Quick Summary
The "No Audio Output Devices Detected" error in Discord indicates that Discord cannot find any active audio output devices on your system. This prevents you from hearing any audio within Discord, including voice chats and sounds.
Common Causes
- Incorrect Audio Output Device Selected in Discord: Discord might be configured to use an audio output device that is either disconnected, disabled, or simply not the device you intend to use.
- Disabled or Disconnected Audio Device: The intended audio output device might be disabled in your operating system's sound settings, or it may be physically disconnected from your computer.
- Outdated or Corrupted Audio Drivers: Outdated or corrupted audio drivers can prevent your audio device from functioning correctly, leading Discord to fail to detect it.
- Discord Permissions Issue: In some cases, Discord may lack the necessary permissions to access your audio devices, particularly on macOS.
- Discord Bug or Glitch: Very rarely, a glitch within the Discord application itself can cause this error.
Step-by-Step Fixes
Method 1: Check Audio Output Device in Discord Settings
Step 1: Open Discord and navigate to User Settings.
Step 2: Select Voice & Video from the left-hand menu.
Step 3: In the Output Device dropdown, ensure the correct audio output device (e.g., your headphones or speakers) is selected. If the device that you want to use is not selected, select it.
Step 4: Adjust the Output Volume slider to a reasonable level.
Step 5: Click 'Let's Check' to test whether Discord detects your audio device.
Method 2: Verify the Audio Device is Enabled and Connected
Step 1: On Windows, right-click the speaker icon in the system tray and select Open Sound settings.
Step 2: Under Choose your output device, ensure that the correct audio output device is selected and enabled. If it is disabled, enable it.
Step 3: On macOS, go to System Preferences > Sound > Output and verify the correct device is selected and its volume is not muted.
Step 4: Ensure that your audio output device is properly connected to your computer. Check the cable and the connection itself.
Method 3: Update Audio Drivers
Step 1: On Windows, open the Device Manager by searching for it in the Start Menu.
Step 2: Expand the Sound, video and game controllers section.
Step 3: Right-click on your audio device (e.g., Realtek Audio, NVIDIA High Definition Audio) and select Update driver.
Step 4: Choose Search automatically for drivers and follow the on-screen instructions.
Step 5: Restart your computer after updating the drivers.
Step 6: On macOS, driver updates are typically included in system updates. Make sure your macOS is up to date by going to System Preferences > Software Update.
Method 4: Check Discord Permissions (macOS)
Step 1: Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy.
Step 2: Select the Privacy tab.
Step 3: Choose Microphone from the left-hand menu.
Step 4: Ensure that Discord is checked in the list of applications with microphone access.
Method 5: Restart Discord
Step 1: Completely close the Discord application, including the system tray icon.
Step 2: Re-open Discord and check if the audio output device is detected.
Method 6: Reinstall Discord
Step 1: Uninstall Discord from your computer.
Step 2: Download the latest version of Discord from the official website and reinstall it.