Simple Voice Chat brings real-time proximity voice communication into Minecraft Java Edition without leaving the game. Players within range hear each other automatically, with volume fading naturally as distance increases. It runs as an optional mod on Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, and Quilt from version 1.16.5 through 1.21.x, and also supports Bukkit, Paper, and Spigot on the server side through a companion plugin.
How Simple Voice Chat Works
The mod creates a dedicated UDP voice server running alongside the Minecraft server process. Audio from your microphone is encoded using the Opus codec and sent only to players within the configured range. A small HUD icon shows which nearby players are currently speaking. Beyond proximity chat, you can create or join private group channels that let you talk to specific players regardless of your in-game position.
- Proximity-based audio with natural distance falloff.
- Private group channels for voice across any distance.
- Per-player volume controls and individual mute buttons.
- Push-to-talk or voice-activation input modes.
- Server-side admin controls to mute or manage players.
Installation for Client and Server
On a modded server running Fabric, Forge, or NeoForge, install the same mod JAR on both the server and every participating client. On a vanilla or Bukkit-based server, install the companion Bukkit plugin on the server and the standard mod JAR on each client. Players who do not have the mod installed can still join the server and play normally; they simply have no voice chat.
- 1.Download the JAR for your loader and Minecraft version from the Modrinth page.
- 2.Place the JAR in the mods folder on both client and server (for modded servers), or use the Bukkit plugin on vanilla-based servers.
- 3.Start the server, then connect from the client.
- 4.Press V (default keybind) in-game to open the voice chat menu and select your microphone and speakers.
Configuration and Settings
An in-game settings screen lets you choose input and output devices, adjust microphone sensitivity and gain, switch between push-to-talk and voice activation, and toggle noise suppression. Server administrators can configure the maximum voice distance, codec quality, and the port the voice server listens on through the server-side config file. Group channels created in the group menu persist until the creator closes or disbands them.
Questions about this entry.
How do I install Simple Voice Chat?
Download the JAR that matches your loader and Minecraft version from the Modrinth page. Place it in your mods folder on both client and server, then start the server. For Bukkit, Paper, or Spigot servers, install the companion voicechat-bukkit plugin on the server instead. Open the voice chat menu in-game with the V key to set up your microphone and output device.
Does Simple Voice Chat require the mod on the server?
Yes. For proximity voice to work, the server must have the mod JAR installed (for Fabric, Forge, and NeoForge servers) or the companion Bukkit plugin (for Bukkit, Paper, and Spigot servers). Clients without the mod can still join and play; they just cannot participate in voice chat.
Does Simple Voice Chat work on public servers I do not control?
Only if the server owner has installed the server-side component. The mod uses a dedicated voice server process that must be running on the server for any voice communication to take place. It will not function on servers where neither the mod nor the companion plugin is present.
Which Minecraft version does Simple Voice Chat support?
The mod supports Minecraft Java Edition 1.8.8 through 1.21.x on Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, and Quilt. Always download the JAR that matches your exact game version; the Modrinth page lists all available per-version builds.
Can I join a server using Simple Voice Chat without a microphone?
Yes. The mod is optional on the client side. You can install it and simply not configure a microphone, or skip installing it entirely. Players without the mod can join the server and use text chat as normal.