Microphone not working on Windows 11 or 10
Most Windows mic problems come down to one of three things: a privacy switch, the wrong default device, or input volume set to zero. Work through these in order. Each step takes under a minute.
Step 0: confirm the problem
Open the mic test on this site and press Start. If the level meter moves when you talk, your microphone and Windows are fine and the problem is inside one app (see the Discord, Zoom and Teams guide). If the meter stays flat, keep reading.
1. Turn on microphone access
Windows can block every app from the mic with a single switch, and updates sometimes flip it off.
- Open Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone.
- Turn on "Microphone access".
- Turn on "Let apps access your microphone".
- Scroll down and turn on "Let desktop apps access your microphone". Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Discord and Zoom all count as desktop apps.
2. Pick the right input device
If you have a webcam, a headset and a laptop mic, Windows may be listening to the wrong one.
- Open Settings → System → Sound.
- Under Input, choose the microphone you actually speak into.
- Talk and watch the small blue bar under "Input volume". If it moves, Windows hears you.
3. Raise the input volume
In the same Sound page, click your microphone and set Input volume to 80 or higher. A level of 0 to 10 looks exactly like a dead mic. If you have the option, leave "Enhance audio" off while you test, since some enhancement drivers mute quiet speech.
4. Check that the mic isn't disabled
Go to Settings → System → Sound → More sound settings → Recording tab. Right-click an empty area and tick "Show disabled devices". If your mic appears greyed out, right-click it and choose Enable.
5. Look for a hardware mute
- Laptops often have a mic-mute key (F4, F8 or a key with a crossed-out microphone). Its LED is usually lit when muted.
- Headsets usually have a mute switch on the cable or a flip-to-mute boom arm.
- USB mics like the Blue Yeti or HyperX QuadCast have their own mute button, which often glows red.
6. Plug it into the right port
On desktops, the pink 3.5 mm jack is the mic input. Headsets with a single 4-pole plug need a combo jack or a splitter. For USB mics, plug straight into the computer instead of a hub, then try a different port.
7. Turn off exclusive mode
If the mic works in one app but goes silent in others, an app may have taken exclusive control. In More sound settings → Recording, open your mic's Properties → Advanced and untick both "Allow applications to take exclusive control" options.
8. Run the troubleshooter and update the driver
- Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters → Recording Audio → Run.
- Right-click Start → Device Manager → Audio inputs and outputs.
- Right-click your microphone → Update driver. If that doesn't help, choose Uninstall device and restart. Windows reinstalls the driver on boot.
9. Restart, then test again
A full restart (not sleep) releases any app that's holding the mic. Afterwards, open the mic test again. If the meter still doesn't move with a known-good headset plugged in, the problem is likely the audio hardware or the port itself.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my mic work in Windows but not in my browser?
The browser itself needs permission. Click the lock icon next to the address bar, set Microphone to Allow, and reload the page.
Why is my mic so quiet on Windows?
Input volume is usually set too low. Open Settings → System → Sound, click your input device and raise Input volume to 80 or more.
My mic stopped working after a Windows update. What changed?
Updates sometimes reset the privacy switches or the default device. Check steps 1 and 2 first.