How do I turn on my keyboard microphone?

Check Your Keyboard Model

Many modern keyboards, especially gaming keyboards, come equipped with a built-in microphone. This convenient feature allows you to communicate in online games or use voice typing software without needing a separate mic. According to data from Best Buy, a number of popular gaming brands like Razer, Logitech, and Corsair offer keyboards with built-in mics. For example, the Razer Cynosa V2 keyboard includes an understated mic for on-the-fly communications. You can also find keyboards with microphones in office settings for easy dictation and conferencing.

If you’re unsure whether your keyboard has an integrated mic, start by checking the product details online or on the original packaging if you still have it. The manufacturer’s website should indicate if a microphone is included. You can also visually inspect your keyboard for a mic icon or small hole which may denote a built-in mic.

Locate the Microphone Icon

The microphone icon on a keyboard is usually located as part of the function (F) keys across the top. It may be paired with the F6, F9, or F12 key for example. Look for a mic icon above the F key to identify which one activates the keyboard microphone.

On Lenovo laptops, the mic icon is often paired with the F6 key, so pressing Fn + F6 together turns the microphone on and off (1). Other keyboards may have it paired with F8 or F10 instead. The mic icon will light up when activated.

For MacBooks, a microphone icon in the menu bar indicates an app is using the internal mic. This is separate from the dictation icon. Go to System Preferences > Accessibility > Voice Control to disable it if desired (2).

Understand the Function Keys

Most keyboards have a row of function keys labeled F1 through F12. These keys perform specific tasks assigned by the operating system or individual programs. According to Computer Hope, common functions of these keys include:

F1 – Open help or a document
F2 – Rename a selected item
F3 – Search for a file or folder

F4 – Display the address bar list in File Explorer
F5 – Refresh the current page or list
F6 – Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop

F7 – Check spelling in an Office program
F8 – Start drag mode to move the current window
F9 – Show or hide the Office Ribbon

F10 – Activate the Menu bar in the active app
F11 – Enter full-screen mode
F12 – Save file or Save As…

These standard functions can vary slightly across operating systems and individual programs may assign custom functions to these keys for certain tasks.

Press the Right F Key Combination

To activate the microphone on your keyboard, you typically need to press the Function (Fn) key along with one of the F keys. The specific F key can vary depending on your keyboard model and manufacturer.

For example, on a Dell keyboard you may need to press Fn + F11 whereas on an HP keyboard it may be Fn + F4. Refer to your keyboard manual to determine the correct microphone key combination. If you don’t have the manual, try pressing Fn along with various F keys to see if one activates the mic.

Once you press the right F key, you should see a microphone icon light up on your keyboard indicating that the microphone is now on. You can then begin using the keyboard mic to record audio or for voice commands.

If pressing the F keys doesn’t activate the microphone, you may need to toggle a setting in your operating system or BIOS to enable the keyboard mic functionality. For troubleshooting tips, see the “Troubleshooting” section below.

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Check the Mic Settings

To check the microphone settings on your Mac:

1. Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy Tab.

2. Select Microphone from the left panel. This will show a list of apps that have requested microphone access.

3. Make sure the checkbox next to the app you want to use the microphone in is checked. Common apps like Zoom, FaceTime, Voice Memos need access to enable the microphone.

4. You can toggle access on and off for each app. Checked means the app has access, unchecked means blocked access.

For more details on controlling microphone access, see the Apple support article.

Adjust the Volume

Once you have enabled your keyboard microphone, you may need to adjust the volume if it is too low or high. On Windows 10 and 11, you can adjust the volume by:

Click on the volume icon in the system tray in the bottom right corner.
A volume slider will appear. Make sure the microphone is selected at the top.

Drag the slider left to decrease the volume and right to increase it. Set it to a comfortable level where your voice is clear without peaking.

You can also adjust the volume in the Windows Sound settings. Open Settings > System > Sound. Under Input, select your microphone and adjust the volume slider as needed. If the mic seems to peak even at lower volumes, you may need to enable microphone boost for additional range.

Test That It’s Working

Once you have your keyboard’s microphone enabled and properly configured, it’s important to test that it’s actually working before trying to use it in applications.

Follow these steps to test your keyboard microphone in Windows 10:

Open the Start menu and search for “Sound Settings.” Click on the top result to open the Sound control panel.
Under Input, locate your keyboard microphone and select it.

Click “Test mic” and start speaking into your keyboard microphone.
Look at the microphone level indicator while you speak. You should see the levels reacting to your voice if the mic is working properly. The louder parts of speech should make the indicator go farther to the right.
Play back the recording to confirm your voice was captured clearly without issues like static or distortion. If the playback is poor quality, you may need to adjust your microphone settings or placement (see Troubleshooting Tips).

If your keyboard mic passes these steps without issues, it should function properly when using voice chat, voice recording, or speech recognition software on your Windows 10 computer.

Troubleshooting Tips

If your keyboard microphone is not working properly, there are a few things you can try:

Make sure your keyboard drivers are up to date. Go to your keyboard settings or manufacturer’s website to check for updates. Old drivers can sometimes cause issues with microphones (1).

Check your privacy settings. Go to your microphone privacy settings and make sure that permission is enabled for your microphone (2). Disable and re-enable it to refresh the permissions if needed.
Adjust your microphone volume. Sometimes mic issues arise from the volume being too low. In your computer audio settings, try increasing the levels for your keyboard mic input.
Try an external mic. If you’ve tried the above tips and your keyboard mic still isn’t working, consider using an external USB microphone temporarily for your audio input needs.

Following these troubleshooting tips should help resolve most keyboard microphone problems. If issues persist, you may need to contact your keyboard manufacturer or computer audio software provider for further assistance.

Using Your Keyboard Mic

Most people use the built-in microphone on keyboards for communication features like voice chat, recording audio, or making voice commands. For games, you can use the mic to speak to teammates or players over popular platforms like Discord. You can also leverage the keyboard mic for recording audio, like singing or playing an instrument, to layer with other tracks for music production.

For productivity uses, the internal mic can handle simple voice dictation or commands to assist with tasks like entering text, starting programs, or controlling system functions. Most modern operating systems, including Windows and MacOS, have accessibility features that allow you to control your computer using just your voice.

When to Use an External Mic

The built-in microphone on most keyboards has limitations and may not provide the best audio quality in all situations. According to this article, external microphones often sound better because they are designed specifically for recording high-quality audio.

Reasons you may want to use an external microphone instead of a keyboard built-in mic include:

Recording music or podcasts – External mics capture richer, more accurate sound important for music recording.

Gaming/streaming – For clear voice chat an external mic reduces background noise interference.
Video calls – External mics sound more natural with better noise cancellation properties during video conferencing.
Dictation – An external mic positioned closer to your mouth has much better speech recognition accuracy.

Overall, external standalone microphones have superior internals and functionality specifically designed for quality sound reproduction not found in basic keyboard-integrated mics. They eliminate issues like limited frequency response, poor directionality, and inadequate noise isolation. So for serious audio work, recording, gaming, streaming, or calls, an external microphone tends to provide noticeably better performance.