How to Use a Microphone on GeForce Now

Posted on October 17, 2022

Having trouble using your mic in-game while you’re streaming using GeForce Now? Use the steps in this guide to get started.

GeForce Now is currently one of the best ways to stream video games to a PC, Mac, or mobile device that otherwise wouldn’t support it. Platforms like GeForce Now can be a good workaround if you don’t have a good enough GPU for gaming. They allow you to enjoy the latest games without needing to upgrade (as long as your internet connection is good enough).

If you’re playing multiplayer games on GeForce Now, you might want to take advantage of in-game communications. You’ll need to set up your microphone to work through the GeForce Now app or web client.

If you’re unsure how to use a microphone on GeForce Now, follow these steps. This guide should work for both Windows and macOS users.

Configure Your Microphone Settings for GeForce Now

Before you begin, double-check that your microphone is set up and working on your PC or Mac. That includes confirming that it’s connected (especially if you’re using a Bluetooth device).

You’ll need to set your microphone to use a certain format before you connect it to GeForce Now. This ensures the best ratio between latency and quality for your in-game mic usage.

On Windows

These steps should work for both Windows 11 and Windows 10 users.

To configure and test your microphone for GeForce Now on Windows:

Right-click the Start menu and select Run (or press the Windows key + R on your keyboard).
In Run, type mmsys.cpl and press OK.
Select the Recording tab in the Sound settings window, then select your microphone.
With the mic selected, press the Properties button.
In the Headset Properties window, select the Advanced tab.
Select either 44100 Hz or 48000 Hz as the default sample rate in the Default Format drop-down menu. If these aren’t available, choose the closest available value.
Press Apply and OK to save your choice and close the window.
Next, make sure that your selected microphone is used as the default mic on your PC by right-clicking it in the Recording tab and selecting Set as Default Device.
Right-click your microphone again and select Set as Default Communication Device.
Click Apply and OK to save and exit the menu.

On Mac

To configure your microphone for GeForce Now on Mac:

From the Launchpad, select Utilities > Audio Midi Setup.
In the Audio Devices window, select your microphone on the left.
On the right, use the Format drop-down menu to select either 44100 Hz or 4800 Hz as your chosen sample rate or select the closest available value.
Exit the menu when you’re done—the changes are applied automatically.

How to Use a Microphone on GeForce Now

At this point, your microphone should be connected, configured, and ready to use with GeForce Now. You’ll need to authorize the app or web client to use your microphone during gameplay.

To use a microphone on GeForce Now:

Open GeForce Now and begin streaming a game.
As the game is streaming, press Ctrl + G on your keyboard to bring up the in-game GeForce Now control menu.
Make sure that the Microphone slider is switched to the On position.
If it isn’t, click the slider to enable it, or use the Ctrl + M keyboard shortcut to enable it.
Repeat these steps if you want to stop mic access at any time, and click the slider to disable mic access (or press Ctrl + M again).
Press Ctrl + G again to close the menu.

Your mic should now work in GeForce Now for the game you’re actively streaming. However, you may need to configure additional settings in-game to enable your mic and to use it properly, so double-check your in-game settings before you proceed.

Using Gaming Platforms like GeForce Now

Using the steps above, you can quickly use a microphone on GeForce Now to set up voice communications in-game. If latency is an issue, you might want to consider switching to a wired microphone. You can always tweak your microphone settings to improve the quality of your transmissions.

Of course, don’t expect perfection—you won’t get it. The odd lag or quality drop is to be expected, but as the platform improves, this is likely to improve, too. You can tweak your settings to improve resolution issues on GeForce Now, however.

Want to try something else? If you’ve upgraded your PC, you might want to set up a wishlist on Steam for games you want to play directly on your computer.