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Microphone not working? Fix it in minutes

If people can't hear you on a call, or your mic app shows no input at all, the fault is almost always the wrong input device being selected, a blocked permission, or the volume muted somewhere in the chain. Here's how to track it down.

Written by Chhandita ShitReviewed by Buddheswar DandapatLast updated 2026-07-28

Before you start troubleshooting, run the actual test so you know what's broken.

Run the Microphone Test

Quick checks first

  1. Check for a physical mute button or switch on your headset or webcam.
  2. Make sure the correct microphone is selected in your call app, not a webcam mic when you meant to use a headset mic.
  3. Run our Microphone Test to see a live input meter, this tells you immediately whether the mic is being picked up at all.
  4. Unplug and replug a USB or 3.5mm microphone, then check it's selected again as the default device.
  5. Restart the app you're using. Many conferencing apps cache the wrong device at launch.

Check browser and app permissions

Just like the camera, most browsers and operating systems gate microphone access separately from the app itself. If permission is blocked, the app will often show "no audio input detected" with no other explanation.

In your browser

  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Confirm Microphone is set to Allow for this site.
  3. Check the Permissions Test for a full readout of what's currently granted.

Windows 11

  1. Open Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone.
  2. Turn on "Microphone access" and "Let apps access your microphone".
  3. Scroll down and check that both your browser and desktop app (Zoom, Teams, Discord) are allowed.

macOS

  1. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone.
  2. Enable the toggle for your browser or app.
  3. Quit and reopen the app after changing this, macOS won't apply it live.

Chromebook

  1. Open Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Microphone.
  2. Remove the site from any "Not allowed" list.

iPhone

  1. Open Settings, find the app, and check Microphone access is on.
  2. For Safari, go to Settings > Safari > Microphone and set to Ask or Allow.

Android

  1. Open Settings > Apps > [app name] > Permissions > Microphone, set to Allow.
  2. In Chrome, check Settings > Site settings > Microphone for a block entry on the site.

Check the right device is selected and unmuted

Windows

  1. Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and choose Sound settings.
  2. Under Input, confirm the correct microphone is selected as the default device.
  3. Check the input volume slider isn't at zero, and that "Mute" isn't ticked.
  4. Click "Test your microphone" to see the live level bar move as you speak.

macOS

  1. Open System Settings > Sound > Input.
  2. Select the correct microphone and watch the input level bar as you talk.
  3. If it's a Bluetooth headset, check it isn't stuck on a low-quality call profile in the Bluetooth menu.

Fix low volume, distortion or a robotic sound

  • Move the microphone closer, or increase input gain in the app's audio settings.
  • Disable "noise suppression" or "AI noise cancellation" temporarily, it sometimes over-processes and mangles speech.
  • If audio sounds robotic or choppy, it's often CPU load or a poor Bluetooth connection, try a wired connection to compare.
  • Turn off any extra "enhancements" in Windows Sound settings under the microphone's Properties > Advanced tab.

When it's a hardware fault

If the microphone doesn't appear at all in your system's sound settings, or another device on the same port also fails to register, suspect hardware:

  • Test the mic on a different computer. If it still doesn't register, the mic itself is likely dead.
  • For built-in laptop mics, dust or debris in the mic hole can muffle or block input, a can of compressed air can help.
  • For headsets, check the cable near the jack for fraying, a common failure point that causes intermittent cutting out.
  • If a wired mic works in one port but not another, the port itself may be faulty rather than the mic.

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