Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsIf your Turtle Beach Stealth 600 plays game audio but nobody can hear you, start with the physical mute: lower the flip-up microphone boom completely, then raise and lower it once. Next, select the headset as the platform’s input device, run a microphone test, and restart the chat application. If the mic still fails, identify the exact Stealth 600 generation and platform edition before re-pairing or updating firmware—Gen 2 and Gen 3 use different software and reset procedures.
Identify your Stealth 600 before changing settings
“Stealth 600” covers several different connection systems. The correct fix depends on the generation, edition and wireless path.
| Model | How it normally connects | Correct software or accessory path |
|---|---|---|
| Original Stealth 600 | Older Xbox Wireless or PlayStation variants | Use the original model’s platform instructions; do not assume Gen 2 parts fit. |
| Stealth 600 Gen 2 Xbox | Xbox Wireless on Xbox; Xbox Wireless built in or an Xbox Wireless Adapter on Windows | Xbox/PC compatibility instructions and Audio Hub. |
| Stealth 600 Gen 2 PlayStation | USB mini-transmitter on PlayStation or PC | PlayStation setup guide and Audio Hub. |
| Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB | USB transmitter matched to its platform variant | Use only a transmitter listed for that exact Gen 2 USB model. |
| Stealth 600 Gen 3 | 2.4 GHz wireless plus Bluetooth 5.2 | Use the Swarm II desktop or mobile app. |
An Xbox edition and a PlayStation/PC edition are not automatically interchangeable. A replacement transmitter must match the exact generation, USB variant and platform.
Fast fixes to try first
- Lower the microphone boom. Flip-to-mute models mute when the boom is raised. Lower it fully and listen for the mute/unmute tone where your model provides one. Raise and lower it once to reset the mechanism.
- Check the microphone opening and hinge. Remove debris, clothing or a case covering the mic. A loose boom, cracked hinge or mic that works only at one angle indicates physical damage.
- Restart voice chat. Close and reopen the game or chat app, leave the party, then rejoin it.
- Select Stealth 600 as the input. A console, Windows, Discord, Steam, Zoom, Teams or a game can select a different microphone even while headset audio works.
- Run a platform-level microphone test. Watch the input meter or record a short sample before testing a particular game.
- Install current firmware. Gen 2 uses Turtle Beach Audio Hub; Gen 3 uses Swarm II.
Mic Monitor is not the outbound microphone. It is sidetone—the level of your own voice heard in the earcups. Changing it does not make other players receive your signal.
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Use the test result to choose the right branch
| What you observe | Most likely cause | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Works in the platform test but not one game | Game input selection, push-to-talk, voice permissions or account privacy | Choose Stealth 600 inside that game and check its mute and push-to-talk controls. |
| Detected, but the input meter never moves anywhere | Mute state, sensitivity, firmware or hardware | Lower the boom, update firmware, reset the correct model and test another device. |
| Missing from the input-device list | Pairing, transmitter, adapter, USB port or compatibility | Reconnect directly, re-pair and verify the model’s connection requirement. |
| Very quiet, clipped or static | Low calibration, sensitivity/noise gate, obstruction, interference or damage | Run microphone calibration, review sensitivity and test away from hubs or interference. |
| Works over Gen 3 Bluetooth but not 2.4 GHz | Wireless mode, transmitter pairing or firmware | Update Swarm II firmware and re-pair the 2.4 GHz transmitter. |
Fix the microphone on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S
- Power on the console and headset with the boom lowered.
- Confirm you are signed into the Xbox profile that owns the party, then check Xbox privacy and communication settings allow voice chat.
- Open the console’s audio or accessory settings and verify the Stealth 600 is assigned to the active profile and party.
- Leave and rejoin the party. Test another party or game to separate a service or game problem from a headset problem.
- Fully restart the console instead of relying on sleep or instant resume.
- If the wireless link is unstable, re-pair the headset with the console.
- Update Gen 2 firmware with Turtle Beach Audio Hub. Gen 3 firmware is handled in Swarm II.
The Gen 2 Xbox model supports Xbox Series X, Xbox One and Windows 10 with Xbox Wireless or an Xbox Wireless Adapter; it is not a generic Bluetooth PC headset. Its documented battery rating is 15 hours.
Gen 2 Xbox hard reset
For a Gen 2 Xbox headset that is unresponsive or stuck with a solid red LED, Turtle Beach documents holding Connect + Mode for 30 seconds, then powering it on again. This procedure is specifically for the Gen 2 Xbox model; do not apply it to Gen 3 or another edition. Afterward, update firmware using Audio Hub. See the official reset and firmware instructions.
