Using Discord

Push-to-talk vs voice activity

Choose the input mode that fits shared voice channels and noisy environments.

Discord transmits your voice in two main ways. Voice Activity listens continuously and sends audio when you cross a sensitivity threshold — fine in a quiet room with a decent microphone. Push-to-Talk sends audio only while you hold a key, which suits keyboards, fans, or shared living spaces.

Enable Push-to-Talk under User Settings → Voice & Video, assign a shortcut, and optionally set a short release delay so words are not cut off at the end. On mobile, push-to-talk uses an on-screen button; many phone users prefer mute/unmute instead.

In public voice on The English Hub, limit soundboards and voice changers. Push-to-talk keeps practice channels focused when you cannot eliminate background noise entirely.