Apex Legends has a severe audio problem. The game engine physically cannot process the amount of audio channels happening during a chaotic team fight. If a Bangalore ultimate is going off, the game will simply stop rendering the sound of footsteps to save processing power.
The best audio settings for Apex Legends require you to bypass the in-game settings entirely and use a third-party Equalizer (EQ) like SteelSeries Sonar. By artificially boosting the specific mid-range frequencies where footsteps live, you can force the game to prioritize those sounds over explosions.
Even if you have the Best Headset for Apex Legends, the raw in-game audio mix will get you killed. Here is exactly how to optimize your EQ to hear silent flankers.
1. The In-Game Audio Settings
Before we fix the EQ in Windows, we need to clean up the base game settings. Open your settings menu and navigate to the Audio tab.
- Master Volume: 100%
- Sound Effects Volume: 100%
- Dialogue Volume: 30% (You want to hear legend callouts, but you don’t want them drowning out footsteps).
- Music Volume: 0%
- Lobby Music Volume: 0%
- Sound in Background: Off
2. Download an Audio Equalizer (SteelSeries Sonar)
To fix Apex’s audio, you need an Equalizer. We highly recommend SteelSeries Sonar. It is a free piece of software that works with any headset brand (you do not need a SteelSeries headset to use it).
- Download and install SteelSeries GG (the software that includes Sonar).
- Open Sonar and navigate to the Game tab.
- In the Configuration dropdown, select the pre-made “Apex Legends” profile.
Why the Sonar Profile Works
The engineers at SteelSeries analyzed the exact audio files inside Apex Legends. They discovered that footsteps, shield batteries, and ziplines all exist in the 1.5kHz to 4kHz frequency range.
The Sonar profile aggressively boosts this specific mid-range frequency while suppressing the low-end bass (explosions) and the piercing high-end (gunshots). This forces the footsteps to the front of the audio mix.
3. Enable Windows Loudness Equalization
Apex has a massive dynamic range. The sound of a Kraber firing is deafening, but the sound of someone crouching is whisper-quiet. If you turn your volume up to hear the crouching, the Kraber will damage your real-life hearing.
To fix this, you can use a built-in Windows feature called Loudness Equalization (a basic audio compressor). It automatically lowers the volume of loud sounds and raises the volume of quiet sounds.
How to enable it:
- Right-click the speaker icon in your Windows taskbar and click Sounds.
- Go to the Playback tab and right-click your headset. Select Properties.
- Go to the Enhancements tab.
- Check the box for Loudness Equalization.
- Click Apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I hear Horizon dropping on me?
Horizon’s passive ability (“Spacewalk”) makes her footsteps and landing sounds inherently quieter than other legends. Combined with the game’s engine limits, this often results in zero audio playing when she lands behind you. Using an EQ like Sonar is the only way to reliably catch the faint audio cues she does make.
Does my keyboard affect my game audio?
Yes. If you play on an open microphone, the loud “clack” of a mechanical keyboard will bleed into your teammates’ headsets, masking in-game audio cues. We highly recommend using Push-to-Talk or switching to quieter switches. (Read our guide to the 5 Best Linear Switches for Gaming to find silent options).
