If people cannot hear you on calls or your recordings are silent, the cause is usually one of four things: the microphone is muted, the app has no permission, the wrong input device is selected, or the input level is too low. Work through the checks below in order – most problems are solved in the first few steps.
Step 1: Check if the microphone works at all
Open our microphone test, press Start microphone and allow access. Speak or clap. If the level bar moves, the microphone and your system are fine and the problem is inside the app you are using (Zoom, Teams, Discord, WhatsApp and so on) – jump to step 5. If nothing moves, continue with step 2.
Step 2: Look for a mute switch
- Many headsets have a mute button on the cable or a mic boom that mutes when flipped up.
- Laptops often have a mic mute key (a microphone icon on F4, F8 or similar) with a small light.
- USB microphones may have a mute button or a gain knob turned all the way down.
Step 3: Give permission to use the microphone
Windows 11
Open Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone. Turn on Microphone access, Let apps access your microphone and, further down, Let desktop apps access your microphone. Then check that the app you use is switched on in the list.
Windows 10
Open Settings → Privacy → Microphone and turn on the same options.
Mac
Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone and switch on the app. You may need to quit and reopen the app afterwards.
iPhone and iPad
Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone and switch on the app.
Android
Go to Settings → Apps, choose the app, then Permissions → Microphone → Allow. On Android 12 and later also check the Microphone access tile in Quick Settings – if it is off, every app hears silence.
In the browser
Click the lock or settings icon to the left of the web address and set Microphone to Allow. Then reload the page.
Step 4: Select the right microphone and raise the level
Computers often have several inputs: the built-in mic, a webcam mic, a headset and a "Stereo Mix". If the wrong one is selected you will see no signal.
- Windows 11: Settings → System → Sound → Input. Choose your microphone and set the input volume to around 70–90%. Speak and watch the level bar.
- Mac: System Settings → Sound → Input. Choose the device and move the input volume slider to the right.
- Phones choose the microphone automatically. If a Bluetooth headset is connected, the phone may be using its microphone instead of the built-in one – disconnect it to test.
On our microphone test you can switch between devices with the Input device list to find out which one actually works.
Step 5: Check the settings inside the app
Video call and chat apps keep their own microphone setting. In Zoom, Teams, Discord, Google Meet and OBS open the audio or voice settings and pick the same microphone that worked in the test. Make sure you are not muted inside the call, and turn off "push to talk" if you did not set it on purpose.
Step 6: Close other apps that use the microphone
On Windows and Android, one app can sometimes lock the microphone so others get silence. Close other call, recording or voice assistant apps and try again. A restart clears this quickly.
Step 7: Update or reinstall the driver (Windows)
Right-click the Start button, open Device Manager and expand Audio inputs and outputs. Right-click your microphone and choose Update driver. If the problem began after an update, open Properties → Driver → Roll Back Driver. You can also choose Uninstall device and restart – Windows reinstalls it automatically. Laptop makers (Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS) also offer audio drivers on their support websites.
Step 8: Check the hardware
- Clean the microphone opening. On phones and laptops the mic is a tiny hole. Gently remove lint with a soft dry brush. Do not push pins into it.
- Try a different port or cable. Front USB ports and hubs can be unreliable; plug USB microphones straight into the computer.
- Check the plug type. A headset with one 4-pole plug (TRRS) needs a combo jack. On a PC with separate pink (mic) and green (headphone) jacks you need a splitter adapter.
- Test on another device. If the microphone fails everywhere, it is faulty.
Microphone works but sounds bad?
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Very quiet | Low input level or mic far away | Raise input volume; move the mic 10–20 cm from your mouth |
| Distorted | Input level too high | Lower input volume or gain |
| Robotic or cutting out | Bluetooth headset or slow internet | Use a wired mic; check your connection |
| Constant hum | Electrical interference, ground loop | Try another USB port; unplug chargers nearby |
| Echo for other people | Your speakers feed back into the mic | Use headphones |
Test it now
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Read guideFrequently asked questions
Why is my mic not working on Discord or Zoom but works in the test?
The app is using a different input device or has its own mute. Open the app's voice or audio settings, choose the same microphone that worked in our test and check the input sensitivity.
How do I know if my microphone is broken?
If it shows no signal in our microphone test on two different devices, with permission allowed and no mute switch on, the microphone or its cable is most likely faulty.
Why does my Bluetooth headset microphone sound so bad?
When a Bluetooth headset uses its microphone it switches to a hands-free profile with lower audio quality. This is normal for most Bluetooth headsets. A wired or USB microphone sounds much better.
My mic stopped working after a Windows update. What now?
Check the privacy settings again (updates sometimes reset them), then roll back or reinstall the audio driver in Device Manager.