Once it comes to TF2 custom sounds not working, incorrect installation is the main cause and to fix that, you should take a look at the custom folder. If the issue persists, you may want to check out the format of the files as well. You don’t know how to carry out the solutions on your own?  In that case, this article is for you. 

Getting Custom Sounds To Work

Take A Look At The Custom Folder

• Step 1: Launch Steam, log into your account, and go to Library.
• Step 2: Locate Team Fortress 2, right-click it, and pick Properties.
• Step 3: Choose the Local Files tab and select Browse Local Files.
• Step 4: Find the tf folder in the Team Fortress 2 folder, then open it.
• Step 5: Proceed to open the “custom” folder inside the “tf” folder. If you can’t find the folder, you’ll have to create it yourself. Right-click an empty space inside the “tf” folder, hover your mouse over New, and pick Folder. Name the folder “custom.”
• Step 6: Regardless, open the “custom” folder, open it and create a new folder for your custom sounds. Feel free to give the folder a name that’ll help you remember that it’s for your custom sounds.
• Step 7: Open the recently created folder, create another folder inside it, and name the new folder “sound.”
• Step 8: Open the “sound” folder, create another folder in it and then name the new folder “ui”
• Step 9: Put your custom audio files inside the “ui” folder. Ensure that the files have a “.wav” extension. If the custom sound files lack the extension, you’ll have to add it (right-click > Rename > add the “.wav” extension). Of course, if you see another file extension, delete it in favor of “.wav”.

Convert Stereo To Mono

• Step 1: You need an audio converter. You can use whatever program you like, but Audacity is the recommended choice. To download Audacity, go to https://www.audacityteam.org/download/ and select Download for Windows. It’s the same version for both 32 and 64-bit PCs, so you don’t have to worry about that.
• Step 2: Once your download is completed, go to This PC and open the Downloads folder.
• Step 3: Locate the Audacity setup, right-click it and pick Run as administrator.
• Step 4: Follow the onscreen instructions.
• Step 5: Once the installation completes, locate the custom sound file you want to convert, right-click it, hover your mouse over Open with and pick Audacity.
• Step 6: Go to Tracks and then select Stereo Track to Mono.
• Step 7: Set the rate of the music file to 44100Hz. You’ll find the settings at the bottom left corner.
• Step 8: Click on the arrow right next to the name of your sound file and pick Set Sample Format.
• Step 9: Hit 16-bit PCM, then save.
• Step 10: Choose the File tab and select Export Audio. Ensure you export the audio file to the custom folder of your TF2 directory.

Check Out Server Details

As mentioned above, not all Team Fortress 2 game servers allow players to use custom sounds. Thus, it’s wise to determine whether your server supports custom sounds. If the answer is no, you have no choice but to switch servers to be able to use your custom sounds in-game.

What Might Have Gone Wrong

Installation 

Installing custom sound files is a straightforward affair, but if you mess up, there is no way that Team Fortress 2 could recognize the files. Thus, if you notice TF2 custom sounds not working, you should take installation into account. 

Format

TF2 custom sounds won’t work even though you have nailed the installation? Then it’s highly likely that the format of the files is at fault. For your information, Team Fortress 2 only accepts mono audio files. That means if the format of your audio files is stereo, they cannot do a thing in the game.

Server

It’s worth pointing out that some Team Fortress 2 game servers do not allow custom sounds. In the case that you join one of such servers, it’s impossible for your custom sounds to work. 

Settings 

Game settings affect the performance of a lot of features, and custom sound is not an exception. If you have a hard time getting custom sound to work, you should give settings some thought. 

A Guide For Novices

• Plan your moves strategically: Unless you want to get knocked out time and again, avoid moving aimlessly. Pay attention to the surroundings, take note of the position of enemies and allies, … then make your moves. 
• Practice, practice, and practice: New to TF2 and cannot stay alive for more than a minute in a PvP match? In that case, you should spend some time practicing, ideally in the tr_walkway custom map. The map spawns several enemy bots you can use for your target practice.