Fix the microphone on PS4 and PS5
- Plug in the transmitter supplied for your exact Stealth 600 PlayStation variant. Connect it directly to the console while troubleshooting.
- Turn on the headset and confirm the transmitter and headset are paired.
- Open the console’s audio-device settings and select Stealth 600 Gen 2 for Input & Output Device when using that model.
- Set output to headphones/all audio where that option is offered, and set headphone volume appropriately.
- Use Adjust Microphone Level and speak until the level meter responds normally.
- Check the console mute control, party mute state and chat/game balance.
- Test in the PlayStation microphone screen before opening a game, then update Gen 2 headset and transmitter firmware through Audio Hub.
The Gen 2 PlayStation guide documents 15-hour battery life and automatic power-off after 10 consecutive minutes without audio. That power-saving behavior can make a headset appear disconnected during a silent test.
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If the console sees a transmitter but not an active headset, turn the headset on and re-pair it. A replacement transmitter for a different original, Gen 2 USB or platform variant may not work. Check Turtle Beach’s compatibility warnings for the Gen 2 USB PlayStation transmitter and Gen 2 USB Xbox transmitter.
Fix a Stealth 600 on Windows PC
Gen 2 Xbox model
Use a PC with built-in Xbox Wireless or an Xbox Wireless Adapter. After pairing, open Settings > System > Sound > Input and choose Stealth 600 as the recording device. The Xbox model’s compatibility documentation specifically requires this Xbox Wireless path.
USB-transmitter PlayStation/PC models
- Connect the transmitter directly to the computer, avoiding hubs and front-panel ports during diagnosis.
- Confirm Windows detects the headset under Settings > System > Sound > Input; choose it as the default input and raise input volume if available.
- Use Windows’ input meter or a basic recording app to verify that speech reaches the operating system.
- In the calling app or game, select Stealth 600 again. Applications can override the Windows default.
- As a diagnostic step, disable exclusive control or audio enhancements if those options appear, then test again.
| Application | Settings to check |
|---|---|
| Discord | Input Device, input volume, automatic gain control, voice activity or push-to-talk. |
| Xbox app | Windows input device plus Xbox privacy and communication permissions. |
| Steam or in-game chat | In-game input device, voice-chat enablement and push-to-talk key. |
| Zoom or Teams | Meeting microphone selection and mute status. |
| Browser chat | Browser microphone permission and the site’s selected input. |
Gen 3: use Swarm II and test the correct wireless mode
Stealth 600 Gen 3 combines 2.4 GHz wireless with Bluetooth 5.2, a flip-to-mute mic and Swarm II controls. Turtle Beach notes that some advanced features available over 2.4 GHz are not supported in Bluetooth mode, so Bluetooth is a diagnostic path rather than proof that the console transmitter is healthy.
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- Lower the boom and confirm whether you are testing 2.4 GHz or Bluetooth.
- Temporarily disconnect Bluetooth so it cannot compete with the 2.4 GHz connection.
- Test the mic in Swarm II or the platform microphone screen.
- Update firmware through Swarm II. Review microphone sensitivity, noise gate, monitoring and AI noise-reduction settings.
- If Swarm II does not detect the headset, remove and add it again, try another direct USB port or computer, and reconnect the transmitter.
- Use Swarm II’s recovery or factory-reset workflow only if needed, and record custom EQ and microphone settings first. Do not use the Gen 2 Xbox 30-second button combination on Gen 3.
Gen 3 product and platform details are listed on the official Stealth 600 page, including the Xbox edition and the PlayStation edition.
Firmware, pairing and USB recovery checklist
- Use a direct USB connection and a known-good data cable when updating.
- Do not disconnect the headset or transmitter while firmware is being written.
- If the utility cannot detect the device, try another USB port, cable or computer.
- Some updates require both headset and transmitter connected; follow the guide for your exact model rather than assuming this applies universally.
- After updating, power-cycle the headset and re-pair it with the console or transmitter.
When the problem is probably hardware
Contact Turtle Beach support or pursue applicable warranty service when the mic fails in every supported application, after the correct setup, current firmware, re-pairing, model-specific reset and a second-device test. Hardware indicators include a loose or cracked boom, a microphone that works only at one angle, an input meter that never moves despite detection, a transmitter absent on multiple known-good USB ports, persistent static, or a damaged charging/data port.
When contacting support, provide the exact model and platform edition, serial number, console or PC, firmware status, whether the headset appears as an input device, and the tests already completed. Do not buy a random transmitter: match the exact generation and platform variant first. A new headset such as the Gen 3 is sensible only after free software and connection checks have ruled out settings, pairing and a replaceable transmitter.
