In this guide, we will talk about one of the biggest issues in Windows 10 & 11: how to fix the microphone settings.
In general, Windows 10 & 11 don’t easily work with many recording devices, even if they’re part of the computer. What we’ve found through our experience is that if a mic connected to a computer isn’t working it’s usually a settings problem and not a problem with the microphone itself.
If you don’t have any problems just yet – you just have a new microphone and you are unsure how to install it – check out our microphone installation guide.
How To Fix Microphone Settings In Windows 10 & 11
Fix Microphone Settings In Windows 11 October 2021
One of the major issues when trying to fix microphone settings in Windows 11 is the slightly redesigned UI. Because of this, you’ll have to get familiar with the new Settings app and its interface. Otherwise, the process does exactly the same thing that it does on Windows 10.
First, get to the settings app and select “Privacy & Security” from the left-hand menu listing.
Afterward, focus on the right side of the Settings app and scroll down “App permissions” and “Microphone” after that.
Finally, you’re exactly on the page where you need to be. From here on out, the solution is almost seamless to understand even for beginners. Simply toggle the “Let apps access your microphone” switch if it is not turned on already. From there, turn on access for every app that you plan on using your microphone for communication and other activities.
Check If the Microphone Is Disabled
There are some instances when Windows 11 might not detect your drivers properly, seeing that it is a (very) new OS on the market. Because of this, you’ll need to check the device manager and/or, eventually, update the drivers yourself.
However, you should first check to see if this fact has “disabled” your device in the Device Manager. To access the Device Manager in Windows 10 or 11, simply type “device manager” in the search bar. Next, click on the app itself, as shown here:
Once you click on the appropriate icon, go to the “Audio inputs and outputs” dropdown, click on the arrow shape near the title, and then select your microphone device from the dropdown list. Right-click the appropriate device and select “Enable device.” That should now allow you to use your microphone properly.
Fastest Solution to Fix Microphone Settings In Windows 10 After April 2018 Update
If you’re still using Windows 10, and if the problem started after April 2018 (a major Windows 10 update), then the fastest solution might be this:
Many computers had a kind of privacy settings reset after Microsoft’s April major update. This reset made your apps and programs not able to access your webcam and microphone. Therefore, we should give them their access and permissions back. Follow me:
Open Settings from your start menu.
Click on Privacy in order to access all your privacy settings.
Select Microphone from the left pane and then click the Change button.
Now, turn on microphone for this device.
Turn on Allow apps to access your microphone.
Finally in the app list, make sure to turn on microphone access for every app you want to give permission to access your microphone.
Repeat the same exact steps but for your webcam this time.
Your mic still isn’t working?
Make sure it’s not a hardware issue
Let’s check that your mic isn’t damaged or faulty first and get that out of the way. The best way to check that is to connect your microphone to another computer running any operating system other than Windows 10.
If the microphone doesn’t work on the other computer too, that means it could be faulty. If it does work on the other computer that means you probably have a software problem on your Windows 10 computer.
On both PCs, if you’re using a desktop computer (not a laptop), make sure you’re connecting your microphone or headset to the back panel of the PC. The front audio ports aren’t always well connected to the motherboard.
Now that we know that it is a software problem, let’s get it fixed.
If none of these links above are relevant to you, keep reading.
Method I: Let’s fix some recording device settings
Right-click on the speaker icon in the bottom-right part of the screen and choose Sounds.
Click on the Recording tab in order to see your recording devices list.
A list of recording devices will appear. Try speaking into your microphone, and see if there any green bars rising next to one of them while you talk (as in screenshot).
If you don’t see any green bars skip to step 5. If you do see green bars when you talk into the microphone, but it still doesn’t work in some program, then that means that the mic is correctly configured in Windows, but the program is listening to the wrong recording device. Try changing that program’s settings.
Check if you can recognize which one of the devices in the list is your microphone. If you found it, click on it to highlight it, and then click Set Default.
Check again if you see green bars rising when you talk into the microphone. If you do your mic is now correctly setup. If not, continue to next step.
Double-click on the device that represents your microphone. The Microphone Properties window will appear. Click the Levels tab.
In the “Levels” tab make sure that “Microphone” and “Microphone Boost” are set to the maximum, you can do that by sliding them to the right until the first one shows 100 and the boost is set to +30.0 dB. Then click OK.
In the “Enhancements” tab (if found), make sure to uncheck the “Disable all sound effects” checkbox.
