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There are several factors causing microphone not working issue such as faulty drivers, incorrect mic installation, hardware issues, and more. If you're also facing this issue, you can try applying some troubleshooting methods introduced below. However, to get the most effective solution, you need to gather some information about your microphone or at least the model and brand of manufacture.
Fixing Microphone Not Working Issue on Windows 10.
1. Check hardware connections.
2. Update drivers.
3. Review Windows settings.
4. Disable Hands-Free mode.
5. Verify sound settings.
6. Check app permissions.
Guide to Fix Microphone Not Working on Windows 10
1. Check hardware connections
The first step is to check if your microphone is experiencing hardware connection issues. To do this, simply unplug and plug back in the microphone jack. You'll hear a sound indicating that Windows has detected new hardware. If you don't hear the notification sound, open Start Menu and search for Device Manager. Then, click on Device Manager from the search results.
Next, click on Audio inputs and outputs under Device Manager window. Once your microphone is connected to the computer, it will appear here.
If you don't see your microphone here, try unplugging and plugging it back in or switching USB ports. If that doesn't work, try a different connecting cable or plug the microphone into another computer to see if your current computer has an issue or not.
2. Update driver
When you see your microphone in the device manager, right-click on it and select Properties. Then, click on tab Driver > Update Driver > Search automatically for updated driver software.
If nothing is found, you should search for your microphone on Google to see if the microphone manufacturer has any driver updates on their website. Most microphones nowadays connect to the computer and can work right away, and installing drivers is almost a given for Windows 10, but in rare cases, downloading official drivers may be essential.
Finally, you return to the application you're trying to use the microphone with and check if the issue has been resolved.
3. Check Windows options
Windows has its own default audio devices that can be adjusted before you use your microphone. To adjust sound options on Windows, open the Start Menu and type Audio. Then, click on Manage audio devices.
In the audio device window, you click on the Recording tab. There, you locate the microphone you want to use and right-click on it. First, ensure that option is set to Disable.
If you don't see your microphone here, you can also click on Show Disabled Devices to make sure it's not hidden from view. Once again, right-click on the microphone and select enable if it's currently in an activated state. Among the options provided, click on Set as default device. Then, you'll see a green checkmark and the text Default Device.
4. Disable Hands-Free mode on Bluetooth device
If you're using a Bluetooth device but want to use an independent microphone, you must ensure that the Hands-Free mode is turned off. You can turn off hands-free mode as follows:
- Open Start Menu, search for Manage Audio Devices.
- On the Playback and Recordings tab, right-click on any Bluetooth device with hands-free mode enabled and click Disable.
Then, try the microphone in any application to see if it works again.
5. Check Sound Settings in Voice Communication Apps
Mytour advises you to check the sound settings in the app you're using. Sometimes, standalone apps will have separate controls to select which audio device is used as default.
Usually, you can find these options by opening the settings menu and selecting the Audio tab. Each app will have a different location, and some apps may not have these settings at all.
If you can't find the sound settings page, you can search on Google, such as 'How to change camera app microphone'. After making changes, restart the app and check if the microphone is now working.
6. Check Application Permissions
On Windows 10, you can deny or allow apps to access certain permissions. One of these permissions controls whether the app can access your microphone or not.
If you don't allow an app to use the microphone, then that app won't be able to use your microphone, even if you've set it as the default recording device.
To access app permissions, follow these steps:
- Open Start Menu and type Microphone privacy settings.
- In the new window that opens, scroll through the apps and find the app you're using. Click on the toggle switch next to the app to allow that app to access your microphone.
Note that only Microsoft apps appear here. If you're using apps like Microsoft Teams or Skype, then this step might fix the Microphone not working issue on Windows 10.
If you're using Windows 11 and unfortunately encountering microphone issues, don't worry too much. Mytour has also provided guidance on how to fix microphone not working on Windows 11, so you can refer to it for troubleshooting.
- Read more: How to fix microphone not working on Windows 11
