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Sound is one of the most essential aspects of action-packed games like Fortnite. Even a shy audio cue can be the deciding factor between you clutching the game for your team or having to settle for that ever-frustrating second position. However, sifting through all the audio settings in Fortnite can be a real hassle since they’re so many of them, and let’s not forget how turning on the wrong ones may negatively impact your game.
To help you through this cumbersome process, we’ve written a guide that will tell you everything you need to do to get the perfect sound settings in Fortnite. So without further ado, let’s get started.
Most optimal audio settings for Fortnite
Here are the best sound settings for Fortnite that you can follow to improve your hearing in the game drastically. These settings will provide the ideal sound output on any platform (PC or console), so you don’t have to worry about reading a separate guide if you’re playing Fortnite on different platforms.
Volume Settings
To start off, your Music Volume should be less than 25% since, otherwise, it is bound to cloud your master volume. This will disrupt your hearing, allowing enemies to sneak behind you. The Sound Effects Volume is basically the master volume of the game and should be set to 100% to get the maximum sound output from Fortnite. If it’s too loud, use the button to adjust it to your liking.
As far as Voice Chat Volume is concerned, you can keep it between 10% to 80%. This usually depends on how good/bad or high/low are the mics of your teammates. However, the general threshold you should focus on is the range we’ve provided you with.
We also suggest you keep Cinematics Volume below 25% since, while it provides an immersive experience, you don’t want it to disrupt the enemy’s footsteps. Additionally, keep the Dialogue setting low as well.
Essentially, you need to reduce the volume of all non-essential sounds. Music doesn’t matter in a match, and you should also lower your teammates’ voice volume. Sound effects, on the other hand, affect nearly all the essential audio. Due to this, you want to keep this setting at maximum, so you can hear all the footsteps and gunshots.
Sound quality and 3D headphones
Sound Quality should always be kept High to get more crisp and clear audio cues in the game. There is no downside to this setting on modern gaming systems, as they can provide high audio quality without sacrificing many resources. However, you may consider switching it to Low for a framerate boost.
You can gain framerate boost by changing this Fortnite audio setting
If you decrease the Sound Quality to Low, you will notice a framerate boost on older machines. Due to this, you should use low-quality sounds if you struggle to reach your desired framerate. However, it’s important to note that this setting is nearly insignificant on modern gaming machines and is mostly used only by competitive players.
The 3D Headphones setting should also be turned on all the time since this will give you directional audio and help you trace out where the enemy is approaching from. However, keep in mind that this only works for stereo headphones.
Background Audio and Visual Sound Effects
While Background Audio could be useful if you’re away from your gaming system, you may also turn it off. This setting is completely optional, so you can choose what to do with it.
Visualize Sound Effects enhances your gameplay experience by providing a better sense of direction and is probably the best sound setting in Fortnite. However, some players find it overwhelming and choose to disable the setting instead. This Fortnite audio setting will provide visual clues to your surroundings along with the audio, which makes it perfect.
To summarize the settings we’ve explained above, we’ve crunched it all down in this neat little table:
| Function | Best Fortnite Settings |
| Music Volume | Less than 25% |
| Sound Effects Volume | 100% |
| Voice Chat Volume | 10% to 80% |
| Cinematics Volume | Less than 25% |
| Dialogue | Less than 25% |
| Sound Quality | High |
| 3D Headphones | On |
| Background Audio | Personal Preference |
| Subtitles | Personal Preference |
| Visualize Sound Effects | On |
| Voice Chat | Personal Preference |
Final thoughts
To sum it all up, it is crucial to have the right sound settings in order to fully enjoy the experience of what Fortnite offers you. You can always tinker with them to see what suits you best; however, most of the player base tends to follow these.
Also, keep in mind that these are the best Fortnite audio settings for Battle Royale and Zero Build. If you prefer playing Fortnite Creative maps or just chilling in Party Royale, you should change these settings.
Finally, we advise you to always take screenshots of your settings in case you want to go back to them.
Best audio settings in Fortnite – FAQ
How do I hear footsteps better in Fortnite?
To hear footsteps in Fortnite, you will want to increase Sound Effects Volume to maximum while reducing the volume of all the other sounds. Additionally, you should turn on 3D Headphones and Visualize Sound Effects.
Why is Fortnite so quiet?
If you believe that Fortnite is quiet, chances are that your sound settings are not good. Open the in-game settings and head over to the Sound tab to check if everything is fine. Make sure to keep the Main Volume at the maximum.
Should I use 3D Headphones in Fortnite?
If you have a stereo headset, you should turn on the 3D Headphones setting. This will help you hear your enemies better, and you’ll have a better idea of where gunshots are coming from.
