The Hive
The Hive
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Beginner

Proximity Voice Chat

The Hive supports in-game voice chat using the Simple Voice Chat mod. Talk to players near you — your voice gets quieter with distance, just like real life.

What you'll learn

  • →Install the free Simple Voice Chat mod to talk and hear others
  • →Voice is proximity-based — you hear players within ~48 blocks
  • →Press V to open settings, hold the push-to-talk key to speak
  • →Create private voice groups to talk across any distance
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Voice chat needs a client-side mod. Without it you can still play normally — you just won't hear or be heard. The vanilla launcher alone will not work.
  1. 1

    Install the mod

    Get Simple Voice Chat for Fabric or Forge from Modrinth/CurseForge

    Voice chat is powered by the Simple Voice Chat mod, which you install on your own Minecraft client. It is free and widely trusted.

    1. Install a mod loader — Fabric is the easiest for most players (or Forge if you already use it).
    2. Download Simple Voice Chat for your Minecraft version from Modrinth or CurseForge.
    3. Drop the mod file into your mods folder.
    4. Launch Minecraft with that mod profile and join the server as usual.
    ℹī¸
    You also need the Fabric API mod alongside Simple Voice Chat if you use Fabric. Most modpack launchers (Modrinth App, Prism, CurseForge) install dependencies for you.
  2. 2

    Allow microphone access

    The first time you join, approve the mic prompt

    When you first connect with the mod installed, Minecraft will ask for microphone permission and the mod runs a quick connection test. Accept it.

    If your OS blocks the mic, voice won't work — check your system's privacy/microphone settings and allow Java/Minecraft.

  3. 3

    Set your push-to-talk key

    Press V to open voice settings and pick your hotkeys

    Press V in-game to open the voice chat menu. From there you can:

    • Choose your microphone and output device
    • Set push-to-talk (hold a key to speak) or voice activation (talks when it hears you)
    • Adjust your microphone volume and test it
    • Mute yourself or others
    ✅
    Push-to-talk is recommended — voice activation can broadcast background noise to everyone near you.
  4. 4

    Talk to nearby players

    Voice is proximity-based — fades out past ~48 blocks

    Voice chat is proximity-based. The closer a player is, the louder they are; past about 48 blocks you can no longer hear them at all. Walk up to someone to chat, walk away to fall silent.

    This makes markets, town squares, and group adventures feel alive — but means you won't overhear people across the map.

  5. 5

    Use voice groups for long distance

    Create or join a group to talk regardless of distance

    Need to coordinate with your town while spread out? Open the voice menu (V) and create or join a group. Everyone in the same group hears each other at full volume no matter how far apart they are — like a party voice channel.

    Leave the group to return to normal proximity chat.

Quick Reference

Commands at a glance

V (default key)Open the voice chat settings menu in-game.
Push-to-talk keyHold to speak (you choose the key in the menu).
Voice menu → GroupsCreate or join a group for distance-independent voice.

💡 Tips & Tricks

  • ✓Use push-to-talk, not voice activation, to avoid broadcasting background noise.
  • ✓Proximity range is about 48 blocks — step closer if someone sounds faint.
  • ✓Voice groups ignore distance — perfect for town projects or exploring together.
  • ✓No mod? You can still play 100% normally; you just won't hear or use voice.
  • ✓If your mic doesn't work, check your operating system's microphone privacy settings first.