How do I fix my microphone not working during calls?

Check Your Microphone Settings

A common reason your microphone may not be working during calls is if it has been muted in your computer’s sound settings or within the settings of your calling app like Zoom or Skype. Open your computer’s sound control panel and make sure your microphone is not muted. You may need to check both the recording device settings and the application volume settings.

On Windows 10 and 11, go to Start > Settings > System > Sound and make sure your microphone is selected as the input device and the volume slider is raised. Check for a mute toggle and make sure it is not enabled.

Also go into the app you are using for calls like Zoom, Skype, etc. and look in the settings to see if your microphone has been muted or the input volume turned down. Make sure any mute switches are disabled.

On Mac, open System Preferences > Sound and check your Input volume. Also look for a mute switch and make sure it is off. Then go into your calling app settings like Zoom and see if the microphone has been muted there.

Ensuring your mic is not mistakenly muted in system or app settings is an easy fix to try first if your microphone is not working during calls.

Update Your Audio Drivers

If your microphone stopped working suddenly, the issue may be caused by outdated audio drivers. Audio drivers act as the software interface between your operating system and the microphone hardware. Over time, bugs and compatibility issues can creep in as systems update, causing microphone malfunctions.

To update your audio drivers, open the Device Manager in Windows by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Device Manager. Expand the “Sound, video and game controllers” section and right-click on your audio device. Select “Update driver” and follow the prompts to automatically search for and install the latest driver from the internet [1]. You can also visit your hardware manufacturer’s website to manually download the newest audio drivers.

Updating to the latest audio drivers often resolves microphone glitches and gets things working normally again during calls. Just be sure to download drivers directly from the manufacturer to avoid potentially insecure third-party sources.

Switch Audio Input Devices

If you have multiple microphones or audio input devices connected to your computer, try switching to a different one as your default device. Sometimes the microphone you were using can stop working properly, while others still function. According to experts on forums like Microsoft Answers, switching input devices has resolved microphone problems for many users (source).

To change your audio input device on Windows 10 or 11:

Open Sound Settings
Go to Input > Choose your input device

Select your preferred microphone or audio input from the list

Speak into the newly selected microphone and check if sound levels are registering and being captured properly before making calls. Switch to another device if the issue persists with certain mics. Having options to swap between functional microphones is helpful for quickly resolving problems.

Check Microphone Hardware

One of the most common issues that can cause a microphone to stop working during calls is a problem with the physical microphone hardware. Here are some tips for inspecting the hardware:

Check that all cables and connections are firmly plugged in. Loose wires are a frequent culprit of microphone failures.
Inspect the microphone, headphone jack, and USB connector for any damage like bent pins, corrosion, or broken plastic. Damaged ports can disrupt the signal.
Try connecting the microphone to another PC or device. If it still doesn’t work, the issue is with the microphone itself.

Check for debris, dust, or moisture inside the microphone port. Use compressed air to thoroughly clean the port.
Test different microphones and headsets. If only one microphone fails, it likely has a hardware defect.

Replacing a damaged microphone cable or port is often an easy fix. If the microphone itself is broken, you will need a new headset or external mic. While inspecting the hardware, be gentle and do not force any connections to avoid causing further damage.

Adjust Microphone Levels

One common issue that can cause your microphone to seem like it’s not working during calls is that the microphone volume or sensitivity is set too low. You may need to increase the microphone levels in your operating system’s sound settings or on the device itself.

On Windows 10 and 11, you can adjust the microphone volume by going to Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound. Under Recording, right click your microphone and select Properties. On the Levels tab, use the slider to turn up the volume ¹. You can also enter a higher number like 90 or 100 in the Microphone text box.

On an iPhone, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and use the slider under Microphone to increase the volume. On Android, go to Settings > Sound > Advanced > Microphone sensitivity and turn up the slider ².

Testing the microphone volume after making adjustments can confirm if the levels were too low. Speaking at a normal volume when making a call or recording audio should now be picked up. If the microphone still seems quiet even at maximum volume, there may be a different issue.

Enable Microphone Access

One of the most common reasons a microphone may not work properly during calls is if you haven’t enabled permission for your operating system and apps to access the microphone. Modern versions of Windows and macOS require you to explicitly grant access to the microphone as a privacy measure.

