You are mid-game, headset on, trying to focus. Then every word you say comes right back into your ears. Slight delay, slightly louder, very annoying.
That happens because of mic monitoring. It is a feature that lets you hear your own voice through your headset while speaking.
Some gamers like it because it helps control how loud they talk. But many players and streamers find it distracting and want it off immediately. The good news is that it is easy to fix.
In this blog, you will learn how to Turn Off Mic Monitoring on PC and PS5 with simple step-by-step instructions.
What is Mic Monitoring?
Mic monitoring is a headset feature that lets you hear your own voice through your headphones while speaking.
It helps gamers maintain better voice control during chats and prevents shouting during intense moments.
Hearing your voice in real time makes communication clearer for teammates and improves overall audio balance.
If you are looking for the best mic monitoring level for gaming, understanding how this feature works is the first step.
Many creators also think that mic monitoring is for podcasts, since it can help maintain a steady speaking tone.
However, some users notice a slight delay or echo when monitoring levels are too high or when software monitoring introduces latency.
It is important to remember that mic monitoring is intentional, while echo or feedback usually indicates incorrect audio settings.
How to Turn Off Mic Monitoring on PC?
If you hear your own voice in your headset, Windows or your headset software is likely routing the microphone back to your headphones. These fixes usually solve it quickly.
Method 1: Via Windows Sound Settings
Start with the classic Windows audio panel, since this is the most common reason for mic monitoring to be active.
Open Control Panel, then select Sound. Go to the Recording tab and find your headset microphone.
Open Properties and switch to the Listen tab. If the box labeled “Listen to this device” is checked, uncheck it and click Apply.
Windows 11 users can also access this through Settings, then System, then Sound, then More Sound Settings to reach the same Recording tab.
If “Listen to this device” was already unchecked and you are still hearing yourself, the issue is most likely coming from your headset’s own hardware monitoring, not Windows.
Method 2: Via Volume Mixer or Playback Device Settings
Sometimes Windows routes microphone audio through playback devices without making it obvious. Right-click the speaker icon on your taskbar and open Sound settings.
Scroll to Manage Sound Devices and check both input and output devices. Make sure your microphone is not set to play through your headset or speakers.
If so, disable that routing so your voice is no longer routed back to your headphones.
Method 3: Through Your Headset Software
Many gaming headsets come with companion software that controls microphone behavior.
Brands like SteelSeries, Corsair, HyperX, and Razer often include a mic monitoring or sidetone slider inside their apps. If you use a dedicated sound card, the Realtek HD Audio Manager may also contain microphone monitoring options under its microphone settings tab.
Open the software that manages your headset and look for microphone settings. Lower the monitoring level to zero or disable sidetone entirely.
This is often the quickest solution when hardware-level monitoring is enabled by default.
Method 4: Disable Monitoring in Communication Apps
Some communication apps add their own layer of microphone monitoring separate from Windows settings. Discord is a common example.
Open User Settings, then go to Voice and Video. Check the microphone settings and make sure no monitoring or testing feature is routing your voice back to your headset.
Other apps, like streaming tools or voice chat software, may include similar options that need to be disabled individually.
I’d like to give credit to Speedy Tutorials for their informative video, which served as a reference for this guide.
How to Turn Off Mic Monitoring on PS5?
If you keep hearing your own voice through the headset while gaming on PS5, the issue is usually caused by the sidetone setting, which controls mic monitoring.
- Open Settings: Go to the PS5 home screen, then select the gear icon in the top-right corner to open the main Settings menu.
- Select Sound: Scroll down inside Settings and choose Sound. This section contains all audio controls for speakers, headsets, and microphones.
- Open Audio Output: Under the Sound menu, select Audio Output to access output-related audio options.
- Find Sidetone Volume: Look for the Sidetone Volume option within Audio Output. This is PlayStation’s term for mic monitoring.
- Turn It Off: Drag the sidetone slider all the way down or switch it off so your headset no longer plays your voice back to you.
I’d like to give credit to YourSixStudios for their informative video, which served as a reference for this guide.
Should You Turn Off Mic Monitoring Completely?
Mic monitoring is not automatically a bad feature. Whether you keep it on or turn it off mostly depends on personal preference and your mic monitoring settings.
Some people actually benefit from hearing their own voice during conversations. It can help you control your speaking volume during long voice chats, voice acting sessions, or meetings.
For certain accessibility needs, it can also improve communication clarity.
However, many gamers prefer to turn off mic monitoring during competitive gaming because hearing their own voice can become distracting.
Streamers using professional microphones often rely on studio software instead of headset mic monitoring to manage their audio levels more precisely.
Conclusion
Mic monitoring can either help or completely ruin your focus, depending on how it is set up.
If the delayed echo is getting in your way, it is better to Turn Off Mic Monitoring on PC and PS5 using the steps above.
The process is quick, and once done, your audio experience feels much cleaner and distraction-free.
Still, if you like hearing your own voice for control, you can always keep it at a low level instead of disabling it entirely. It all comes down to what works best for you.
If you are still facing issues or have a different setup, drop your comments, and let’s figure it out together.
