Disable Voice Chat in Fortnite BR

Voice chat in Fortnite lets you communicate with teammates during matches, but there are times when you might want to disable it entirely, mute specific players, or switch to push-to-talk. Whether you’re looking for a quieter gaming experience or managing settings for a younger player, this guide covers all the voice chat options available.

How Voice Chat Works in Fortnite

Fortnite has two voice chat channels:

Party Channel – Used when in the lobby with friends. You’ll automatically be in this channel when grouped with people on your friends list.

Game Channel – Used to communicate with teammates from other parties when you matchmake with Fill enabled. This connects you with random players placed on your team.

You can only hear and speak to players on your team. Unlike some other battle royale games, Fortnite doesn’t allow proximity chat with enemies.

How to Disable Voice Chat

To completely turn off voice chat so you can’t hear others and they can’t hear you:

1. Open the menu (Esc on PC, Options on PlayStation, Menu on Xbox, + on Switch)
2. Select the gear icon to open Settings
3. Navigate to the Audio tab (speaker icon)
4. Find the Voice Chat option
5. Set it to Off
6. Apply your changes

When voice chat is set to Off, your microphone won’t transmit and you won’t hear any voice communication from other players.

Voice Chat Options Explained

In the Audio settings, you’ll find several voice chat options:

Voice Chat Toggle

• On – Voice chat is enabled
• Off – Voice chat is completely disabled

Voice Chat Method

• Open Mic – Your microphone is always active. Everything you say can be heard by teammates at all times.
• Push to Talk – You must hold a key or button to transmit. This is the recommended option for most players as it prevents background noise and accidental transmissions.

Voice Chat Channel

• Everyone – You can hear and talk to all teammates
• Friends & Teammates – You can hear friends and teammates on your Epic or platform friends list, plus other players on your team
• Friends – Only hear and chat with players on your friends list
• Nobody – Voice chat is disabled, though you can still use preset quick chat phrases

Using Push to Talk

Push to talk requires you to hold a key while speaking. This prevents background noise, keyboard sounds, and private conversations from being broadcast to your team.

To enable Push to Talk:

1. Go to Settings > Audio
2. Set Voice Chat Method to Push to Talk
3. Apply your changes

To change the Push to Talk key (PC):

1. Go to Settings > Input tab
2. Find the Push to Talk binding
3. Set it to your preferred key

Platform Limitations for Push to Talk

Push to Talk isn’t available on all platforms:

• PC – Full push to talk support with customizable keybind
• PlayStation – Push to talk is not supported. Use a headset with a mute switch instead.
• Xbox – Push to talk is not supported. Adjust your headset mic sensitivity or use a mute switch.
• Nintendo Switch – Push to talk is not supported
• Mobile – Push to talk is supported

How to Mute Individual Players

If you want to keep voice chat enabled but mute a specific player who is being disruptive:

Method 1: From the Lobby

1. In the lobby, select the Communication icon in the upper-left corner
2. Select the Voice Chat tab
3. Find the player you want to mute
4. Select their name and choose Mute

Method 2: During a Match

1. Open the menu
2. Find the player’s banner/card
3. Select it and choose Mute

You can unmute players using the same method.

Parental Controls for Voice Chat

Parents can restrict voice chat access through Epic’s Parental Controls:

1. Log into the Epic Account Portal
2. Navigate to Parental Controls
3. Adjust the voice chat permissions

Age-Based Restrictions

Epic Games automatically applies restrictions based on account age:

• Under 10 years old – Maximum setting is “Friends Only”
• Under 13 years old – Maximum setting is “Friends & Teammates”
• 13 and older – All voice chat options available

Important: If Parental Controls are enabled on an account, voice chat settings must be changed through the Parental Controls menu, not the in-game audio settings. Additionally, console-level parental controls (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch) may also restrict voice chat independently of Fortnite’s settings.

Voice Reporting

Fortnite has a voice reporting system that can capture voice chat for moderation purposes when reports are filed. Key points:

• Voice reporting is always enabled for chats that include players under 18
• If you don’t want your voice captured, you can mute yourself or disable voice chat entirely
• Captured audio is used to review reports of harassment, hate speech, and other violations

Alternative: Using the Communication Wheel

If you prefer not to use voice chat but still want to communicate with teammates, Fortnite includes a communication wheel with preset messages:

• Press V on PC (default) or access it through your controller
• Choose from options like “Enemy Spotted,” “Need Healing,” “Let’s Go,” etc.
• Your character will speak the phrase and it appears in text chat

This is a good option for players who want to contribute to team communication without using a microphone.

Troubleshooting Voice Chat Issues

If voice chat isn’t working as expected:

• Check your Voice Chat setting – Make sure it’s not set to Off or Nobody
• Verify input/output devices – Ensure the correct microphone and speakers are selected in Audio settings
• Check Parental Controls – Voice chat may be restricted at the account level
• Check platform settings – PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch have their own parental controls that can block voice chat
• Restart the game – Some voice chat issues resolve after restarting Fortnite
• Check your channel – Make sure you’re in the correct voice channel (Party or Game)