When a laptop microphone fails to function, the cause might be an issue with the microphone settings or setup, device drivers, or even a damaged microphone or poor internal wiring. Check out our troubleshooting suggestions and tried-and-true remedies before purchasing a new microphone.
Note: The instructions in this article apply to Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7 unless otherwise specified.
Related: Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 launched with 12th gen Intel CPU
Table of Contents
What Causes a Laptop Microphone to Stop Working?
Laptop microphones might cease working due to a number of software and hardware issues, such as settings, configurations, and even driver conflicts. To repair your laptop microphone, check the most typical difficulties in each of these categories and resolve any issues that arise.
Here are the most common causes of your laptop microphone not working:
- Microphone settings and configuration: This problem is frequently caused by simple errors such as a muted microphone or an inappropriately adjusted microphone.
- Bad microphone drivers: If your microphone driver is corrupted or out of date, the microphone will not function correctly.
- Bad microphone hardware: Your microphone might have simply failed due to a flaw or old age, or there could be an issue with the internal wiring.
How to Fix a Laptop Microphone That Doesn’t Work
There are several laptop microphone issues that you can solve without any special gear or training. Other difficulties are more complex and will necessitate the services of a specialist.
Follow these instructions in order to repair your laptop microphone:
- Check that your microphone is not muted. Your laptop may contain a physical microphone mute button that might have been hit accidentally, in which case clicking that button or flicking that switch will cure the problem.
In your sound options, you may also muffle your microphone. To double-check, do the following:
2. Select Sound and Hardware.
3. Press Sound.
4. Select Recording.
5. Click the Properties option when you right-click your microphone.6. Select Levels.
7. Unmute the microphone if it has a crossed-out red circle next to it.
Tip: If the microphone level and boost are set to low in this menu, try increasing them to full and seeing if that helps.
2. Ascertain that the proper microphone is set as the default. If you have previously used different microphones or have a headset connected, Windows may have selected the incorrect microphone as the default.
To verify and change your default microphone, follow these steps:
2. Select Sound and Hardware.
3. Press Sound.
4. Select Recording.
5. Choose your microphone.
6. Press Set to Default.
3. Confirm that your app has access to the microphone. You can restrict access to the microphone to specific applications for privacy concerns. If your chat or conferencing app lacks authorization, it will appear that the microphone is not working.
Tip: This feature is functional in Windows 10 and Windows 8, however there is no equivalent setting in Windows 7. If you’re running Windows 7, you may skip this step.
To investigate and resolve this problem, follow these steps:
1. In the Windows search box, type microphone.
2. Select Microphone privacy settings.
– Assure Allow apps to access your microphone is turned On in Windows 10.
– Make sure Let apps use my microphone is turned on in Windows 8 and 8.1.
3. Scroll down and make sure your specific app has permission as well.
4. Unplug and re-plug any external microphones you’re using. When a laptop is plugged in, it will automatically switch between the built-in microphone and external hardware.
If you’re using an external microphone, try disconnecting and plugging it back in, or plugging an external microphone in and unplugging it if you’re using internal hardware. This may eventually cause the program to switch to the proper microphone.
5. Check that your microphone device is not turned off. You should check the device manager to ensure that your microphone is turned on. If it isn’t, you can attempt to enable it. If it stays disabled, a hardware or driver conflict may exist. Running the troubleshooter or upgrading the device driver may allow you to enable your microphone in either situation.
6. Launch the audio troubleshooter. This automatic troubleshooter tests and repairs a wide range of sound playback and recording difficulties, so it may be able to resolve your microphone issue. Allow it to finish its cycle before checking to see whether your microphone works.
To launch this troubleshooter, navigate to Control Panel > Troubleshooting > Hardware and Sound > Recording, then click Next and follow the on-screen instructions.
7. Examine for audio driver upgrades. If your microphone driver is corrupted or out of date, your microphone will not function properly. Remember to restart your computer after installing a new driver or updating an existing one, since the changes will not take effect until you restart.
8. Examine for any physical issues. If your microphone still does not function, there might be a physical problem with it. Depending on your degree of competence and the design of your individual laptop, you may wish to open it up to inspect the microphone at this stage.
To get around the difficulty, you might either take the laptop in for expert repairs or buy an extra microphone or headset.
Here’s what you’ll need to do if you want to physically inspect your microphone:
1. Open your laptop case with care. Some laptops are particularly difficult to open, so remove all essential screws and watch a YouTube video if the technique isn’t instantly evident. If you lack the proper equipment to open the laptop, you may need to see a specialist.
2. Look at the microphone. If you notice any physical damage to the microphone, such as it being dislodged or physically damaged, replacing it may solve the problem. A visual assessment, on the other hand, does not show many possibilities for a microphone to fail.
3. Inspect the microphone wiring. Follow the cables from the microphone to the motherboard, paying close attention to where they pass through the hinge. If the cables are damaged or have come disconnected from the motherboard, repairing or reconnecting them will most likely allow your microphone to operate again.
Consider Professional Repair if Everything Else Fails.
If your laptop microphone still doesn’t function after physically checking it, and you don’t see anything wrong with it, you may need to take it to an expert. The microphone might have failed in a way that you can’t notice by looking at it, or it could be in need of another repair that requires professional skill or specific tools to repair.
