The SteelSeries Arctis 3 is one of the most popular headsets around. It offers great sound, comfort, and a microphone that’s actually good. This makes it an ideal headset for gaming and everyday use.
The SteelSeries Arctis 3 is a great headset for the price point, offering some impressive audio and build quality. Unfortunately, like all other headsets, the Arctis 3 isn’t immune to issues.
One of the most common problems experienced by users of this headset is that the SteelSeries Arctis 3 Mic Not Working on PC. While this issue may be annoying, it can easily be fixed and this guide will help you with that.
Table of Contents
The SteelSeries Engine Configuration
Before we get into fixing the mic not working problem on the SteelSeries Arctis 3 headset, let’s take a look at how you can improve your quality of experience using the SteelSeries Engine. This software is a must-have if you use any SteelSeries products. The program can be used to configure just about every aspect of your headset as well as many other peripherals that you may own. It’s all very customizable and easy to use, so it won’t take long to set up.
After downloading and installing the program, launch it and connect the headset to your computer using the USB cable provided in the box. The program will automatically detect your headset and present you with a list of options for configuring it. You can also click on “My Gear” on the left side menu to see a list of all your compatible devices. We recommend going through each tab and configuring your settings to best suit your preferences, but we are going to cover some key points below:
Audio – Here you can adjust the volume for both incoming and outgoing sounds. You can also mute yourself or others easily from this tab.
Microphone – You can adjust the volume of incoming audio, select which microphone you want to use, and adjust the sensitivity of the microphone. You can also select different voice activation modes here. Clicking on the microphone icon will allow you to test your microphone.
How to Fix SteelSeries Arctis 3 Mic Not Working?
Follow the below steps to fix SteelSeries Arctis 3 Mic not working:
Select SteelSeries Arctis 3 Mic As Default Device
Most of the time, SteelSeries Arctis 3 Mic is not working because it’s incorrectly configured as the default microphone. Right-click on the sound icon in the bottom right corner of the screen and go to Sounds, then a new window will open up. Click on the Recording tab, right-click on SteelSeries Arctis 3 mic, and select Set as default device. Here is the step by step process –
1. Click the “Start” button and type “Sound” in the search box, then click “Sound” to open it.
2. Click the “Recording” tab and right-click in an empty space and select “Show Disabled Devices”.
3. Right-click on SteelSeries Arctis 3 Mic and enable it if needed.
4. Right-click again on SteelSeries Arctis 3 Mic and choose “Set as Default Device”.
5. If you see a green checkmark on SteelSeries Arctis 3 Mic, you have successfully set it as your default microphone.
The steps above should resolve SteelSeries Arctis 3 Mic not working issue for the majority of users and if not, keep reading.
Use The Correct Default Format
This is very important. You need to make sure that you set the correct default format. The default format for the SteelSeries Arctis 3 is 16 bits, 44100 Hz (CD Quality). Then click Apply and OK to save your changes. If you don’t know how to do this, then follow these instructions to change your default format:
1. Go to the Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> Sound.
2. Under the Playback tab, look for your speaker setup (e.g. Speakers/Headphones), right-click it, and select Properties.
3. Click on the Advanced tab, then under Default Format select a different setting.
4. If you don’t see any settings here, click on Restore Defaults first. Try 16 bits, 44100 Hz (CD Quality). Click Apply, then OK.
5. This is the best setting to use, so if your mic still isn’t working after this, you should try other solutions on this page.
Tuning Audio Levels
There can be many reasons why your SteelSeries Arctis 3 mic is not working. It could be due to an incorrect setting or the audio device may have been disabled on your computer. Head over to your Windows sound control panel, check that the playback devices for both your headphones and mic are set up correctly.
To fix this, you should make sure that your audio levels are set properly on both your computer and the headset itself. If you are not familiar with how to do this, follow these simple steps:
1. Open the Windows Control Panel and navigate to Sound > Recording tab > Microphone > Properties
2. Select the ‘Levels’ tab and adjust the volume level slider
3. Adjust the Microphone level slider up until the green bar moves when you speak into the microphone. You can also click Test to ensure that you can hear yourself.
