Voice chat in CS2 has three moving parts: your microphone, the volume you hear from other players, and the filters that silence whole groups. Mixing them up is how a useful bind turns into a silent team. This guide maps each job to a current retail-safe command from the live CS2 command and convar dumps, then shows the value to enter and when it helps. It also calls out obsolete or development-only paths before you waste a round on a command that the retail client will not support.
CS2 Voice Commands Quick Reference
| Command | Values or Use | Default | Controls | Notes for Matchmaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
snd_voipvolume |
0 to 2 | 1 | Incoming voice volume | Primary teammate volume control. Safe to bind. Used by Audio menu. |
voice_modenable |
0 or 1 | 1 | Global voice system | 0 disables all voice chat. Works in matchmaking. |
voice_modenable_toggle |
Toggle command | n/a | Global voice system | Switches voice chat on or off quickly. Bind safe. |
+voicerecord / -voicerecord |
Hold to talk | Bound key | Outgoing microphone | Standard push-to-talk. Release key triggers -voicerecord. |
voice_toggle_open_mic |
Toggle command | n/a | Mic mode | Switches between open mic and push-to-talk where allowed. |
voice_vox |
0 or 1 | 0 | Open mic state | 1 enables open mic. Works in matchmaking. |
voice_loopback |
0 or 1 | 0 | Local mic playback | Testing only. Lets you hear your voice. |
voice_threshold |
Numeric dB threshold | -120 | Mic activation gate | Only relevant with open mic enabled. |
cl_mute_enemy_team |
0 or 1 | 0 | Enemy voice | 1 mutes enemies. Works in all matchmaking modes. |
cl_mute_all_but_friends_and_party |
0, 1, 2 | 0 | Voice filtering | 0 disabled, 1 applies in non-competitive modes, 2 applies in all modes. |
Individual player mute |
Scoreboard UI | n/a | Single player | Use the in-game mute UI. voice_mute, voice_unmute, and voice_show_mute are development-only and not a supported retail workflow. |
Important: voice_scale is legacy CS:GO wording and is not present in the current CS2 command and convar dump. Use snd_voipvolume for all teammate voice volume control.
Commands to Enable or Disable Voice Chat
Outgoing microphone controls
Your microphone behavior is controlled separately from what you hear. The default system uses push-to-talk through +voicerecord, which activates your mic while the key is held and stops when released.
If you prefer hands-free communication, you can switch modes using voice_toggle_open_mic or set voice_vox 1. When open mic is active, your microphone transmits automatically based on input level.
The activation point for open mic is defined by voice_threshold. This value is measured in decibels. A lower number makes the mic easier to trigger, while a higher number requires louder input. This setting has no effect when you are using push-to-talk.
To disable your microphone entirely, use voice_modenable 0. This turns off outgoing and incoming voice together at the system level.
Incoming teammate voice
Incoming voice audio is controlled independently of your microphone. The most important command here is snd_voipvolume, which sets how loud other players sound.
Global voice can also be disabled with voice_modenable 0 or toggled quickly using voice_modenable_toggle. This affects everything, including your ability to hear teammates.
For filtering, cl_mute_enemy_team 1 removes enemy voice, while cl_mute_all_but_friends_and_party limits voice chat to trusted players based on its mode value.
How to Change Teammate Voice Volume
The current CS2 volume system is built around snd_voipvolume. This command directly controls how loud other players sound and replaces older terminology that is no longer present in the game.
The in-game Audio settings menu writes to this same value. Adjusting “Other Player Voice Volume” updates snd_voipvolume behind the scenes, so both the console and the menu control the same setting.
The accepted range is 0 to 2:
snd_voipvolume 0 mutes all incoming voice.
snd_voipvolume 0.5 sets the volume to half of the default scalar.
snd_voipvolume 1 is the default level.
snd_voipvolume 2 is the maximum allowed value.
Because this is an archived client setting, it is intended to persist between sessions. If your volume appears inconsistent, check both the console value and the Audio menu to ensure they match.
How to Mute and Unmute Players
For one disruptive player, use the scoreboard mute control rather than a console command. The command names voice_mute, voice_unmute, and voice_show_mute still appear in the current CS2 command dump, but they are flagged as development-only. Their presence in the dump does not make them an available or supported workflow for normal retail players.