On Windows 10 and 11, you can enable microphone access by going to Settings > Privacy > Microphone and toggling the slider for each app you want to allow access (Microsoft). Make sure the slider is enabled for any apps or software you use for calls, such as Skype, Zoom, etc. You may also need to allow Chrome or Edge access if you make calls through web apps.

On macOS, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy and select Microphone. Make sure to check each app you want to grant microphone access. If you make web calls, enable microphone access for your browser(s) as well.

Enabling microphone access at the system level is often the quick fix when your microphone stops working with certain apps. Just be sure to toggle it on for calling/conferencing apps you use.

Update Applications

Outdated versions of calling apps like Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger can sometimes cause microphone glitches during calls. This happens because the app code may have bugs or missing features that cause conflicts with the microphone hardware or drivers. Updating to the latest version of your calling apps can often resolve microphone problems.

Check your app store or app settings to ensure you have installed the most up-to-date versions of any apps you use for calling. Look for any available updates and install them. This will provide you with the most stable and optimized code to handle microphone access during calls or video chats. If the issue persists after updating your apps, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the calling app completely to clear out any corrupted files or settings.

According to a MakeUseOf article, “Outdated apps are a common source of microphone and camera issues on phones. Apps need access to these hardware components to function properly during calls and video chats. But if the app code is too old, it may not request this access correctly or handle the input smoothly.”[1]

Keep your apps updated regularly to have the best chance of smooth microphone performance during your calls.

Try a Different Microphone

One troubleshooting step is to test your microphone setup with a different external microphone or headset. This helps isolate whether the issue is with your specific microphone hardware, or something else in your computer’s audio configuration.

Try plugging in another external microphone or headset you have through the same audio input connection (likely a USB or 3.5mm port). Make some test recordings and calls to see if the new microphone works properly.

If the new microphone works during calls, then the problem is likely with your original microphone hardware itself. You may need to replace it if it’s no longer functioning properly.

However, if the new microphone still doesn’t work, then the issue is likely with your system’s audio settings, drivers, or configuration. This means you’ll need to investigate other troubleshooting solutions related to the audio inputs and software.

Swapping to a different microphone is an easy way to pinpoint where the root cause lies. Keep this basic troubleshooting step in mind when dealing with microphone or audio problems during calls and recordings moving forward.

Restart Your Computer

Restarting your computer can often resolve microphone issues by resetting the audio systems. When you restart, your computer reloads the operating system and drivers, clearing any software bugs or glitches that could be causing problems with the microphone.

Here are some tips for restarting your computer to fix microphone problems:

Save any open documents and close all programs.
Click the Start menu and select Restart.

If you don’t see a Restart option, hold down the Shift key while clicking Shut Down. This will switch the option to Restart.
For Mac users, go to the Apple menu and click Restart.
Wait for your computer to fully reboot.

Once it powers back on, try using your microphone in a call or voice recorder.

Restarting resets any stuck processes related to the microphone and audio. It essentially gives your computer a fresh start, which should clear up any software issues preventing your mic from working properly in calls.

If the microphone still isn’t working after a full restart, the issue may be hardware-related. Try updating your audio drivers, using a different microphone, inspecting the microphone and ports for damage, or contacting tech support for further troubleshooting.

Contact Tech Support

If you have tried the above troubleshooting steps and are still experiencing microphone issues during calls, it may be time to contact tech support. Here are some tips when contacting support:

For iOS devices like iPhones, you can contact Apple support online or by phone. Describe the issue in detail and be prepared to answer questions about when the problem started and steps you’ve tried. The Apple technician can walk you through further troubleshooting or arrange a repair if needed (source).

For Windows PCs, you can contact Microsoft Support for assistance. Provide details on your microphone make and model, Windows version, and the applications where the microphone is not working. Microsoft can help troubleshoot driver, hardware, and configuration issues (source).

For microphone problems specific to certain apps like Zoom or Skype, check their support sites for troubleshooting tips. You may need to adjust app permissions, reinstall the app, or update settings (source).

Providing detailed information to tech support can help resolve persistent microphone issues during calls that you can’t fix yourself. With their expertise, tech support can thoroughly troubleshoot and provide solutions.