4. Click ‘OK’ followed by ‘Apply’.
Update Audio Drivers
The Next thing to try is updating your audio drivers to the latest version. Make sure you have the latest version of the SteelSeries Engine app installed. Go to SteelSeries Engine and check for updates. This is an easy fix that could potentially resolve your issue entirely. Follow these steps:
1. Open Device Manager by pressing Windows Key + X on your keyboard and clicking Device Manager.
2. Expand Sound, video, and game controllers by clicking the arrow next to it.
3. Now Right-click on SteelSeries Arctis 3 and click Update Driver Software.
4. Click Search automatically for updated driver software in the pop-up window that appears next (this may take a couple of minutes).
5. Once the update process is complete, restart your computer.
Fix SteelSeries Arctis 3 Mute Button Not Working
I also have this annoying issue with my headset when playing games. The mute button behind the volume wheel on the left earcup is used to mute the microphone. It is small and you have to push it in. You will see a red light on your microphone. But it works sometimes, other times it doesn’t work at all.
When this happens, I try switching USB ports but still no luck. I even tried reinstalling windows and still no luck. The only way I was able to fix this issue was by going into Device Manager and uninstalling the headset and then plugging it back in and boom, not working perfectly.
But if not works for you then you can try Turning off your headset by pressing and holding the power button for 5 seconds. Then turn on the headset again. If you have SteelSeries Engine 3 installed, click on the arrow next to the microphone icon in the system tray and select Microphone Settings. Then check Mute All in Microphone Settings and close SteelSeries Engine 3.
If you do not have SteelSeries Engine 3 installed or if you did not find “Mute All” in Microphone Settings, go to Control Panel> Sound> Recording tab and make sure that your microphone is set as the default device. Now right-click on your microphone and select Properties. Then go to the Advanced tab, uncheck Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device and click OK. Check if this fixes your problem.
What is the difference between the Gaming Side and the chat side?
This is called SteelSeries Arctis 3 Game Chat Feature Calibration. With this feature, you can also control how loud each side can be. It is a way for you to choose which side of your head will play the game and which side will play chat.
On the Gaming Side: This site is responsible for sending all game audio to your headset. The gaming side will send audio from programs like games, music players, websites to your headset. The gaming side does not support mic input or even output unless it is part of a program such as Discord.
On the Chat Side: The chat side will handle all communication-related audio including mic input and output (game chat). This means that you must use this side when communicating with others via Discord or Skype etc. The chat side cannot send game audio from any application, but the only voice from the microphone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Use the Arctis 3 on PS4?
Yes, you can use it with your PS4 too. All you need to do is connect it via USB cable or by using an optical cable connection.
What About Its Compatibility With PC?
There is little to no difference in its sound quality when used with an Xbox, Playstation, or PC. In fact, you may get the best performance with a PC as compared to any other device that you use it on. The great thing about the headset is that you can easily plug it into your computer and start playing games without worrying about compatibility.
What Is the Difference Between the Arctis 3 and 7?
Well, if we talk about the design then both are quite similar except for one thing Arctis 3 comes with a plastic body and the Arctis 7 comes in an aluminum alloy body. Apart from this, there are some differences in their audio quality as well.
The Arctis 7 wins in this department as it comes with DTS headphone-x surround sound whereas the Arctis 3 does not support DTS headphone-x surround sound. Also, Arctis 7 has a better battery life of 24 hours whereas the Arctis 3 has a battery life of only 20 hours.
Is SteelSeries Arctis 3 Wireless?
The SteelSeries Arctis 3 isn’t wireless but it does offer amazing audio quality for the price you are paying for it. So, we don’t think that you will be missing anything if you get these headphones for yourself.
Is SteelSeries Arctis 3 Good for Music?
If you are a music lover who likes to listen to songs in high quality then yes, the SteelSeries Arctis 3 is a great pair of headphones for music listening and other purposes as well as we have mentioned earlier in this article these headphones offer 10-40,000 Hz frequency response.
Why Is My Arctis 3 Not Being Detected?
There could be a number of reasons why your headphones aren’t being detected. First, check if they are connected correctly or not. If they still aren’t being detected, then there might be some problem with them in which case you should get them repaired or replaced as soon as possible!
Conclusion
We hope these solutions will help you in fixing the SteelSeries Arctis 3 Mic Not Working issue but if it is still not working, then you may need to talk with the customer service and ask them to replace the headphone. If they agree to replace your headphone, then return the old one and get a new one. If you have any questions regarding this article, do let us know in the comment section below. Also, share this article with your friends so that they can also fix the mic not working problem.