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To lower voice chat while keeping game audio up on a PS4, use your headset’s chat/game balance control if it has one. PlayStation’s Gold and Platinum wireless headsets have model-specific SOUND/CHAT controls. The PS4’s Settings > Devices > Audio Devices > Output to Headphones menu changes what audio is routed to compatible headphones; it is not a universal chat-volume slider for every headset.
Adjust chat and game audio on a supported headset
If you use a PlayStation Gold or Platinum wireless headset, try its physical balance controls first. The manuals for these models describe controls that change chat audio relative to game sound. Use the control marked SOUND/CHAT or the separate SOUND and CHAT buttons, depending on the model. The exact operation differs by headset, so check the manual for your specific model. PlayStation headset manuals
If the balance buttons do not work, check the console’s headphone-output mode. On the Gold headset, PlayStation’s manual indicates that the SOUND/CHAT control is enabled with All Audio and disabled with Chat Audio. For a setup where you want to hear and balance both game and chat sound in the headset, check whether All Audio is the suitable option.
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- From the PS4 home screen, open Settings > Devices > Audio Devices.
- Select Output to Headphones.
- Choose the available output mode that fits your setup. PlayStation’s support page describes All Audio and Chat Audio; check the option currently displayed on your console, as defaults and labels may vary by configuration or software version. How to change audio output on PS4 consoles
This setting controls the audio route, not an independent chat-volume level across all headsets. If your headset has no dedicated balance control, consult its instructions for available volume adjustments.
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Understand the headset and TV audio trade-off
PS4 does not support outputting voice chat and game audio to both the headset and TV at the same time. If you route audio to a headset, the result may not match a setup where you expect chat in your headset and game sound from the TV. PlayStation documents this limitation in its voice chat troubleshooting guidance.
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Troubleshoot missing chat or microphone input
If you cannot hear voice chat
- Open Settings > Devices > Audio Devices and confirm the selected output device and headphone-output mode.
- If you are in a party, open Party > Party Settings > Chat Audio and choose whether to prioritize Party Chat or Game Chat. This setting selects which chat stream takes priority; it is not a general chat-versus-game volume slider.
If the microphone is not registering
- Go to Settings > Devices > Audio Devices > Adjust Microphone Level.
- Speak into the microphone and watch the input-volume bar. PlayStation says the bar should respond when the microphone is working.
- If there is no response, try another headset or controller to help identify the problem. See PlayStation’s voice chat troubleshooting steps.
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