Mute one player through the scoreboard
- Open the scoreboard during the match.
- Enable the scoreboard cursor if it is not already active. The required mouse or secondary key prompt may vary with your current key bindings.
- Find the player you want to mute.
- Select the speaker icon associated with that player.
- Use the same speaker control again when you want to unmute the player.
Use the scoreboard to target the player. You do not need a slot number, a copied Steam identifier, or a hidden console route. A guide that pairs voice_show_mute with voice_mute is describing developer-only commands, not the regular Steam client.
For a group of players, use one of the two retail-safe client convars listed below. Both act as group filters. Neither can select a player from the scoreboard.
| Command | Value | Effect |
|---|---|---|
cl_mute_enemy_team |
0 |
Does not apply the client-side enemy-team mute. Enemy voice can still depend on the server and game mode. |
cl_mute_enemy_team |
1 |
Mutes enemy-team voice wherever enemy communication would otherwise be audible. |
cl_mute_all_but_friends_and_party |
0 |
Disables this friends-and-party-only voice filter. |
cl_mute_all_but_friends_and_party |
1 |
Applies the filter in non-competitive modes. Players outside your friends and party groups are muted there. |
cl_mute_all_but_friends_and_party |
2 |
Applies the filter in all modes, including Premier and Competitive. |
Choose the narrowest control that solves the problem. Use the scoreboard for one player, cl_mute_enemy_team 1 for the opposing team, or cl_mute_all_but_friends_and_party 2 when you want a friends-and-party-only voice environment in every mode.
Useful CS2 Voice Chat Binds
Voice binds let you manage voice chat without opening the console during a round. The following examples use safe commands from the current audit. Change the suggested keys if they interfere with your movement, utility, buy, or scoreboard settings.
Push-to-Talk Bind
Bind +voicerecord to the key you want to hold while speaking. For a complete walkthrough of key selection and menu configuration, see how to set up push-to-talk in CS2.
bind "v" "+voicerecord"Commands beginning with a plus sign use Source input-button behavior. Pressing the bound key calls +voicerecord, and releasing that same key automatically calls the matching -voicerecord command. You should not create a separate release-key bind for -voicerecord .
Toggle All Voice Chat
voice_modenable_toggle switches the global voice system between enabled and disabled states. This switch is broad: it stops your mic and silences incoming player voice at the same time. It is useful as an emergency silence key, but it is broader than lowering teammate volume or muting one player.
bind "f9" "voice_modenable_toggle"Toggle Open Mic and Push-to-Talk
voice_toggle_open_mic flips the client between open-mic and push-to-talk input. In open-mic mode, voice_threshold determines the input level required to activate transmission. In push-to-talk mode, that threshold is not used to decide when your mic transmits.
bind "f8" "voice_toggle_open_mic"Open mic is a client voice option and is not forcibly disabled merely because you enter ordinary Premier or Competitive matchmaking. Your microphone still depends on the selected input device, voice settings, and any platform or operating-system permissions.
Optional teammate-volume bind
This optional numpad bind advances snd_voipvolume in steps of 0.1, using 0 and 2 as the defined bounds. It changes incoming player volume only and does not disable your microphone.
bind "kp_plus" "incrementvar snd_voipvolume 0 2 0.1"Bind syntax: Keep the key name and the complete command string inside double quotation marks. A bind containing one command does not need a semicolon. When one key intentionally runs multiple commands, place them inside the same quoted command string and separate the commands with semicolons.
CS2 Voice Commands Not Working
Voice problems usually come from one of three places. The voice module is disabled. The microphone input path is misconfigured. A saved configuration is overwriting the command you entered. Work through the checks in order. Do not change several settings at once.
- Confirm that the voice system is enabled. Enter
voice_modenable 1. This enables the client voice module, including outgoing microphone communication and incoming player voice. If you previously usedvoice_modenable_toggle, you may have switched the module off without noticing. - Verify the transmission method. For push-to-talk, confirm that the intended key is bound to
+voicerecordand is not being used by another action. For open mic, confirm that you have selected open-mic behavior instead of expecting the push-to-talk key to remain active in the same way. - Check the selected microphone and permissions. Confirm that CS2 and Steam are using the intended input device. Then check the operating-system microphone privacy settings and any Steam voice permissions. For a broader device and permissions checklist, see how to fix a CS2 microphone.
