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FIX: Microphone not working in Windows 10
5 min. read
Updated onOctober 30, 2024
updated onOctober 30, 2024
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You’re probably using Skype on your computer almost on a daily basis, or at least one other application that requires amicrophone.
Many users are complaining that theirmicrophoneisn’t working onWindows 10, so if you’re one of those unfortunate users, we might have a solution for you.
What can I do if microphone stops working in Windows 10, 7?
Table of contents:
Fix: Microphone not recording in Windows 10, 8.1, 7
1. Check if yourmicrophoneisn’t disabled
Sometimes these issues occur if yourmicrophoneisn’t set as default or if it’s disabled, and here’s a way how can you quickly enable yourmicrophoneand set it as default.
2. Check if yourmicrophoneisn’t muted
Right-click on the Sound icon in the bottom right of your screen and choose Volume Mixer from the menu.When Volume Mixer opens, find the Microphone slider and raise it up to 100%. Also, make sure that nothing is muted.Close Volume Mixer and click on the Sound icon again and choose Recording devices and test yourmicrophone.
If there’s no activity in the volume level indicator, you might need to boost the sensitivity of yourmicrophone.
3. Uninstall and reinstall the default driver
3.1 Update drivers automatically
If you don’t want to go through the hassle of updating your microphone drivers manually, there is a tool that will do the work for you automatically.
Utilizing advanced software will quick the job in total safety and will prevent any PC damage caused by updating the wrong version of the driver.
The software will check your PC’s hardware and peripherals for possible driver upgrades with only a few clicks. The utility will start operating automatically after installation, so you won’t have to look for a shortcut or the source folder.
In just a few seconds, PC HelpSoft Driver Updater will scan your system for any faults or missing drivers and generate a report. Use one to save yourself some valuable time.
⇒Get PC HelpSoft Driver Updater
4. Boost the sensitivity of yourmicrophone
5. Run Hardware troubleshooter
If you’re still having problems with yourmicrophone, let’s try the hardware troubleshooter that’s built-in inside Windows 10. Here’s how to run it:
6. Change the default format of yourmicrophone
7. Run theSFCscan
And finally, if none of the previous solutions resolved the microphone issue, let’s put your computer through a (not so) quick SFC scan. This tool will scan your computer for potential problems and interferences, and solve them if possible.
Here’s how to run the SFC scan:
If yourmicrophoneisn’t working on Windows 10 we hope that at least one of these solutions was helpful to you. As you can see, most of the issues can be fixed by playing with Recording settings.
This issue is rather similar to the one covered in ourmicrophone is not showing up in Device Managerguide, so don’t hesitate to check it out.
If the problem is caused by the sound driver then the best solution is to use the default Windows driver or to wait for the manufacturer to release a specific Windows 10 driver for your audio device.
More about the topics:Fix audio issues,Microphone issues
Ivan Jenic
Windows Hardware Expert
Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.
When he’s not tackling diverse driver-related problems, Ivan enjoys watching good movies and spending time hiking with his family and friends.
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Ivan Jenic
Windows Hardware Expert
Ivan has delved deep into understanding the Windows OS, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.
