Voice Chat Error [-1002]

Bug Report
1

“You have been removed from voice chat. If the problem persists, please check your audio devices and your networking setup.”

I have not changed anything on my PC. I logged in yesterday and the problem presented itself after starting the client. I cannot hear anyone or speak in Voice Chat because it is disabled from the [-1002] error.

Under Options → Sound → Voice Chat, if I hover my mouse over the Voice Chat Devices, they alternate constantly between “No Device,” “Default System Device,” and “Speakers (Focusrite USB Audio).” So it would appear the game is having an issue with the Voice Chat Devices. I noticed some others on the Bug Forum reporting the same problem; somebody even posted a Youtube video demonstrating the problem I just described.

4 Likes
Voice Chat Error -1002
2

Please go through these steps if you have not already:

3

Hi WyomingMyst, I ran through the troubleshooting steps just now & nothing has changed. Still getting the same -1002 error message every time I open the program. I am not experiencing voice problems in any other games or software.

3 Likes
4

I am the exact same boat as you. It says that the patch from about almost a month ago was to fix the voice chat glitch but it still has not on my PS4.

5

Same problem.

Due to bad internet in my area, I have to use my cell phone as a hotspot. The problem exists then. If I use my regular internet, then voice chat works, but the lag makes the game unplayable.

6

I am having the exact same problem. Nothing is fixing it. PC

7

Update: My voice is fixed!

So, you were onto something with the Hotspot. I’ve been using my Hotspot as well due to a similar problem. My local internet (in the boondocks) has been down for weeks. My ISP fixed the internet today & I switched back to my landline internet. My voice chat now works again. So for me, the game took issue with my T-Mobile hotspot here in Washington state.

To everyone else: Try digging deeper into your ISP, internet settings, VPN’s, etc.

To Tech Support: My Hotspot normally works with voice chat-- I have been using it on and off for years with Overwatch without issue. Only recently did Overwatch start taking issue with the Hotspot-- so I believe the recent patch is the cause.

8

Hi ! I have the same issue, same error name, I’m forced to use a Hotspot to have internet at home, and, it’s really annoying to not be able to join voice chat, does someone have any other solutions that could work with my Hotspot ? It used to work before some updates ago. If Blizzard could do something about it, that would be awesome, but I don’t count too much on it.

9

Same issue, now in 2024. The issue first appeared near end of life of Overwatch 1 and it stil l has not been fixed.

What works?

  • Voice Chat in the Battle.Net client itself
  • Voice Chat in Diablo IV and other Blizzard games
  • Voice Chat in Steam
  • Voice Chat in Discord
  • Voice chat in any app or any game installed on my laptop, EXCEPT Overwatch 2

Installing/reinstalling, deleting folders, getting an entirely new laptop or PC and freshly installing Overwatch there — none of it works. The error keeps reappearing.

While it is not a problem while grouping and playing with friends who have alternatives to the party voice chat, such as Discord or other apps, not being able to use voice chat is problematic when you wish to join the team (or even match) voice chat for the entire team when you are matched with random players.

It worked fine on Overwatch 1, prior to its last three updates. It never worked on Overwatch 2 for me, not even on fresh installs on different systems.

The weird thing is, Battle.Net client voice chat seems unaffected. Same true for other apps and even other Blizzard games (see above).

One more thing I wanted to add. At some point I thought it might be caused by something like virtual audio drivers, such as when using noise cancellation apps like Krisp or some sound board etc., but on the fresh new laptop no such devices and no such software is installed. Just fresh out of the box Windows PC with JUST Overwatch on it, also freshly installed and the issue persists.

My guess is something has changed towards the end of Overwatch 1 back in the day in one of the updates which somehow impacted voice chat for some people but not for all.

All the other solutions, like enabling/disabling IPv6, using VPN, connecting from different (physical) locations throughout the world using different ISPs and different routers do not fix the problem, unfortunately. Sadly, it is becoming increasingly frustrating to play the game. I thought I’d try again after a few months but I come back to the exact same issues as they were since OW2’s introduction :cry: :

10

What kind of hardware are you using for mic? Has it always been the same since you started having issues? Wireless and USB devices can generate complications that lead to issues. Have you tried with a different device, preferably one with a 3.5mm audio plug?

11

I am using a Steel Series Arctis 1 headset on an older HP Omen Laptop (purchased 2017).

