12 Easy Fixes: Microphone Not Working in Windows

The use of microphones has increased with advances in technology and the shift from traditional meeting modes to remote ones. You can call it an integral part of the online world and professional life.

If you frequently use the microphone, you may encounter the “Microphone not working in Windows 10/11″issue.

This can be caused by both hardware and software errors. If you’re experiencing the same issue, follow the steps in the article for the necessary fixes.

Why is the microphone not working in Windows 10?

1. System compatibility

The microphone that came with your headset may not be compatible with your laptop, or if you connect a device to the system without checking device compatibility, the microphone may not work.

2. Outdated drivers

Faulty drivers affect the smooth operation of the device. If you have to use a corrupted or faulty driver, it will cause the device to crash.

3. Hardware problems

The headphones or headset you are using with your device may be of poor quality. Therefore, they do not work with your device.

In addition, broken analogues or connections can also lead to the need for microphone repair.

4. Interference from external devices

The microphone may interfere with the PC’s internal or external microphone, or interference may be caused by Bluetooth devices.

5. Setting errors

The problem with the microphone not working in Windows 10/11 10 can occur due to incorrect sound settings on your device. Sometimes the main sound is muted, causing the microphone to not work.

How to check microphone access in Windows 10?

Before proceeding with the repair of the microphone, broken windows, it is necessary to test the microphone. This will tell you that your system is compatible with the microphone and has permission to input audio.

• Click on the Windows button and go to “Settings”.
• All Windows settings will be displayed on the screen. Click on privacy.
• In the Application Permissions section, click on the microphone.
• Turn on the toggle under “Allow apps to access your microphone.”

Methods to fix microphone not working issue in Windows 10/11

Here are a few fixes for the microphone not working issue on Windows 10/11.

1. Check connections
2. Set the default recording device
3. Disable exclusive application control
4. Check system compatibility
5. Connect Bluetooth headset manually
6. Update your drivers
7. Remove the microphone
8. Remove suspicious VOIP applications
9. Perform a Windows update
10. Restart the Windows Audio service.
11. Run Windows Troubleshooter
12. Hardware problems in the microphone

1. Check connections

In most cases, the device fails and the cable connection between your microphone and your device may be broken or the port you are connecting to is damaged.

Before proceeding with any software setup, you need to make sure that the connections are correct and that the cable and port are in good condition.

2. Set the default recording device

Sometimes your device’s external and internal microphones can interfere with each other. This problem can be solved by setting the default recording device.

• Press the Window + R keys at the same time to launch the run dialog.

• Enter control panel and click OK. You can also open the Control Panel directly from the Start Menu.
• Navigate to the Hardware and Sounds section in the Adjust PC Settings menu.
• Click on sound.
• You will see the recording devices here in the Recordings tab.

• Right-click an empty area in the list. A dialog box will appear.
• Select show disabled devices and show disabled devices.

• Right click devices and make sure they are enabled.
• Speak into your microphone, but stay away from others to avoid confusion. The specific microphone is working properly if you notice any stripes on the screen.
• Click on the device where you see green bars. Turn on the device and turn off others.

3. Disable App Exclusive Control

If you have followed the previous step and are still experiencing the “Microphone not working on Windows 10/11” issue, please follow this step.

• Select a microphone from the list of recording devices and click on properties.
• Click the “Advanced”tab.
• Uncheck the two options: Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device and Give priority to exclusive mode applications.

4. Check system compatibility

Basically there are four types of microphones:

Headset with two 3.5mm jacks, one for microphone and one for audio.

• A headset with a microphone, but with only one jack, where the microphone and headphones are integrated into the same 3.5 mm jack.
• USB headset with microphone.
• Bluetooth headset and microphone.

The last two are easy to connect and create almost no obstacles, but the first two are somehow unpleasant.

If your headphones are of the first type, which means two connectors for connection, your laptop must have two ports.

One can be red and the other green. So you insert both connectors at the same time. If your laptop has a single port, you can buy a converter to attack dual connectors with it.

However, if you have a second microphone with headphones, only one jack is required to enable sound.

You can connect directly to a laptop with one port. You can also use a single jack headphone converter to connect to dual port laptops. In addition, USB converters are also available for connection via USB ports.

5. Connect the Bluetooth headset manually.

If you are using Bluetooth microphones, they automatically connect when Bluetooth is turned on on your device and headset.

