How to check VALORANT voice ban: Penalty reasons & what to do now
Let's take a closer look at how to check VALORANT voice ban. In VALORANT, teamwork is everything, and voice chat is your lifeline. But if you cross the line with toxic behavior, you could find yourself hit with a voice ban, leaving you mute in the heat of battle. This guide breaks down what voice bans are, why they happen, and how to dodge or deal with them.
VALORANT voice ban explained
In VALORANT, a voice ban is a temporary restriction that prevents players from using voice chat due to violations of the Community Code, which prohibits unsportsmanlike conduct and abusive behavior.
Players with a voice ban cannot communicate via microphone during matches, limiting their ability to coordinate with teammates. The duration of voice bans typically ranges from 3 to 14 days, depending on the severity of the offense and the player's behavior history. Repeat offenders may face longer bans or harsher penalties.
Potential reasons for getting your voice chat banned
- **Unsportsmanlike Conduct: **
- Abusive Language: Using language that is insulting, threatening, or harassing towards other players.
- Offensive Comments: Making derogatory remarks about a player’s performance or using insulting language during gameplay.
- Discrimination and Hate Speech: Engaging in hate speech or discriminatory remarks based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics.
- Provoking Conflict: Deliberately instigating arguments or conflicts with teammates, leading to a toxic environment.
- Harassment: Repeatedly targeting or harassing another player verbally, which creates an uncomfortable or hostile atmosphere.
- Inappropriate Language or Content: Using sexually explicit, lewd, or otherwise inappropriate language or comments in voice chat.
- Spamming Voice Chat: Continuously flooding the voice chat with unnecessary noise, music, or excessive talking, which disrupts communication among teammates.
- Threatening Behavior: Making threats of violence or other aggressive behavior directed at players in voice chat.
- Negative Influence on Gameplay: Engaging in behavior that negatively impacts the game experience for teammates, such as constant complaining or demotivating comments.
- Using Voice Chat While AFK: Remaining in voice chat while being away from the keyboard (AFK) can also lead to penalties, especially if it distracts other players.
If a player is found to be in violation of these or other related behaviors, they may receive a voice chat ban as part of the penalties enforced to maintain a respectful and fair gaming environment.
How to check VALORANT voice ban
Here are two methods to check if you're voice banned in VALORANT:
- In-game notification: Upon logging into VALORANT, if you are voice banned, a notification will appear in the chat box. This message will also indicate how long the ban lasts.
- Ranked queue: If you try to join a ranked match while under a voice ban, you'll receive a notification stating that you’re restricted from using voice chat, along with the duration of the ban.
- Email notification: You may also receive an email from Riot Games notifying you of the voice ban, including details about the duration and reasons for the ban.
If you’re uncertain about your ban status, consider joining a party with friends to check if you can communicate via voice chat. If you cannot speak with them, it’s likely that you are indeed voice banned. Keep in mind that voice bans are usually issued due to abusive or toxic behavior in voice chat. If you believe your ban is unwarranted, you can reach out to Riot Games support for further assistance.
Maybe your VALORANT voice chat is just not working
If you’re not seeing the signs mentioned, it might not be a voice ban. Here are some troubleshooting steps that might help you resolve the issue:
- Check Your Audio Settings: Go to Settings in the game, then select the Audio tab. Ensure that the voice chat options are correctly configured and that the input and output devices are set to the correct microphones and speakers.
- Test Your Microphone: Ensure your microphone is working properly outside of VALORANT. You can test it using other applications like Discord or your operating system’s sound settings.
- Check Voice Chat Keybind: Ensure that the push-to-talk key is properly set in the Controls section of the settings. If you’re using open mic, make sure that option is enabled.
- Adjust Windows Sound Settings: Make sure your microphone is enabled in your system’s sound settings. Right-click on the speaker icon in your taskbar, select Sounds, and check the Recording tab to see if your microphone is active and set as the default device.
- Disable Background Applications: Sometimes, other applications can interfere with voice chat. Close any unnecessary background applications that might be using your microphone.
- Check Network Connection: Ensure you have a stable internet connection. Voice chat may not work properly if your connection is lagging or unstable.
- Firewall and Antivirus Settings: Check your firewall and antivirus settings to ensure they aren’t blocking VALORANT or its voice chat features.
- Restart the Game: If you’ve made any changes, restart VALORANT to see if that resolves the issue.
- Reinstall the Game: If the problem persists, consider reinstalling VALORANT to ensure there are no corrupted files affecting the voice chat functionality. If you've tried all these steps and your voice chat still isn't working, you might want to reach out to Riot Games support for further assistance.
How to ask for an appeal?
If you don’t want to wait your VALORANT voice ban to expire and think you didn’t violate rules, here is what you need to do now:
- Open a Support Ticket: Visit the Riot Games support website and submit a ticket regarding your ban. Make sure to select the appropriate category related to account bans or suspensions.
- Provide Relevant Information: In your ticket, include all necessary details such as your Riot ID, account information, and specifics about your ban. Be clear and concise about your situation.
- State Your Case: If you’re confident that you did nothing wrong, explain your side of the story. Be honest and provide any evidence that supports your claim, if applicable.
- Answer Their Questions: Be prepared to respond to any questions or requests for clarification from the support team. Providing thorough and honest answers can help your case.
- Be Patient: After submitting your appeal, wait for a response from the support team. The process can take time, so try to remain patient while they review your case.