Now visit the “Advanced” tab too and make sure to uncheck the “Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device” checkbox and click “OK“. (Also uncheck the “Enable audio enhancements” check box if found).
In the main recording devices panel, go to the “Communications” tab and select the “Do nothing” radio button and then click OK.
Restart your computer and recheck your recording devices panel. If you see green bars rising when you talk into the microphone – your mic is now properly configured!
If you still don’t see any bars and you’re not 100% sure which one of the devices is the relevant one, try following steps 4-11 for every device on the list.
Method II: Uninstall and reinstall your microphone drivers
Open device manager, fastest way is through the search bar:
Open ‘Audio Inputs and Outputs’
Left-click on your recording device.
In the menu that opens up Click ‘Uninstall’.
Physically disconnect your microphone from the computer.
Restart the computer.
Reconnect microphone and let Windows re-install the drivers.
If your Windows 10 updating gets stuck, this may prevent you from getting the latest drivers automatically. Check this guide to fix it.
If it didn’t work, I would suggest that you install the latest driver found on your computer manufacturer’s website manually, because sometimes the latest driver isn’t the one compatible with your computer. So you should search for your computer model number on the manufacturer’s website, download the latest driver that is compatible with your model number and Windows 10 and check if it works.
If you found your computer model on the website but can’t see a version for Windows 10 there, this means there aren’t compatible drivers for it yet and you may have to wait until they release some new drivers.
Method III: Specific solution for users with IDT High Definition Audio Codec device
Open device manager, fastest way is through the search bar:
Open ‘Audio Inputs and Outputs’
Double click on your recording device ‘High Definition Audio Codec’.
Move to the ‘Driver’ tab.
Click ‘Update Driver’.
Then ‘Browse my computer for driver software’.
Click ‘Let me pickup a list of device drivers on my computer’.
Select ‘High Definition Audio Device’, and not ‘IDT High Def’, and click Next.
You will get a warning. Click “Yes”.
Check if it works.
Method IV: Specific solution for users with VIA HD Audio device
Many VIA users are experiencing problems with recording and/or playback since they moved to Windows 10. If you’re one of these people try to download and install Daniel_K’s modified drivers.
Method V: If the problem concerns your gaming headset or microphone + headphone combo:
First of all, make sure the connection type between your headset and your computer is the same. If your headset has 2 independent jacks, one for the audio and the other for the microphone, your computer must have independent ports as well. If it’s a 2 in 1 (one jack for both microphone and audio) then you computer must have one single port with a headset icon on it.
iPhone earphones and other headsets’ microphones with one single jack won’t work in case your computer has two ports, splitted. So you’ll need to buy one of these splitters:
If your headset has two independent jacks and you want to connect both of them to the one headset port in your computer you will need one of these splitters:
If your connection is the same on the headset and in the computer, but the microphone still doesn’t work, you may try to convert to USB connection, use one of these converters:
For 2 x 3.5mm jacks headsets
For 1 x 3.5mm jack headsets
Uninstall any VoIP programs and applications, like Skype, Teamspeak or any other voice calling programs, then restart your computer and if your microphone works again now you can reinstall them.
Method VI: If you are using recording software
People who use recording software (Audio recording / screen recording) have to check that your software is up-to-date, some people reported that an old version of flashback express screen recorder was muting their microphones.
Hopefully, using these methods helped you fix the microphone settings on your Windows 10. If not, keep reading!
Please note:
If you still have problems after reading this article and going through the steps, please ask your question in our forum, where we have an expert on the subject that will try his best to help you. As we learn more information through the forum we update this article with advice that is tailored to specific devices.
Every day, we encounter different problems on our computers and other devices that require immediate response so that our work won’t be put on hold. From typical system errors and installation of various devices to simple information about technical terms, our website offers most of your computer-related questions, especially for Windows 10. Check us out now and you may find helpful tutorials. Or you may directly ask about How To Remove Your WiFi Card.
341 Comments
I did the stupid and didn’t realise my mic was muted in Realtek HD Audio Manager…whoops.
Hi,
I am facing problem with my laptop voice recording neither speakers or headphone mic is able to record anything.I tried different approaches on internet but no luck.Arrived at this website and tried all 14 steps but i couldn’t see any green levels under Recording Devices when i am speaking.
I tried reinstalling audio drivers/microphone but nothing helped me to resolve issue.
Note : speakers and headphone are working absolutely fine to give output sound.
Kindly let me know if any solution exists.