That laptop does come with a 3.5mm audio jack (RealTek Audio built-in to the laptop), which I have also tried.

Tried uninstalling various drivers and devices and tried a brand new ASUS laptop, fresh out of the box. Fresh Overwatch install. Same issue.

Again, problem ONLY occurs on Overwatch.
All other Blizzard games, the Battle.Net client and everything NON-BLIZZARD works perfectly fine.

12

I was more asking if you changed your audio device (headphones) since before and after you started having issues. It’s not entirely clear.

If you use a USB or wireless mic, it’s usually a quick fix regarding selecting the proper audio device under the game settings. Such devices disappear on disconnect/power off, and settings will revert to default devices, which may or may not be the one you’re currently using. I thought I might offer a quick alternative you might have missed.

But in case that is not the issue, and yours is a bit more complicated, there’s various other causes that could be affecting you. Not even everyone posting in this thread is experiencing the exact same thing or have the same cause (as evident from previous posts). Nobody can know for sure without sitting down with you one on one.

This being Bug Reports, is not really the place to give or receive such help, so I strongly urge you to contact Blizzard’s official game support from the website if you have not done so (not in the forums). At the very least, you will log a record of this issue, along with your detailed tech specs, which are always a lot more helpful in identifying the issue from the devs end, should it end up being something they could actually improve.

This helped me after I experienced repeated crashes while playing the game and already did everything I could humanly do on my own. It is a little dependent on the support person you get, but generally having a fresh pair of eyes taking a detailed look at your problem, and following through with their suggestions, even on things you might have already tried, can help to identify new aspects. That’s the thing with troubleshooting, computers are complex and the many factors affecting an issue can change from one moment to the next. It can be difficult to cover every single possible angle yourself. If you really want to fix your issue, it never hurts to be thorough.

13

@starblaze

First of all, thank you for your elaborate reply. I really appreciate you taking the time to compose a thoughtful message on this topic.

There is a lot to unpack here, so I’ll try to reply to each thought as I come across it. Apologies for the somewhat late reply, have had open heart surgery and had to take it easy for a while.

OK, so change of audio device: sadly no, the device is exactly the same as it was on Overwatch 1. That is not really the issue.

I’m aware of USB device behaviour (just so you understand where I am coming from, I have been a systems engineer / administrator for over 20 years). If only there was something quick and simple I missed! It’s possible (I am human), but sadly, this is not the case.

The OP is actually experiencing the same thing as I am. An error message stating you have been removed from voice chat with error code -1002. I have been experiencing that since the last patch of Overwatch 1 (before that all worked fine).

The reason I submitted this to Bug Reports is because it seems to actually be a bug, given that all other Blizzard games work without a hitch and this occurs on a fresh/new installation as well, so when I install on a random brand new out of box device, I continue to have the same issue. There is a record of this issue, along with detailed specs as well as logs but Blizzard support could sadly not help me out. I was referred to the forums for this reason (my first action was to actually try and get official support).

I totally agree on the fresh pair of eyes looking at it being helpful, but so far, no one has been able to help out. Neither Blizzard tech support nor my fellow IT techies.

All this occured after the last patch of Overwatch 1 and continues in Overwatch 2. As stated, all other Blizzard titles work fine with voice chat. All other third party apps also work fine. It’s JUST Overwatch, which is why I responded to an existing thread in the bugs forum about this exact same error message.

This keeps me from seriously trying ranked play as well as from communicating with random team mates. And since Blizzard removed the awesome looking for group feature long ago, there is no way for me to easily find likeminded team mates either, making voice even better to have as an option.

I can cope in group play as I’ll just use Discord or some other platform, which works fine. It’s an issue when grouped with random people though.

If someone has any hints as to what to look for, be it in the registry or in some settings or perhaps in some shellbags, I’d appreciate it very much. As an experienced sysadmin, I really don’t mind digging a little deeper on the affected systems, especially the brand new out of the box ones. Could there be some DNS block at the ISP level to some specific server that needs to be contacted for the voice chat in just Overwatch? (like I said, Diablo and other games work just fine including their voice chat).

I did try different ISPs and different name servers as well as fresh installs of both the game and the operating system (with nothing other than the game installed), but it didn’t help, the issue persists to this day.

It has ever since the launch of Overwatch 2, which is followed up here after being advised to do so by a Blizzard tech support rep.

Hoping for some brilliant insights! <3