HRTF is Valorant’s free 3D audio feature, and turning it on takes about ten seconds: open Settings → Audio and enable the HRTF toggle — then wear headphones. Riot added it in patch 2.06 (as of March 2021) to help players pinpoint enemy footsteps, reloads, and Deathmatch respawns using a simulated surround sound space. Here is what it actually does and how to set it up.
What is HRTF in Valorant?
HRTF stands for Head-Related Transfer Function. In plain words: the game processes certain sounds so that, through headphones, they feel like they come from a real place around your head instead of just left or right in stereo. Riot’s official patch notes describe it as letting players “wearing headphones play audio in a simulated surround sound audio space”.
One important limit: HRTF does not apply to every sound. In patch 2.06, Riot stated that only footsteps, reloads, and Deathmatch respawns are rendered in 3D with HRTF enabled. Everything else stays normal stereo.
How to enable HRTF (step by step)
- Open Settings in the Valorant client.
- Go to the Audio section.
- Find the HRTF toggle and turn it ON.
- Put on headphones — the effect is built for headphones, not speakers.
The toggle sits in the Audio settings panel, exactly where Riot documented it when the feature shipped.
Tips to get more out of HRTF
- Turn off other 3D audio processing. Riot’s patch notes recommend disabling any other “3D Audio” software while HRTF is on, because stacking effects can confuse the direction cues.
- Give your ears a few games to adjust. Riot explains that HRTF uses a profile based on a single set of head and ear measurements, so it may not feel natural to everyone at first. Their suggestion: try it in a custom game or the range before ranked.
- Listen for footsteps and reloads first. Since those are the sounds HRTF processes, practice identifying whether an enemy is left, right, in front, or behind using only those cues.
Does HRTF give an unfair advantage?
No. It is a built-in, official Riot feature — not a cheat or a third-party tool. Every player can enable it for free from the settings menu, and it has been in the game since March 2021.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need headphones for HRTF?
Yes. Riot designed the feature for players wearing headphones. On speakers the simulated surround effect does not work as intended.
Which sounds work with HRTF?
Footsteps, reloads, and Deathmatch respawns — the three sound types Riot listed in the patch 2.06 notes. Ability sounds and gunfire are not processed in 3D.
Why do footsteps sound strange after enabling HRTF?
That is normal at the start. The processing is based on one average head profile, so Riot recommends giving it a few tries and practising in a custom game until your brain adjusts.
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