If your microphone is not working properly after a recent Windows update on Windows 11 or Windows 10, it may be due to unintended consequences that can arise from the update process. Even though these updates are intended to enhance the performance and stability of your system, they can sometimes cause issues, such as problems with your microphone.
As frustrating as this can be, there are several things you can do to troubleshoot and fix the problem. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to help you identify and resolve the microphone issue on your Windows 11 or 10 PC.
Also see: How to Test Microphone on Windows 11 to See If It’s Working
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Check the microphone’s driver
The first thing to do is to make sure your microphone is well connected to your PC. Follow these steps to check if your PC detects the microphone correctly:
Check if your PC detects the microphone correctly by going to the Sound setting from the taskbar. Right-click the speaker icon from the taskbar, then select Sound.
Go to the Recording tab. Check if your microphone is on the list. If it is, right-click it and click Enable (if it wasn’t already enabled). Click on the microphone again, and then click on Set default. This should fix the problem.
Also, make sure your microphone is not muted by selecting the microphone from the list, then click on Properties. Go to the Levels tab. Set the volume to a level it can be heard, and make sure the mute button isn’t on.
If your Microphone doesn’t show up on the list, you may need to reinstall its driver. If you have a CD driver for your microphone, insert it and install the driver from the CD. If you don’t have any physical driver installation disc for your microphone, do the following:
- Go to Windows Search.
- Search for Device Manager and open it.
- Expand Audio inputs and outputs.
- Right-click your microphone and select Update driver.
- Select Search automatically for updated driver.
When the driver installation is done, restart your computer. Try to use your Mic again and see if it works.
Check app’s permission to allow access to microphone
If you have ruled out hardware issues as the cause of your microphone problems, it is worth checking if the application has been granted permission to access your microphone via the Windows privacy settings. This can affect your microphone’s ability to work properly, particularly after a recent Windows update that introduces or modifies privacy settings. Follow the steps below to check if your app, such as Skype, has the necessary permissions to use your microphone.
- Go to the Start menu and click Settings. Alternatively, you can press Windows + I keys to open Settings.
- Select Privacy.
- From the left pane, select Microphone.
- Make sure the Allow apps to access your microphone option is enabled.
- From the list of apps, find the app which you want to use your microphone on and make sure it’s turned on so that it can use your microphone.
Your app might not have the permission to use your microphone by default, especially after the Windows 11/10 update, which messed up these settings for some users. You will have to manually turn on the app permission to use your microphone.
Check out this page – No sound in Windows 11/10 after update if your problem is with the sound and speaker after applying a recent Windows update on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
Check hardware and physical connections
Sometimes, the microphone not working issue can also be due to hardware or physical connections. You should check if your microphone is correctly plugged in and connected to your PC. Try using a different USB port or a different cable to connect the microphone to see if that solves the issue.
You can also try connecting the microphone to a different PC or device to check if it’s working properly. If the microphone works fine on another PC or device, then the issue may be with your PC.
Run the Windows Troubleshooter
Windows has a built-in troubleshooter that can help diagnose and fix common problems. You can try running the troubleshooter to see if it can fix the microphone not working issue.
To run the troubleshooter, follow these steps:
- Go to the Start menu and click Settings. Alternatively, you can press Win + i keys to open Settings.
- Select Update & Security.
- Click Troubleshoot from the left pane.
- Select the Recording Audio troubleshooter and click Run the troubleshooter.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process.
End Note
In conclusion, these are the solutions you can try to fix the microphone not working issue after a recent Windows update on Windows 11 or Windows 10. Try each solution until the issue is resolved. If none of these solutions work, you may need to contact a professional for further assistance.