After going thru your steps 5-13 several times, my headphone mic now works perfectly.
Many thanks for this article!
If you guys are getting audio endpoint and generic software your clicking your mic you need to find the pcs audio system and use that
What do I type in to find it?
Thank you so much. This worked for me:)
thanks mate!
my logitech headset isnt working anymore on my windows 10
how can i fix
Hey Charlie,
Please try our forum: https://win10faq.com/forums/
And state your exact problem there.
This solved the problem for many.
Cheers
you can’t, but go ahead, click on one of the thousands of forums and download hundreds of fixes that don’t work, windows is trash, Apple is the only solution
I have to agree. This audio mightmare is exactly why you shouldnt use a mic, souncard, motherboard, cpu and os all from doffeent manufacturers. Grrrrrrr.
It doesn’t let me select ‘Set Default’ WHAT DO I DO?
I think that means it is the default
hey my mic thats connected to my computer still isnt working i need help now!
if windows audio could be fixed there would not be an entire industry and thousands of forums addressing the terrible product.. And that is the most honest FACT on the internet
I have nonstop mic problems with my Xbox One controller using the Win10 app. When I go into it from Device Manager, I see it is muted. I unmute it but then the controller loses vibration. After about 10 sec windows mutes it again. I don’t know what to do.
My laptop doesn’t even show options to select the mic on my headset.
I cri, I need help.
Did you show the disabled and disconnected recording devices as in your Recording devices list?
Right click in your Recording devices list and check both Show Disabled Devices and Show Disconnected Devices. If you find your headset mic, enable it and set it as Default.
I recieve audio output from headset and my mic on it still works. My laptop just defaults to my laptop’s built-in mic.
It’s okay, are you sure that your headset’s output (1 jack for both audio and mic or 2 separated jacks) is compatible with your computer (1 port for the whole headset or two separated ports for audio and mic)? Also you can Right-click on your built-in mic and disable it temporarily to see if it can catch your headset mic or not.
For further help, please create a thread on our forums here: http://www.win10faq.com/forums
NONE of this worked! Don’t buy a Logitech C270 Web cam. Either it’s a POS or Windows 10 is a POS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello Julie,
we have received many complains about the Logitech devices, but we do our best to solve it. If there’s something you want to ask, maybe we can help you. Please visit our forums: https://win10faq.com/forums
Great Guide, with all the detailed steps! In my case solution turned out to be deinstalling the W10 Skype App, followed by downloading and installing the normal so-called ‘Skype Classic’ (7.40) from https://www.skype.com
Thanks for letting us know, MI.
Really, it’s not a problem with the microphone? I’ve bought close to 3 microphones because I thought the recording device doesn’t recognize them. Awwch.. I can’t believe I just wasted money when the solution is quite simple.
Sorry to hear that you had to buy a few mics before finding out, Miguel…
Thanks for commenting.
I own a Asus Xonar AE and a Qpad QH-85. That one has a detachable microphone. I tried it directly connected and not trough the headset (to rule it out from being the issue) and it didn’t change anything.
I tried your solutions here and it didn’t change anything.
I tried my headset on my iPhone with the included Y adapter and it worked.
So in trying to solve this, I bought a new detachable microphone, a new sound card, I reinstalled 10 from scratch. None of this has fixed this damn issue. I’m getting desperate and I really hope someone can help me. 100€ spent trying fixing this, just great…
Sounds dumb, but make sure you don’t have anything on the actual mic that is muting it. I spent one hour trying to fix my mic and turns out all that was wrong was that I had the mute switch on…
Good advice there 🙂 Thanks!
i can’t find but there’s is one on my microphone can you resolve of devices and i can’t find device manager but i’m in poland.
Hey Jakub,
Google translate says it should be called:
“menadżer urządzeń”?
🙂
Try searching for that.
still broken for me
Hi Aidan, sorry to hear that.
I suggest you try our forum. It helped a lot of people with these problems.
Cheers. https://win10faq.com/forums
I did the stupid and didn’t realise my mic was muted in Realtek HD Audio Manager…whoops.
Hi,
I am facing problem with my laptop voice recording neither speakers or headphone mic is able to record anything.I tried different approaches on internet but no luck.Arrived at this website and tried all 14 steps but i couldn’t see any green levels under Recording Devices when i am speaking.
I tried reinstalling audio drivers/microphone but nothing helped me to resolve issue.
Note : speakers and headphone are working absolutely fine to give output sound.
