Gaming · Windows PC

How to Change the Microphone in CS2

Source-checked About 5 minutes

Answer

Open Steam's Friends & Chat window, select the Settings gear > Voice, and choose the microphone under Voice Input Device. Run Start Microphone Test there, then launch CS2 and hold your configured push-to-talk key in a private test. Selecting Default makes Steam follow the Windows default input instead of a fixed microphone.

Guide steps4 steps
  1. Connect the microphone before opening the menu
  2. Choose the Steam voice input
  3. Test the microphone in Steam
  4. Verify push-to-talk in CS2
  5. If it still does not work

Connect the microphone before opening the menu

Connect or pair the microphone and close CS2. In Steam, open Friends & Chat from the lower-right corner, then select the Settings gear in the Friends List window.

Choose the Steam voice input

Select Voice, open Voice Input Device, and choose the microphone you want CS2 to use. Choose Default only when you want Steam to follow the Windows default input device; otherwise select the microphone by name.

Test the microphone in Steam

Select Start Microphone Test and speak at a normal level. Confirm that the level meter responds and the playback is clear, then stop the test. Adjust input gain only if the signal is consistently too quiet or distorted.

Verify push-to-talk in CS2

Launch CS2 and open Settings > Audio. Confirm that voice chat is enabled and note the push-to-talk key under the communication or keyboard controls. Join a private practice session or test with a trusted teammate, hold that key while speaking, and confirm the in-game voice indicator appears.

If it does not work

  • If the microphone is missing from Steam, confirm Windows detects it and allows desktop apps to use the microphone, then reopen Steam after reconnecting the device.
  • If Steam's microphone test works but CS2 does not, check the in-game voice-chat setting and push-to-talk binding. Do not change the selected input again until the key binding is confirmed.
  • If Steam keeps returning to another microphone, select the device by name instead of Default, or change the Windows default input if you intentionally want Steam to follow it.
Sources and verification

Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Windows PC.

Source-checked against Steam's current voice-input and microphone-test guidance. No screenshot is required for final acceptance.

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