DNS: 8.8.4.4
8. Choose Test Internet Connection to make sure you're still connected to the internet.
9. Retry voice chat.

Note: Players on PlayStation 5 will experience voice chat interruptions when loading Fortnite but it should return after you successfully load into Fortnite.

Nintendo Switch troubleshooting

Adjust DNS Settings

You can adjust your DNS settings which may fix voice chat issues.

1. From the Switch Main Menu go to Settings.
2. Go to Internet.
3. Go to Internet Settings.
4. Select your connection and go to Change Settings.
5. Adjust DNS Settings to Manual.
6. Enter the following Primary and Secondary DNS:
   Primary DNS: 8.8.8.8
   Secondary DNS: 8.8.4.4
7. Leave MTU Settings alone.
8. Make sure Proxy Settings are turned Off.
9. Retry voice chat.

Note: Users may not be able to use voice chat if they are using a 3.5mm headset while the console is docked. If the console is docked, we suggest using a USB connection from either a USB receiver, USB headset, or a USB to 3.5mm adapter.

PC troubleshooting

Windows Updates

Voice chat requires that Windows is fully updated. Make sure to run Windows Updates as outlined here.

Voice chat settings

Make sure you have voice chat set to Friends Only, Friends and Teammates, or Everybody, and check whether you’re using Push-to-Talk to communicate.

The default options should work for input and output devices as long as your Windows settings are set to the sound device you are using.

If you are having issues with voice chat not working, you can change your input or output devices to the sound device you are using.

To change your default devices:

1. Click on Start.
2. Type Control Panel and press Enter.
3. Click Sound.
4. On the Playback tab click the output device (Speakers/Headphones) you want to use as your default, and then right-click it and select Set as Default Device.
5. Click the Recording tab, then click the input device (microphone) you want to use as your default, and then right-click it and select Set as Default Device.
6. Click Apply, and then click OK.

Note: If you have Parental Controls enabled, you’ll have to enable voice chat in your Parental Controls settings to use it. Parental Controls settings can't be changed in the normal audio settings.

Adjust Application Permission Settings

Make sure your Privacy Settings on your Windows operating system allow the microphone to be used by Fortnite.

Windows 11:

1. Click on Start.
2. Open the Settings application.
3. On the left menu, select Privacy and Security.
4. On App permission search for Microphone.
5. Make sure the Fortnite option is enabled.

Windows 10:

1. Click on Start.
2. Open the Settings application.
3. Select the Privacy option
4. Select the Fortnite application.
5. Make sure the microphone permission is enabled.

You can learn more about application permissions in this Microsoft Support article: App permissions

Mac troubleshooting

Microphone permissions

Microphones on Macs need to be granted access to function in Fortnite.

To use your microphone successfully on your Mac, make sure Fortnite has permission to access it. Please visit this support article on Apple’s website to make sure Fortnite can use your microphone.

Adjust the SIP-ALG router setting

If you are using a router to connect to the internet you may need to disable the SIP-ALG setting to allow voice chat to work. Reach out to your router manufacturer for instructions on how to do this as this varies from model to model.

Ensure your time zone and time are correct

To check your time zone and time please follow this Microsoft article: How to set your time and time zone