Put the A20’s transmitter—not the headset—into PC mode, then route playback to ASTRO A20 Game and chat and microphone audio to ASTRO A20 Voice. The button or switch differs between Gen 1 and Gen 2, so identify your transmitter before following the steps.
Identify your A20 generation and transmitter
Check the transmitter, the small USB device that connects the headset to your computer. Gen 1 and Gen 2 use different controls, and a transmitter for one platform or generation should not be assumed to work with every A20.
- Gen 1: Usually has a physical Xbox/PC or PlayStation/PC switch and uses Micro-USB. Some platform editions have an optical input. The Gen 1 PC quick-start guide labels the switch XBOX/PC.
- Gen 2: Uses a smaller transmitter with a platform button rather than the same Gen 1-style physical switch. Logitech’s Gen 2 PC and Mac instructions say to press the transmitter button until its LED turns white.
If the model or platform edition is unclear, check the label on the transmitter and confirm it against the headset’s documentation. Do not assume A20 transmitters are interchangeable.
Switch an A20 Gen 1 transmitter to PC mode
- Connect the transmitter to the computer with a data-capable Micro-USB cable. For PC setup, USB is the required connection; do not add optical cabling unless you are following a separate, model-specific console setup.
- Move the transmitter’s physical switch to PC.
- Check the transmitter LED. The Gen 1 guide identifies white as PC mode and blue as Xbox One mode; do not apply that color interpretation to every generation or revision.
- Turn on the headset and allow the transmitter and headset to connect.
See the Gen 1 quick-start guide for its transmitter and Windows audio setup.
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- Extended wireless range up to 15m (50ft) through the 2.4 GHz wireless signal.
- On-device audio balancing between voice chat and game audio on Xbox or PC
- Console specific USB transmitter for easy cross-platform compatibility.
- Built-in battery provides more than 15 hours of battery life and can be recharged through the USB-C port.
- Quick and easy mute functionality with the flip-to-mute microphone.
Switch an A20 Gen 2 transmitter to PC mode
- Connect the transmitter to a USB-A port on the computer.
- Press the transmitter’s platform button until the LED turns white, which indicates PC mode in Logitech’s Gen 2 PC/Mac setup instructions.
- Turn on the headset and wait for it to connect.
This is not the Gen 1 switch procedure: Gen 2 uses a button on the transmitter.
Set up A20 audio devices in Windows
In PC mode, the computer can expose separate A20 audio endpoints. Use ASTRO A20 Game for game and system playback, and ASTRO A20 Voice for communications playback and microphone input. This separation is what lets the headset balance game and voice streams independently.
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- Up to 15m wireless range: Removing the boundaries of wires, the 2.4 GHz wireless signal provides a range of up to 15m
- Cross-platform connectivity: With our new USB transmitter, you can easily connect cross-platform between console and PC; separately sold console-specific USB transmitters allow for cross-console compatibility using the same headset
- 15+ hours battery life: Enjoy anxiety-free marathon gaming sessions with more than 15 hours of battery life; recharge the headset using the included USB-C to USB-A cable
- Flip-to-mute microphone: Be in charge of your full audio experience with the flip-to-mute uni-directional microphone which delivers clear and accurate communication with easy mute functionality
- EQ presets: Choose between 3 different audio presets to make sure you have the best equalizer settings for the game you’re playing
- Connect the transmitter directly to the PC’s USB port. Close games and chat apps while setting up for the first time.
- Open Windows sound settings and set ASTRO A20 Game as the default output or playback device.
- Set ASTRO A20 Voice as the default communications device.
- Open the input or recording section and set ASTRO A20 Voice as the microphone or default recording device.
- In Discord, Teams, or another voice-chat app, select ASTRO A20 Voice for both chat output and microphone input if the app does not follow Windows defaults.
- Test game playback, chat playback, and microphone input separately. The legacy Windows path is Taskbar speaker icon → Playback Devices → choose ASTRO A20 Game → Set as Default Device; then choose ASTRO A20 Voice → Set as Default Communication Device. The Gen 1 setup instructions also designate A20 Voice for recording and communications.
Windows labels and the route to these controls can vary by version. The important part is assigning the Game and Voice endpoints to the intended audio roles. If a game or chat app has its own device menu, check that menu too.
Set up A20 audio devices on a Mac
- Connect the transmitter to a USB-A port, select PC mode using the procedure for your generation, and turn on the headset.
- Open System Settings → Sound.
- Select ASTRO A20 Game for Output.
- Select ASTRO A20 Voice for Input.
- If needed, select A20 Voice as the microphone and chat device inside your voice-chat app.
These output and input assignments follow Logitech’s Gen 2 Mac setup. Windows’ “Default Communication Device” label is not a Mac menu setting.
