Guides › Microphone

Microphone Not Working?

Start with a 10-second test to find where the problem is, then work through the fixes below. Most microphones are back within the first few steps.

Step 1: test it first

Open the mic test and speak. What you see tells you where to look:

Pick your device for step-by-step fixes

Windows 11 & 10 Mac Android iPhone & iPad

Or try these fixes, which work on almost every device:

Fixes for any microphone

  1. Check for a mute switch. Headsets often have a mute button or slider on the cable or the ear cup, and many laptops have a microphone key, usually one of the F keys with a crossed-out mic. A small red light often means muted.
  2. Reconnect it. Unplug the microphone and plug it back in firmly. Try another USB port, and on a desktop use the ports on the back of the computer. For a 3.5 mm plug, use the microphone socket (often pink), not the headphone socket.
  3. Allow microphone access. Your system has a privacy switch that can block every app at once, and your browser asks separately for each website. Check both: the system setting is in the guide for your device above, and in a browser you click the icon to the left of the web address and set Microphone to Allow.
  4. Choose the right microphone. Webcams, headsets and laptops each add their own microphone, and the wrong one is often selected. Pick the one you're speaking into in your system's sound settings and in the app you're using.
  5. Turn the input level up. A microphone set to zero, or very low, looks broken. Raise the input volume in your sound settings and speak while watching the level move.
  6. Close other apps. Call, recording and streaming apps can hold on to the microphone. Quit them completely, including from the taskbar or menu bar, and try again.
  7. Check Bluetooth. Make sure your headset is connected to this device and not still paired with your phone. If calls sound muffled, the headset has switched to its low-quality call mode, which is normal for many Bluetooth headsets.
  8. Restart. Restarting the device clears many temporary glitches, especially after an update.
  9. Update the drivers or app. On Windows, reinstall the microphone in Device Manager; for USB and gaming headsets, install the latest software from the maker.
  10. Try it somewhere else. Plug the microphone into another computer or phone. If it fails there too, the microphone or its cable is faulty. If it works, the problem is this device's port or settings.

Mic works, but not in Discord, Zoom or Teams

If the mic test sees your voice, the microphone is fine and the app is using the wrong device or blocking it.

To hear exactly how you sound to others before a call, use the mic echo test or record yourself with the voice recorder.

Microphone works, but sounds bad?

Quiet, crackly, echoey or muffled sound has different causes from a mic that doesn't work at all. Our article on why your microphone sounds bad covers the common fixes.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my laptop microphone not working?

Laptops usually have a microphone mute key and a privacy setting that turns the built-in mic off. Check both, then make sure the built-in microphone, not a connected headset or webcam, is chosen as the input in your sound settings.

My microphone stopped working after an update.

Updates can reset privacy permissions or change drivers. Check the microphone privacy setting first, then reinstall or update the driver.

Why does my mic only work in some apps?

Each app can choose its own input device and needs permission to use the microphone. Pick the right device in that app's audio settings and check it's allowed in your system's privacy settings.

How do I know if my microphone is broken?

If it doesn't work in the mic test on two different devices, with the mute switch off, the microphone or its cable is most likely faulty.