Why is my microphone on my keyboard not working?

Keyboards with built-in microphones have become more common, allowing for convenient voice chat and voice commands. However, the microphone may sometimes stop working properly. This article will discuss some of the common reasons why a keyboard’s microphone may stop functioning and provide troubleshooting tips to try and get it working again.

The goal is to cover the most likely issues preventing the microphone from being enabled and picking up audio input. We’ll explore software settings, driver updates, physical damage, and other potential problems. With some systematic troubleshooting and testing, you should be able to diagnose and resolve the microphone problem.

Check Physical Connection

It’s important to first check that the microphone is properly physically connected to the computer. This may seem obvious, but it’s one of the most common reasons a microphone stops working. If the microphone came with your keyboard, make sure it’s securely plugged into the appropriate jack on the keyboard. Some USB keyboards have a dedicated microphone jack, while others route audio through the USB cable to the computer. If using a separate external microphone, check that the 3.5mm plug is fully inserted into the computer’s microphone input jack. Also inspect the cable for any loose connections or damage.

For wireless Bluetooth microphones, verify the microphone is paired and connected to the computer over Bluetooth. You may need to go into your computer’s Bluetooth settings, view the list of paired devices, and ensure the microphone is both paired and shows as Connected. If not, try removing the microphone from the paired devices list, powering it off/on, and pairing again.

Checking these basic physical connections is the first troubleshooting step with any microphone and will resolve many cases where a previously working mic has stopped functioning. Refer to your microphone’s documentation if unsure of proper connection methods. Proper physical connectivity is required before troubleshooting other potential software causes.

Update Drivers

Keeping your microphone drivers up-to-date is essential for proper functioning. Outdated drivers can cause a variety of issues, including the microphone not being detected or working incorrectly. Operating systems like Windows periodically release driver updates through the update manager to improve performance and fix bugs.

It’s recommended to regularly check for driver updates through the update manager in your operating system and install any available microphone driver updates. On Windows 10 and 11, you can check for updates by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. On older versions of Windows, go to Control Panel > Windows Update. The update manager will automatically search for and install any important driver updates.

Installing these microphone driver updates through your operating system update manager ensures you have the latest driver version from the manufacturer. This helps optimize microphone performance, fix bugs, and resolve any microphone issues caused by outdated, incompatible, or corrupted drivers.

Keeping your drivers updated is an easy but important maintenance task. Be sure to periodically check your operating system’s update manager for driver updates to help keep your microphone working properly.

Change Default Input Device

The microphone on your keyboard may not be working if it is not set as the default input device in your audio settings. Here is how to check and change the default input device:

1. Open the Start menu and select Settings > System > Sound.

2. Under Input, check to see what device is listed under Choose your input device. If it is not your keyboard’s microphone, you will need to change it.

3. Click on the dropdown menu under Choose your input device and select your keyboard microphone from the list.

4. Test that the microphone is now working by speaking into it and checking the microphone level indicator.

5. If the microphone still does not work, continue troubleshooting other potential issues.

For more details, see this helpful video: How To Change Default Input Device Microphone In ASUS

Disable Other Microphones

Sometimes the issue with your keyboard microphone not working properly is because there are conflicts with other microphones on your computer. Most laptops and some external webcams or other devices have built-in mics that may be interfering with the keyboard mic.

To see if another microphone is causing the issue, you can temporarily disable other mics in your system. Here are the steps to try this:

1. Open Sound settings on your computer (right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and select Open Sound settings).
2. Go to the Input tab.
3. Right-click on any microphone device other than your keyboard mic and select Disable.
4. Test to see if the keyboard mic is now working properly in your communications apps.

Disabling other mics prevents them from capturing any audio input and interfering with the keyboard microphone. If the keyboard mic starts working after disabling other mics, then a conflict was likely the cause.

You can leave the other mics disabled if you will only be using the keyboard mic for voice/video calls. Or re-enable them when you need to switch mics. This is an easy fix to microphone conflicts (Source: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/removing-adding-microphone-permissions-to/47e47a2d-101f-4ade-8848-8abfdcd34a87).

Keyboard Software Settings

The keyboard software provided by the manufacturer often includes settings related to enabling or disabling built-in microphones (Source). Open the keyboard software and look for an option to toggle the mic on or off. There may also be a volume control or other advanced settings that could prevent the mic from working properly. Changing these settings in the manufacturer-provided software is often an easy fix to get the built-in microphone working again.

Restore Keyboard to Default

If your microphone is still not working after updating drivers and adjusting settings, restoring your keyboard to its factory default settings can help resolve issues. To reset a mechanical gaming keyboard like the Monoprice 33538 or 33539 to defaults, hold down the Fn key and ESC key together for 5 seconds [1]. This will clear any customized settings or configurations and take the keyboard back to its out-of-the-box state. For other keyboard models, check the user manual or manufacturer’s website for the proper key combination to reset the device. Resetting removes any macros, lighting profiles, or remapped keys that could be interfering with proper microphone functionality. After restoring defaults, retest the microphone input to see if the issue is resolved before making additional changes.

Check for Hardware Damage

One potential cause for a microphone not working properly is physical damage to the hardware. Carefully inspect both the microphone itself and the keyboard for any signs of damage. Look for any cracks, dents, or loosening of the microphone grill ¹. Also check to make sure the microphone is firmly seated in the keyboard housing and hasn’t come loose. Gently wiggle the microphone to check if it is loose.

Additionally, examine the microphone jack and connection to the keyboard. Make sure there is no debris, dust or corrosion preventing proper contact. If your keyboard uses a USB connection, check that the USB ports are not damaged and that the cable has no frays or kinks in it.

If any physical damage is present, the microphone itself may need to be repaired or replaced. For built-in microphones this often requires replacing the entire keyboard. Consider taking your device to a repair shop for inspection if you are unable to determine the cause of failure.

Replace or Repair

If all other troubleshooting steps have failed, you may need to replace the microphone component or send the keyboard in for manufacturer repair. Most manufacturers like Logitech, Razer, and Corsair offer repair services to fix hardware issues like a faulty microphone.

For example, Logitech offers a keyboard replacement service to replace broken keys, clean stuck keys, or repair other physical damage. This would allow them to replace the built-in microphone if needed.

Before replacing the microphone component yourself, check with the manufacturer. Tampering with the device could void any warranty. But if the keyboard is already out of warranty, you may be able to find a replacement microphone part online from a third-party parts supplier and install it yourself.

As a last resort, you can replace the entire keyboard if the repair cost is comparable. Just make sure the new keyboard model has all the features you need, like an integrated microphone.

Conclusion

To summarize, there are several troubleshooting steps you can try if your keyboard microphone is not working properly:

First, check the physical connection between the keyboard and computer and make sure the microphone jack is fully plugged in. Try using a different USB port as well.

Second, update your keyboard drivers and audio drivers to the latest available versions. Old, outdated drivers can sometimes cause microphone issues.

You can also try changing the default input device in your computer’s sound settings to your keyboard microphone. Disable any other microphones or audio devices to isolate the keyboard mic.

Look in your keyboard software or app for settings related to the microphone. Try toggling them on or off or reset to default.

As a last resort, restore your keyboard to factory default settings or check for any hardware damage to the microphone jack itself. The microphone may need to be replaced or professionally repaired.

In conclusion, issues with keyboard microphones can often be resolved with simple software and setting changes. If still not working, there may be a hardware defect that requires replacement. Persistence and methodically trying different troubleshooting steps is key.