Disclosure: we make SofaDeck, which is one of the options below. Facts about Windows and other products were checked on 23 October 2026 and can change. SofaDeck is not affiliated with or endorsed by Discord; all trademarks belong to their owners.
Short answer: Discord's built-in shortcut is Ctrl+Shift+M (mute) and Ctrl+Shift+D (deafen), but they only work while Discord is the window in front. For a mute key that works inside games, add a Toggle Mute keybind under User Settings → Keybinds. For a physical-feeling button, put that keybind on your phone: big, labelled, always visible, and free.
Discord's mute and deafen options
| Option | How | Works in games? |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in shortcut | Ctrl+Shift+M mute, Ctrl+Shift+D deafen (Cmd on Mac) | No — Discord must be in front |
| Custom keybind | User Settings → Keybinds → Toggle Mute / Toggle Deafen | Yes, globally (desktop app) |
| Push to Mute | Keybinds → Push to Mute: mutes while held | Yes |
| Push to Talk | Voice & Video → Input Mode | Yes (run as admin if the game is) |
| Click the mic icon | Bottom-left of Discord | Only if you alt-tab |
| Phone button | A deck button that presses your keybind | Yes |
Checked in the Discord desktop app on 23 October 2026.
Build a phone mute button (free)
The trick is to use a key no game or app ever uses. Keyboards stop at F12, but Windows understands function keys up to F24, and SofaDeck's free version can send them. Discord records the key when you tap the phone button, so you never have to type the binding.
- Install SofaDeck on your PC and pair your phone by scanning the QR code and typing the PIN.
- On the phone, add a button called "Discord mute" with the action Key → F13, and another called "Deafen" with Key → F14.
- In Discord on the PC, open User Settings → Keybinds → Add a Keybind, choose Toggle Mute and click Record Keybind.
- While Discord is recording, tap the "Discord mute" button on your phone. Discord records F13. Click Stop Recording.
- Add a second keybind for Toggle Deafen the same way with the "Deafen" button (F14).
- Join a voice channel, tap the phone button and watch the mic icon in Discord change.
Want it to say Muted or Live? Colour the mute button red and keep the deck page open on a stand next to your monitor. With SofaDeck Pro ($9.99 once) you can use combos instead of F-keys, add more pages (for example a Streaming page with OBS scene buttons) and build macros such as "deafen, pause music, lock PC" for stepping away.
Direct installer .exe · 3.7 MB Store version signed by Microsoft No account Local network only Signed updates SofaDeck installs on your Windows PC. Your phone is the remote — it works in the phone’s browser.One email from support@dixonappstudio.com. No list unless you tick the box. PrivacyOr on your PC, go to sofadeck.com/getIf a game runs as administrator, Windows blocks key presses from normal apps while it is in front. Run SofaDeck (and Discord) as administrator in that case.
Hardware mute buttons
If you want a real button you can hit without looking, a small macro pad or a USB microphone with a tap-to-mute top does the same job. The phone is the free way to find out whether you'd use one. See microphones with a mute button on Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Related: Discord push to talk setup and fixes, Teams and Zoom mute button and use your phone as a macro pad.
To mute the microphone for every app, not just Discord, see how to mute your mic on PC.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Discord mute shortcut?
Ctrl+Shift+M toggles mute and Ctrl+Shift+D toggles deafen in the Discord desktop app on Windows (Cmd+Shift+M / Cmd+Shift+D on Mac) while Discord is in front. To mute from inside a game, add a Toggle Mute keybind under User Settings → Keybinds; those keybinds work globally.
What's the difference between mute and deafen on Discord?
Mute turns off your microphone; others can't hear you but you still hear them. Deafen turns off both your microphone and incoming audio.
Can I mute Discord with a button on my phone?
Yes. Bind Discord's Toggle Mute to a key, then put that key on a phone button with a deck app such as SofaDeck. SofaDeck's free version sends single keys including F13–F24, which games don't use, so the button never clashes with a game control.
Does the SofaDeck "mute" voice command mute my Discord mic?
No. Saying "mute" mutes the PC's speakers (the Windows system volume). To mute your Discord microphone by voice, name the button: if your deck has a button called "Discord mute", saying "Discord mute" presses it.