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: in Discord on PC open User Settings → Voice & Video → Input Mode → Push to Talk and record a shortcut. If it stops working while a game is open, the game is almost always running as administrator: run Discord as administrator too. Below are the full steps, the common fixes, and how to add a mute button on your phone.
Set up push to talk on PC
- Click the gear next to your name to open User Settings.
- Go to Voice & Video and set Input Mode to Push to Talk.
- Under Shortcut, click Record Keybind, press the key you want, then Stop Recording.
- Adjust the Push to Talk Release Delay slider so the ends of your words aren't cut off.
- Optional: under Keybinds add Push to Talk (Priority) on a second key — when you hold it, other speakers are turned down so you're heard.
Pick a key you never press in games: a mouse side button, a key such as Caps Lock you've remapped, or one of the extra function keys (F13–F24) if your keyboard or tools can send them.
Push to talk on the Discord phone app
If you join voice from the phone itself, open the app's settings → Voice → Input Mode → Push to Talk. A large talk button appears on the call screen; hold it while you speak. This only affects calls you join on the phone, not your PC's Discord.
Push to talk not working? Fixes in order
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Works on desktop, dead in game | Game runs as administrator | Quit Discord from the tray and start it with Run as administrator |
| Works in some games only | The game or its anti-cheat blocks other apps' key hooks | Use a mouse button or a key the game doesn't capture; check the game's FAQ |
| Key does nothing anywhere | Keybind cleared or input device wrong | Re-record the shortcut; check Input Device in Voice & Video |
| First or last words cut off | Release delay too short, or noise suppression | Raise the release delay a little |
| Annoying beep each time | PTT sounds on | Notifications → Sounds → turn off PTT Activate / Deactivate |
| Works only when Discord is in front | Browser version of Discord | Use the desktop app; browser keybinds only work in the focused tab |
Discord menus checked 23 October 2026; Discord renames settings now and then.
A mute button on your phone
Holding a key on a phone screen isn't practical, so for a phone button use Discord's toggle actions instead: Toggle Mute to talk or go quiet, Toggle Deafen to cut everything. Our Discord mute button guide has the step-by-step setup with SofaDeck, including the trick of binding F13 so the button never clashes with a game key. It's free, works over your Wi-Fi and needs no app on the phone.
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/getThe admin rule applies to any tool that presses keys for you, SofaDeck included: if the game runs as administrator, run SofaDeck as administrator too, or its key presses won't reach the elevated window.
A better microphone helps push to talk feel natural, because you can speak normally. See USB microphones on Amazon.
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More for gamers: a gaming deck on your phone and a phone deck for streaming.
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn on push to talk in Discord?
On PC: User Settings (the gear) → Voice & Video → Input Mode → Push to Talk, then set the Shortcut. On the Discord phone app: open your settings → Voice → Input Mode → Push to Talk; a talk button then appears on the call screen.
Why does Discord push to talk not work in games?
Usually because the game runs as administrator and Discord doesn't. Windows doesn't let a normal app read keys pressed in an elevated window. Close Discord fully (tray icon → Quit Discord) and start it with Run as administrator, or stop running the game as admin. Also check that the key isn't already used by the game or by an overlay.
How do I stop the push to talk sound in Discord?
User Settings → Notifications → Sounds: turn off the PTT Activate and PTT Deactivate sounds.
What is the push to talk release delay?
A short delay after you let go of the key before Discord cuts your mic, so the end of your sentence isn't clipped. Set it in Voice & Video under the push to talk shortcut; a value around 20–200 ms suits most people.
Can my phone be a Discord push to talk button for my PC?
A phone tap is a quick press and release, which suits a toggle better than a hold. Bind Discord's Toggle Mute to a spare key and put that key on a phone button: tap to talk, tap again to mute. SofaDeck's free version can send F13–F24, which no game uses.