- Run a short local loopback test. Enter
voice_loopback 1, speak briefly, and listen for your own microphone audio. Return the setting tovoice_loopback 0immediately after testing so you do not continue hearing yourself during play. - Check open-mic activation settings. When using open mic, confirm
voice_vox 1. Then reviewvoice_threshold, which determines the decibel level required to activate transmission. This threshold is relevant to open mic, not normal hold-to-talk activation. - Confirm that incoming volume is not muted. Enter a value above zero for
snd_voipvolume. The default is1, whilesnd_voipvolume 0silences incoming player voice even when your own microphone is working correctly. - Hunt for the setting that changes it back. Check your autoexec, copied cfg files, Steam Cloud copy, and every other action on the same key. One stale line can quietly win at startup. Remove the conflict, then use the CS2 console commands guide if you need a refresher on where binds and cfg entries live.
Change one thing, then test it. Hearing yourself through loopback proves that CS2 can capture and play the microphone locally. It does not prove that a particular server will send your voice to teammates. The server channel and your chosen transmission mode still matter.
Voice Commands vs Radio Commands in CS2
Voice commands and radio commands serve different communication purposes. Voice chat transmits live microphone audio from a player. Commands such as +voicerecord, voice_vox, and voice_toggle_open_mic control when that microphone audio is transmitted, while snd_voipvolume controls how loudly you hear voice from other players.
Radio commands do not transmit your microphone. They send preset tactical callouts through the game interface, often with accompanying text, sound, or character responses. They are useful for communicating standard information without speaking. The available menus, binds, and preset callouts are covered separately in the CS2 radio commands guide.
Server rules sit above every player-side voice control. Variables such as sv_alltalk, sv_deadtalk, and related sv_ settings belong to the server admin. Who can speak to whom is the server’s call, including the channels for teams, living players, dead players, and spectators. A bind in your own console cannot overrule that setup in Premier, Competitive, or any other official matchmaking mode.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between voice_modenable and snd_voipvolume?
Think of voice_modenable as the main switch. Set it to 0 and both sides of voice chat go dark: your mic stops transmitting and other players go silent. snd_voipvolume is narrower because it changes only what you hear. Keep it above zero when teammate audio should remain audible without changing your microphone.
How do I mute one player in CS2 through the console?
There is no supported individual-player console mute workflow for normal retail players. The current dump still names voice_mute, voice_unmute, and voice_show_mute, but marks all three as development-only. Open the scoreboard, enable its cursor if needed, and select the speaker icon beside the target player. Click the same icon later to hear that player again.
Can I bind voice chat on and off to one key?
Yes. A bind such as bind "f9" "voice_modenable_toggle" switches the complete voice module between enabled and disabled states. Remember that this is broader than muting incoming audio. It also affects your ability to transmit microphone audio, so use it as a global voice toggle rather than a teammate-volume control.
Why does my CS2 voice volume reset after restarting the game?
snd_voipvolume is an archived client setting and should normally persist. A reset can occur when an autoexec, copied configuration, Steam Cloud version, launch script, or menu adjustment writes a different value during startup. If the volume changes after a restart, search your cfg and autoexec files for another snd_voipvolume line, then check whether the Audio menu writes a different value.
Can the other team hear me when I am playing in Premier or Competitive?
Under normal official Premier and Competitive server rules, live team voice is not sent to living opponents. The server decides which teams, dead players, and spectators can communicate. Player-side commands cannot override those channels, and an ordinary matchmaking player cannot enable server variables such as sv_alltalk or sv_deadtalk.
Does open mic work in normal CS2 matchmaking?
Yes. Open mic is not forcibly disabled merely because you enter ordinary Premier or Competitive matchmaking. Use voice_vox 1 or voice_toggle_open_mic to select open-mic behavior. When open mic is active, voice_threshold controls how loud the input must be before transmission begins. Your selected input device and system permissions must also be working.
Are voice chat commands and binds allowed on FACEIT?
The three audited binds in this guide, +voicerecord, voice_modenable_toggle, and voice_toggle_open_mic, are ordinary retail client controls, not cheats. FACEIT Voice is a separate feature with its own configurable hotkeys. Check current FACEIT guidance whenever the platform changes its client, rules, or supported communication features.
