The short version
- 01Ask two viewers to compare the same short sound from the broadcaster's application.
- 02Check Mute, Stream Volume and Discord's selected output on a silent viewer's device.
- 03Verify application-audio support for the broadcaster's client and operating system.
- 04Choose the intended application in the share picker and compare another ordinary app.
- 05Check macOS 13 or later, Android audio requirements and mobile app restrictions where applicable.
- 06Retest documented stream settings individually and send the comparison results to Discord support.
Start here
Is the stream silent for everyone, or for one viewer?
Compare two viewers while the broadcaster plays a short test sound. One silent viewer should check stream mute, Stream Volume and the selected output. If every viewer is silent, check the broadcaster's client and OS: Discord does not capture application audio on Linux or browsers other than Chrome. Mac application audio requires macOS 13 or later.
Applies to: Discord Go Live and screen sharing on desktop, Chrome and mobile. Covers stream audio, with platform limitations checked against Discord's current documentation.
Find the side that loses the sound
Voice-chat audio and shared application audio need separate tests. Hearing a friend's microphone does not establish that the game or application is being captured. Keep one application and one test sound unchanged while comparing viewers and capture methods.
Only one viewer hears silence
Can another viewer hear the same stream?
Check the viewer controlsEveryone sees video but hears no app audio
Which client and OS is the broadcaster using?
Check capture supportA Mac stream has no application sound
Is the Mac running macOS 13 or later?
Check the Mac pathA phone shares video without sound
Does the OS and selected app permit audio sharing?
Check mobile limitsA supported setup remains silent
Does a second ordinary app share sound?
Compare capture and report1. One viewer: check the stream's own volume
On desktop, right-click the playing stream and inspect Mute and Stream Volume. Unmute the stream and raise its slider if needed. Check the output selected in Discord as well. The stream has controls separate from a participant's voice volume.
Our comparison is a second viewer listening to the same sound. If that person hears it, start with the silent viewer's playback path. If voices and other local audio are also missing, follow the linked Discord no-sound guide.
2. Everyone: check whether audio capture is supported
Discord lists Windows desktop, macOS desktop, Chrome and mobile clients for application-audio capture. It explicitly excludes Linux and other browsers. A picture can therefore be shared on a client where application audio is unavailable.
Our next test is to select the actual application window in the share picker and play a sound that the broadcaster can hear locally. Note the selected source and any offered audio control. Success with a different ordinary application narrows the problem to the original app or capture path.
3. Mac: verify the OS and selected source
Discord's Mac audio article supports application and game audio on macOS 13 and later. Check the installed OS before following older tutorials that prescribe an audio helper. If the Mac cannot run a supported version, our recommendation is to use another supported device for the comparison.
In Discord's Mac sharing flow, choose the screen, window or app, continue with Next, then use Make Selection in the macOS prompt to pick the intended source. Discord's general troubleshooting also asks you to check screen-access permissions. A different source selection is worth recording even when the picture already works.
4. Mobile: distinguish an OS limit from an app restriction
Discord's mobile FAQ requires Android 10 or later for shared audio. It also says some Android apps do not allow audio sharing, and identifies Netflix and Spotify as streaming apps with sharing restrictions. Do not treat a restricted app as proof that all mobile capture is broken.
Our diagnostic recommendation is to compare an ordinary app whose sound you can play locally. Keep the phone model, OS, app name and viewer result for support. Desktop fixes cannot enable an audio-sharing feature that the mobile OS or source app does not supply.
5. A supported setup: change one setting and retest
Discord's screen-share troubleshooting recommends current OS and drivers, then a comparison with Hardware Acceleration off under User Settings > Voice & Video > Video. If needed, reduce stream quality and frame rate. Treat those as broader stream tests, with no promise that they repair isolated silence.
Our recommendation is to keep a short record: broadcaster client and version, OS, selected app or screen, whether two viewers hear sound, and whether another app works. Send that record to Discord support if capture remains silent on a supported setup. Restore experimental settings that made no difference.
Frequently asked questions
Why can I hear the person but not their game?
Microphone audio and shared application audio are separate paths. Check the stream's mute and volume, then the broadcaster's capture source and platform support.
Does Discord share application audio on Linux?
Discord's current Go Live documentation says application-audio sharing is unavailable on Linux. Check the linked source for changes before attempting client repairs.
Should I reinstall Discord if only I hear silence?
First ask another viewer to test the same stream. If another viewer hears sound, compare your stream mute, volume and output before reinstalling.
Sources and review notes
Checked on . Based on Discord's Go Live, Mac, mobile and troubleshooting documentation, checked October 1, 2026. Comparisons between viewers and source apps are editorial diagnostics. Platform support and setting names can change with releases. Glitchary is independent of Discord.