Kindly let me know if any solution exists.
After going thru your steps 5-13 several times, my headphone mic now works perfectly.
Many thanks for this article!
If you guys are getting audio endpoint and generic software your clicking your mic you need to find the pcs audio system and use that
What do I type in to find it?
Thank you so much. This worked for me:)
thanks mate!
my logitech headset isnt working anymore on my windows 10
how can i fix
Hey Charlie,
Please try our forum:
https://win10faq.com/forums/
And state your exact problem there.
This solved the problem for many.
Cheers
you can’t, but go ahead, click on one of the thousands of forums and download hundreds of fixes that don’t work, windows is trash, Apple is the only solution
I have to agree. This audio mightmare is exactly why you shouldnt use a mic, souncard, motherboard, cpu and os all from doffeent manufacturers. Grrrrrrr.
It doesn’t let me select ‘Set Default’ WHAT DO I DO?
I think that means it is the default
hey my mic thats connected to my computer still isnt working i need help now!
if windows audio could be fixed there would not be an entire industry and thousands of forums addressing the terrible product.. And that is the most honest FACT on the internet
I have nonstop mic problems with my Xbox One controller using the Win10 app. When I go into it from Device Manager, I see it is muted. I unmute it but then the controller loses vibration. After about 10 sec windows mutes it again. I don’t know what to do.
Here’s the link for the forum thread where we’re discussing it.
https://win10faq.com/forums/thread/mic-not-working/
Please join us.
My laptop doesn’t even show options to select the mic on my headset.
I cri, I need help.
Did you show the disabled and disconnected recording devices as in your Recording devices list?
Right click in your Recording devices list and check both Show Disabled Devices and Show Disconnected Devices. If you find your headset mic, enable it and set it as Default.
I recieve audio output from headset and my mic on it still works. My laptop just defaults to my laptop’s built-in mic.
It’s okay, are you sure that your headset’s output (1 jack for both audio and mic or 2 separated jacks) is compatible with your computer (1 port for the whole headset or two separated ports for audio and mic)? Also you can Right-click on your built-in mic and disable it temporarily to see if it can catch your headset mic or not.
For further help, please create a thread on our forums here:
http://www.win10faq.com/forums
NONE of this worked! Don’t buy a Logitech C270 Web cam. Either it’s a POS or Windows 10 is a POS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello Julie,
we have received many complains about the Logitech devices, but we do our best to solve it. If there’s something you want to ask, maybe we can help you. Please visit our forums:
https://win10faq.com/forums
Great Guide, with all the detailed steps! In my case solution turned out to be deinstalling the W10 Skype App, followed by downloading and installing the normal so-called ‘Skype Classic’ (7.40) from https://www.skype.com
Thanks for letting us know, MI.
Really, it’s not a problem with the microphone? I’ve bought close to 3 microphones because I thought the recording device doesn’t recognize them. Awwch.. I can’t believe I just wasted money when the solution is quite simple.
Sorry to hear that you had to buy a few mics before finding out, Miguel…
Thanks for commenting.
I own a Asus Xonar AE and a Qpad QH-85. That one has a detachable microphone. I tried it directly connected and not trough the headset (to rule it out from being the issue) and it didn’t change anything.
I tried your solutions here and it didn’t change anything.
I tried my headset on my iPhone with the included Y adapter and it worked.
So in trying to solve this, I bought a new detachable microphone, a new sound card, I reinstalled 10 from scratch. None of this has fixed this damn issue. I’m getting desperate and I really hope someone can help me. 100€ spent trying fixing this, just great…
Did you use this exact driver? https://www.asus.com/Sound-Cards/Xonar-AE/HelpDesk_Download/
After a few restarts if it fails, try to use a 3.5 mm jack to USB adapter. I think this may work.
For more discussion, please head to our forums https://win10faq.com/forums
Sounds dumb, but make sure you don’t have anything on the actual mic that is muting it. I spent one hour trying to fix my mic and turns out all that was wrong was that I had the mute switch on…
Good advice there 🙂 Thanks!
i can’t find but there’s is one on my microphone can you resolve of devices and i can’t find device manager but i’m in poland.
Hey Jakub,
Google translate says it should be called:
“menadżer urządzeń”?
🙂
Try searching for that.
still broken for me
Hi Aidan, sorry to hear that.
I suggest you try our forum. It helped a lot of people with these problems.
Cheers.
https://win10faq.com/forums