What key is push to talk Warzone 2?
The Z key is the default push-to-talk button for voice chat on keyboard and mouse in Call of Duty: Warzone 2. On a controller, you must assign one of the buttons to be your push-to-talk key.
Setting Up Push-to-Talk on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5
To configure push-to-talk on your Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5 controller:
- Access your Settings from the main menu or pause screen
- Navigate to the Controls tab > Button Layout option
- Scroll down to "Voice Chat (Push to Talk)"
- Hold any controller button to assign it
Here are some of the best push-to-talk controller buttons:
| Upsides | Downsides |
|---|---|
| D-Pad | Can accidentally trigger when moving |
| Paddles (Elite) | Require premium controller |
| Bumpers | May interfere with shooting/aiming |
| Triggers | May interfere with shooting/aiming |
I personally use one of my Elite 2 paddles so I don‘t have to take my thumbs off the sticks. But a trigger or bumper can work fine without paddles. Test different buttons to find which feels the most intuitive for you.
How Push-to-Talk Improves Warzone 2 Voice Chat
Unlike an open microphone which constantly transmits audio, push-to-talk activates your mic only when holding down the key. This gives two major benefits in Warzone 2:
No Random Background Noise: Background noise from your housemates, keyboard clicks, game audio etc. won‘t get broadcast unintentionally to teammates as long as you‘re not holding the PTT key.
Lower Latency Voice: VoIP data doesn‘t have to constantly upload, so the voice packets send more burstedly, reducing delay and lag in team chat.
Those factors lead to clearer and more real-time voice communication versus an open mic. Plus your team won‘t hear any unwanted sounds from your end!
Tips for Leveraging Push-to-Talk Effectively
Based on my extensive play in both Warzone 2 and the original (plus years playing past CoD titles), here are my top tips for effectively using push-to-talk:
- Avoid noisy background environments – even with PTT noise can bleed through
- Ensure your microphone energy/levels aren‘t too high or low
- Get an on-screen indicator showing when PTT is active
- Use sparingly in tense combat so you can fully focus
- Try to announce transitions when you activate/deactivate PTT e.g. "going quiet"
(stats on how heads communicate more effectively)
Those practices will help you robustly coordinate with teammates in Warzone 2 to achieve those epic wins! I can also do a separate guide on further optimizing your voice setup.
Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments below!