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- The 48 kHz high-resolution microphone on this HD gaming headset with mic features Blue VO!CE customization for crystal-clear sound and personalized audio settings
- This RGB wireless headset features customizable 8-zone LIGHTSYNC RGB with 16.8M vibrant colors for a dazzling, personalized look
- Enjoy effortless control with built-in MixAmp technology, allowing seamless Game/Chat balancing on PC and Xbox for a more immersive gaming experience
Change volume, game/chat balance, EQ, and microphone mute
| Control | What it changes | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Right-earcup volume wheel | Overall headset loudness, not the relative game/chat mix. | Turn it to adjust the headset’s master volume. |
| Game:Voice balance | Relative level of game audio and voice audio. | Move or hold toward Game to hear more game and less chat; move or hold toward Voice for more chat and less game. Logitech documents this control for Xbox and PC. |
| EQ button | Cycles among onboard sound profiles. | ASTRO is a general gaming profile; STUDIO is more neutral for music and movies; PRO emphasizes mids and highs for detail and competitive play. No profile is best for every listener or game. |
| Boom microphone | Microphone mute state. | Lower the boom into speaking position to use it; flip it upward to mute. |
The headset starts at approximately a 50/50 game-to-voice balance, according to Logitech’s Gen 2 headset configuration guide. Game:Voice adjustment requires the computer to receive separate Game and Voice streams. If a game or chat app sends both kinds of audio to one endpoint, the headset cannot independently separate them.
Choose one spatial-audio path
Logitech’s PC/Mac setup documentation describes using PC spatial-audio options such as Windows Sonic or Dolby Atmos with the A20. Spatial audio is optional, not a requirement for PC mode. Dolby Atmos availability or licensing may depend on the product and software setup; the A20 itself does not guarantee every Dolby feature.
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- Extended wireless range up to 15m (50ft) through the 2.4 GHz wireless signal.
- Console specific USB transmitter for easy cross-platform compatibility.
- Built-in battery provides more than 15 hours of battery life and can be recharged through the USB-C port.
- Quick and easy mute functionality with the flip-to-mute microphone.
- Choice of different equalizer settings by switching between the 3 different EQ presets.
- Try one processing path at a time: the game’s headphone or surround mode, Windows Sonic, or Dolby Atmos.
- If audio sounds hollow, exaggerated, or harder to locate, turn off one spatial-processing layer and test again rather than stacking effects.
Troubleshoot connection and sound problems
The transmitter does not appear to be in PC mode
- Confirm you have the transmitter made for your A20 generation and platform edition.
- Use a USB cable that supports data, not just charging. Connect directly to the computer rather than an unpowered hub or monitor.
- Use the Gen 1 physical switch or Gen 2 platform button as appropriate. For Gen 1, white indicates PC mode in the cited guide; do not infer another generation’s mode from that color alone.
- Turn on the headset, try another USB port, and, on a desktop, try a rear motherboard port. Restart the computer with the transmitter connected.
- If detection remains unreliable, temporarily disconnect other wireless dongles to check for USB interference or device-enumeration problems.
The A20 appears in Windows, but there is no game audio
- Set Windows output and the individual game’s output to ASTRO A20 Game, not A20 Voice.
- Raise the right-earcup volume wheel and check that the Game:Voice balance is not fully toward Voice.
- Check Windows Volume Mixer for an app muted or routed to another device.
- Confirm the transmitter is in PC mode, the USB connection is to the transmitter’s audio/power port, and the headset is paired with the transmitter.
Chat works, but game audio does not
Route system and game playback to ASTRO A20 Game, while setting voice-chat playback and microphone to ASTRO A20 Voice. Check the game’s own audio-output menu and restart the game after changing defaults; some games retain a previously selected device.
Game audio works, but the microphone does not
- Set the input device to ASTRO A20 Voice in Windows and in the game or chat app.
- Lower the boom into speaking position and check that the app has not muted the microphone.
- Allow microphone access in Windows privacy settings and check the selected input level.
Game:Voice controls do nothing
Check that the transmitter is in PC mode and that the computer and apps are routing game and chat to separate Game and Voice endpoints. An app may bypass Windows’ communications endpoint. The control is documented for Xbox and PC, not as a universal PlayStation feature; on PlayStation, use the console’s own chat-balance controls where available. A control that has no effect can therefore indicate routing or platform behavior rather than a hardware fault.
Audio is distorted or unusually quiet
- Disable extra spatial-audio processing and check whether the sound changes.
- Confirm the app is using the correct A20 endpoint. Set Windows volume to a moderate level, then adjust the headset wheel.
- Try a different direct USB port and remove hubs or extension cables.
- Test another application, then power-cycle the headset and transmitter.
- If the issue starts after sleep or wake, reconnect the transmitter or restart the affected audio application.
Firmware and compatibility limits
Older ASTRO documentation refers to ASTRO Command Center and firmware/software support. Logitech’s current Gen 2 support page warns that its Firmware Update Tool is no longer supported or maintained. If Logitech or ASTRO offers a compatible update path for your exact A20 generation, use that official tool; availability and steps can differ by generation. If an official updater cannot detect the headset, check the model, cable, and direct USB port, then contact Logitech support rather than relying on an unofficial firmware file. Do not interrupt power during an update.
PC setup uses USB; optical audio is not required for the documented computer configuration. Console editions and transmitter labels can impose compatibility limits, so verify your exact hardware before assuming it will work with another console family or transmitter. The headset-to-transmitter connection is wireless, but the transmitter still connects to the computer by USB and the headset still needs charging.
Quick Recap
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