How to Fix Your Headset Mic Not Working on Windows
Is your headset’s microphone not picking up your voice? This is one of the most common problems headset users encounter.
Several factors can cause a headset microphone to stop working; you may have muted it, plugged it into the wrong jacks, set it up incorrectly when connecting it to your device, forgot to make it the default microphone device, restricted the app’s access to the microphone, or set the audio device preferences incorrectly in the game or application.
If you want to fix the underlying issue and get your headset microphone working, here are a few steps you can take.
1. Perform Some Preliminary Checks
Start the troubleshooting process by applying the following preliminary fixes, as they may resolve the issue immediately:
If none of the above checks and fixes work, apply the remaining fixes.
2. Ensure That the Microphone Isn’t Muted
There is usually a button on most headsets that allows you to muffle the microphone. This control enables users to mute themselves when not participating in a conversation. If your headset also has one, make sure you haven’t muted it by mistake.
Besides that, make sure your microphone isn’t muted on your device. You can check that in several ways, but here’s the simplest:
If you don’t have the Realtek audio console installed on your device, you can download it from theMicrosoft Store.
3. Ensure That the Microphone Is Properly Plugged In
If your headset has a 3.5mm audio cable, plug it into the microphone jack. When plugging it in, you may also need to select the microphone and speaker options from the pop-ups on your desktop. So, be careful when you do that.
If your headset uses a two-pin cable, you’ll need to plug them carefully into the microphone and speaker jacks. You may also have to select the type of device you plugged in first and second from the popups on your desktop.
You may not see any popups when connecting the headset to a laptop; just ensure you have plugged your headset correctly.
4. Make Sure Your Headset Microphone Isn’t Faulty
Is your headset already unmuted and correctly plugged in? If that is the case, ensure your microphone is not faulty, which could be why it isn’t picking up your voice. The easiest way to find that out is to connect your headset to a different device (assuming you have one) and see if it works there.
If your headset mic also doesn’t work on your other device, it could be faulty. If that is the case, you should have your hardware inspected by a nearby technician. However, if the other device detects the microphone, your hardware isn’t faulty; probably misconfigured OS settings are to blame.
5. Select the Right Microphone and Test It
To use your headset microphone as your primary audio input device, you must properly select it in the sound settings. Therefore, ensure the headset microphone is selected there, especially if you have more than one audio input device connected to your device.
To find out which microphone you’re using, open theSettingsapp and navigate toSystem > Sound. Here, select the headset microphone and click on it to open its settings.
After that, test the microphone by clicking theStart testbutton. If your microphone successfully records the sound, the headset is now configured correctly.
6. Make the Headset Microphone Your Default Audio Input Device
To set your headset microphone as the default audio input device, navigate toSettings > System > Soundand click onMore sound settings.
In the sound settings, go to theRecordingtab, right-click on your headset microphone, and selectSet as Default Device.
If you don’t see the headset microphone in the list of recording devices, it could be disabled. In such a case, right-click anywhere in theRecordingtab and selectShow Disabled Devices.
After that, set your headset microphone as the default audio input device.
7. Change the App Permissions for the Microphone
If your headset microphone is already set as default but isn’t working in a certain app, check that the app has permission to access the microphone. Follow these steps to check that:
8. Select the Correct Microphone in the App’s Settings
If the headset microphone still does not work after following the steps above, likely, the app where the microphone does not work doesn’t have the correct microphone selected in its settings.
Therefore, ensure the headset microphone is selected as the primary audio input device in the app’s settings. Also, check that the microphone isn’t muted there and its volume isn’t too low.
Get Your Headset Microphone Working Again
A headset microphone that does not pick up your voice can hinder your gameplay or business meetings. Hopefully, you now better understand what causes the headset microphone to malfunction. Furthermore, if you correctly apply the above fixes, you will be able to troubleshoot and resolve the problem with the headset.
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