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Which activation mode should I use?

The short answer

AutoPTT’s Activation Mode is the setting that decides how your mic behaves. Pick the one that matches how you actually talk, and you’ll stop thinking about it.

  • You just want to talk like normal voice chat –> Voice Activity
  • You want a little control without holding a key –> Tap or Open Mic to Tap
  • You want to control exactly when the mic is open –> Push-to-Talk or Open Mic to PTT
  • You want a system-wide mute on top of any of the above –> Push-to-Mute (Global) or Toggle Mute (Global)

The modes, in plain terms

  • Voice Activity: hands-free. AutoPTT presses the Push-to-Talk key when it hears you speak, and releases it when you stop.
  • Tap: you tap a key to start, and the mic stays open until you stop talking (even if you let go right away).
  • Push-to-Talk: you hold a key to talk. Maximum control and keeps the most noise out, but you have to remember to hold it.
  • Open Mic to PTT: for apps and games with no Push-to-Talk. AutoPTT mutes the mic system-wide unless you’re pressing the PTT key.
  • Open Mic to Tap: like Tap, but it works by muting system-wide instead of pressing a key.

The Push-to-Mute (Global) and Toggle Mute (Global) hotkeys let you kill the mic system-wide with one press, on top of whichever mode you pick.

AutoPTT also has “plain” Push-to-Mute and Toggle Mute (not global) hotkeys that are tied to PTT keys, and simply prevent the keys from being pressed. They don’t mute the mic system-wide (unless you’re in the Open Mic to PTT or Open Mic to Tap mode).

How to choose

  • You talk a lot in the moment (games, streams) –> Voice Activity, and tune the Activation Threshold so only your voice triggers it. Add a Toggle Mute or Push-to-Mute on top to be considerate of others.
  • You want it deliberate –> Tap for a mostly hands-off experience, or Push-to-Talk if you want to hold it.
  • Your app only has Open Mic –> Open Mic to PTT (or Open Mic to Tap) gives you Push-to-Talk-style control by muting system-wide, You can also use Push-to-Talk without an actual PTT key, and instead use a Toggle Mute (Global) or Push-to-Mute (Global).

Most people have a preference. Pick what you like, and adjust per-game, using profiles, when necessary.

Try it yourself

Download the free trial and try each mode.

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