Meta Quest 3 Microphone
The Meta Quest 3 does have an in-built microphone which is located to the left and right of where the nose sits. The headset also comes with speakers which are located where the arm straps are.
Here’s a glimpse of the microphone quality, mic settings and a short guide on how to fix it if it’s not working:
Is the Quest 3 Microphone Quality Good?
The Quest 3 microphone quality is good for a gaming VR headset – it’s loud, clear and doesn’t crackle like some other headset mics. Although it’s not studio quality microphone, the mic does the job and other gamers can hear you perfectly fine.
Here’s a sample of the Quest 3 microphone compared to the Quest 2.
As you see the quality is quite similar – but for best results, make sure noise suppression/noise cancellation is turned off. Software updates in the future might also improve Quest 3 mic quality.
Quest 3 Mic Not Working? Here’s 7 Ways to Fix it
If you’re having issues with your Quest 3 mic not working, here are 7 ways to fix and troubleshoot the issue:
1. Change the Quest 3 Microphone Settings
The first step is to ensure your microphone settings are on. You can access the Quest 3 microphone settings by:
- Putting on your VR headset and navigating to the home screen. If you’re inside an app or game, press the Oculus button (the button with the Oculus logo) on your right controller to go to the home screen.
- Look at the bottom bar, where you’ll see several icons. Point and select the “App Library” icon using your controller. Then choose “Settings”
- Within the settings, you’ll see different tabs like ‘Device’, ‘See All’, ‘Guardian’, etc. Select the “Device” tab.
- Microphone settings: Once in the ‘Device’ tab, select “Sound” and you should see options related to your headset, including microphone settings. Here, you can turn your microphone ‘On’ or ‘Off’.
- In some instances, the microphone may be restricted due to privacy settings. From the main settings menu, navigate to the “Privacy” section and check to see if you’ve granted permission for the microphone to be used.
2. Grant Microphone Permissions to Apps
Remember that specific apps might also have their own in-app microphone settings or permissions. If your Quest 3 mic isn’t working, you might need to adjust the settings within that app or grant it the necessary permissions to access the microphone.
Test the microphone in various apps or games to see if the issue is app-specific. If the microphone works in one app but not in another, the problem might be with that particular application.
3. Restart Your Meta Quest 3
It might sound cliche, but sometimes the system glitches or certain applications bug out. Restarting your Quest 3 should fix these issues.
4. Adjust Volume Levels
Sometimes, the issue isn’t that the microphone is completely off, but that the volume is too low. Check the volume settings and adjust accordingly.
5. Update the Software
Keeping your Oculus Quest 3 software updated can resolve many issues. Check for any pending updates and apply them.
6. Factory Reset
As a last resort, you can consider performing a factory reset on your Oculus Quest 3. Be aware that this will erase all your data on the device, and you’ll need to reinstall apps and games. If you choose to do this, go to ‘Settings’, then ‘Device’, and select ‘Factory Reset’.
7. Contact Oculus/Meta Support
If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it’s a good idea to reach out to Oculus Support for further assistance. They might offer additional troubleshooting steps or guide you on warranty or repair options if needed.
You can also inspect to make sure there’s no visible damage to the microphone area on the headset, and that it isn’t obstructed by dirt or debris.
Related: Meta Quest 2 vs. Meta Quest 3