Sometimes a direct connection is not possible. This occurs when another Bluetooth device near you may be interfering with the microphone. You can solve this problem in three ways.

Method I:

• Click the speaker icon and switch to the laptop speaker.
• Switch back to the Bluetooth headset.
• Be careful to select the speakerphone or headset option instead of the stereo one so that your microphone works without problems.

Method 2:

• Go to the control panel. Then click on Hardware and Sound.
• Locate the headset listed under the recorder tab. Right-click it and select “Disconnect”and then reconnect. This will fix incorrect connections and connection errors.

Method 3

• If your headset is connected but you are still having problems with the microphone, follow these steps.
• Go to settings.
• Open Devices and tap Bluetooth & other devices.

• Click on the headset and select Remove device.
• Click “Add device”and select “Bluetooth”to add the device again.
• The system will search for available devices.

Pro Tip: Turn Bluetooth off and back on to fix 90% of Bluetooth connection problems.

Click Download via metered connections in the Bluetooth menu to update your Bluetooth drivers if needed.

6. Update your drivers

Windows 10 is already updating the audio drivers on your device. However, sometimes the updated Windows driver is not installed due to an incorrect Internet connection. This can cause the microphone not to work with Windows issues.

• Press the Windows + X logo and click Device Manager.

• Navigate to Sound, Video and Game Control Devices and right-click High Definition Audio Device. Expand and click Update Driver.
• Select Search automatically for updated driver software. Windows will find a new driver or update to a later version.

If the problem persists, try updating your drivers again and restarting your computer or laptop. Keep checking for driver updates to keep your devices running smoothly.

7. Remove the microphone

When you connect your headset to your computer, it appears in the Devices and Printers list in Control Panel.

You can remove it to disconnect and reconnect your device. The device will be reinstalled and the “Microphone not working in Windows 10/11” issue can be resolved.

• Open the Start menu and select Control Panel from the list. If you can’t find it, type Control Panel in the search bar.
• Select devices and printers.
• Find your headset. Right-click it and select Remove device.
• After removing the headset, unplug it and plug it back in. It will automatically reconnect.

8. Remove suspicious VOIP applications.

Voice over IP applications are for audio and video chats such as Zoom, Skype, Vier, Team Speak, etc.

Sometimes, if you disable exclusive control of VOIP applications, they can affect your microphone settings and stop working properly. You should check VOIP applications and remove those that may be causing problems.

The pre-installed apps in Windows 10, such as Skype and Wechat, can also interfere with the normal functioning of the microphone.

Remove them to check if the problem with microphone not working in Windows 10/11 is resolved.

9. Update Windows

If you have applied all of the above fixes and you are still facing the “Microphone not working in Windows 11 ” issue.

It’s time to update the windows. Windows updates are installed directly on your device, but may be paused due to internet issues. To perform a window refresh, follow these simple steps.

• Go to the start menu and click on settings.
• Go to Windows Update.
• In the right pane, find the “Check for Updates”button. If your PC is already running a Windows update, this option is not available.
• Let Windows install updates. Restart your computer after the updates are complete.

10. Restart the Windows Audio service.

Windows 10 allows users to reboot devices from the system. To restart your audio device, do the following:

• Press the Windows + X keys and click Device Manager.
• Click “Microphone”and select “Disconnect Device”.
• Restart your computer. The device will be installed automatically with the settings recommended by the developer.

11. Run the Windows Troubleshooter

Windows 10 has a built-in feature to find errors in the system and provide recommendations on how to fix them.

This feature is known as the Windows Troubleshooter. Different programs have different troubleshooting tools. Follow these steps to fix Microphone not working issue on Windows 10/11 by troubleshooting.

• Open Settings and go to Update & Security.
• Click on Troubleshoot and select Advanced Troubleshooters.
• Find and click on the speech.
• A troubleshooter will search for errors and recommend fixes.

12. Hardware problems in the microphone

Hardware problems in a microphone-only or microphone-only headset can be caused by loose connections and damage caused by water or dust buildup.

They can also occur due to damage to the counterparts or sockets connecting them to the output device.

In case of hardware problems, a replacement is necessary. When replacing devices, ports, or connectors, be sure to buy high-quality products so you don’t have to replace them over and over again.

In addition, compatibility is an important factor to consider when purchasing a new microphone.