How to Resolve Microphone Not Working on Windows 10

There is nothing that you can not do on your computer. Modern-day PCs allows you to perform multiple functions from playing video games to recording audio. However, tasks like recording sounds or having an audio chat requires to have a microphone (mic) attached to your computer. But some laptops also come with inbuilt microphones. No matter whether your PC has a built-in or external microphone, there are still some common issues that can bother you while you use it. And ‘microphone not working’ Windows 10 error is one of those problems.

If you also get annoyed with this microphone issue of Windows 10 PC, then this post can be quite helpful for you. Here we have listed some of the most effective solutions to resolve Windows 10 mic not working problem.

Solutions to Resolve Microphone Not Working Windows 10 Error

Below are ways that you can use to fix the ‘microphone not working’ Windows 10 issue quite effectively and efficiently as well.

Check If Microphone is Enabled

This is one of the primary things that you should do to resolve Windows 10 mic not working error. You should make sure that you have enabled the Microphone in the settings of your Windows 10 operating system. Here is all you need to do to fix Windows microphone not working issues via this solution.

• Go to the Settings of your Windows 10 operating system.
  
• Click Privacy.
  
• Scroll down to the Microphone and select it.
  
• In Microphone, check whether the Microphone access for this device toggle is on or off. If it is off, then turn it on.
• Then scroll down to ‘Allow apps to access your microphone’ and turn it on.
  
• After that, you can even check if the microphone is off for a particular application. Just scroll down a bit and see the apps under ‘Choose which Microsoft Store apps can access your microphone’ that has the permission to access the microphone.
• If the required application does not have the permission to access the microphone, then allow it.
  

Now check if your PC or laptop mic not working problem is still there or got resolved by the above fix.

Also Read: How to Resolve USB Ports Not Working Error in Windows 10

Try Using The Troubleshooter

One of the most commonly advised solutions for any Windows problem is troubleshooting it. Hence, to solve the ‘microphone not working’ Windows 10 error, we also suggest you to use the Windows Troubleshooting tool. However, if you do not know how to use the Troubleshooter to resolve the headset mic not working Windows 10 issue, then here are the instructions.

• Go to the Windows Settings as instructed in the above method.
  
• Then make a click on the Update & Security.
  
• After that, go to Troubleshoot in the options available at the left panel of the Settings Window and then click it.
• Now, scroll down in the right section and select Recording Audio and then click Run the troubleshooter.
  
• Now do as what the troubleshooter says.

You can also try running the troubleshooter for Speech to troubleshoot the Windows 10 mic not working problem.

Unmute The Microphone

It is also possible that you have unknowingly muted the microphone of your PC. Some computer users have claimed that they faced the ‘microphone not working’ Windows 10 issue because of the muted microphone. Hence, we advise you to unmute the microphone if it is set on mute. Here is all what you have to do.

• Go to the volume icon on the taskbar and right-click on it.
• Select Sounds.
  
• Then click the Recording tab.
• Click the Microphone.
• Then choose properties.
  
• Click on the Levels tab.
• Set the volume to 100 and then click apply.
• At last, select OK to resolve the Windows microphone not working problem.

Set Microphone as Default Device

Along with unmuting the microphone, we also advise you to set it as a default device to record the audio. The steps of this method are quite similar to the steps of the previous method. Here is what you have to do to set the microphone as a default device and fix the Windows 10 mic not working error.

• Go to the volume icon on the taskbar and right-click on it.
• Select Sounds.
  
• Then click the Recording tab.
• Click the Microphone.
• Now, select the Set Default option.
  
• Then select apply.
• Now click the OK button to fix the headset mic not working Windows 10 issue.

Restart the Audio Services

You might know that Windows services play a vital role in the functioning of a task or application on your Windows PC. A particular app or device doesn’t work properly if its services get stopped. Hence, in that case, you need to restart its services. The same goes for the audio and recording devices. You must restart the Windows Audio Services to resolve the ‘microphone not working’ Windows 10 problem. Here are the essential steps.

• Start the Run tool using the shortcut keys, i.e., Windows Key and R simultaneously.
• Then type ‘services.msc’ and select the OK button.

  

  Open Services Program From Run Command
• Look for Windows Audio.
  
• Right-click on the Windows Audio service and click Restart.

After restarting the Windows Audio service, check if the PC and laptop mic not working trouble still prevails.

Restore Previous Version of Windows

Restoring the Windows operating system is another great solution to resolve Windows 10 mic not working issue. It even fixes the problematic microphone driver on Windows 10 and various other OS errors. You can take these steps to restore your Windows.

• Start the Run tool using the shortcut keys, i.e., Windows Key and R simultaneously.
• Open the System Restore wizard by typing rstrui, and after that, click OK.
  
• In System Restore, click Next.
• Choose Show more restore points and then click the Next button.

  

  Image Source: Tenforums
• Choose a suitable restore point.
• Go for the Next button.
• Complete the restore setup by selecting Finish.

After that, wait until the operating system gets restored completely. Now reboot your system and ensure if the Windows 10 mic not working error got resolved via this method.

Re-enable Microphone

You might have tried restarting a device or re-enabling a program to fix its glitches. You can do it to resolve the issues of your microphone driver on Windows 10 as well. Here are the instructions that can help you to solve ‘microphone not working’ Windows 10 issues.

• Open Device Manager by using the Windows 10 shortcut. Just right-click on the Start and launch the Device Manager.
  
• Select Audio inputs and outputs.
  
• Expand Audio inputs and outputs.
• Select Microphone.
  
• Right-click on it.
• Choose Disable device.
• After a few moments, right-click on Microphone again.
• Now click Enable device and check whether the Microphone has started working or not.

Update Microphone Drivers

Obsolete or wrong device drivers is one of the root cause for many PC issues. Windows 10 mic not working error is also one of them. Hence, it is necessary to resolve the microphone driver issues on Windows 10. And for this, all you need to do is to update the microphone drivers. However, it is quite hectic to do so.

Do not worry, as we have brought a solution that can make this task a lot easier than ever before. The name of the solution is BIT Driver Updater. You can use this finest driver updating program to update microphone drivers on your PC. The software offers both free and paid premium version. However, we advise you to use the premium version, as it provides various other benefits, along with updating your microphone and other device drivers. Here is the download button that all of you can use to get this software for free on your Windows 10 PCs.

You do not even have to do much to install it on your Windows 10 computer. All you need to do is to double click on the installer, and the rest is upon the installation wizard. You only have to follow the provided directions. Then after that, simply launch the BIT Driver Updater and follow the below-mentioned instructions to update your microphone drivers.

• Start the scan for all your driver problems by clicking on the Scan Drivers option.
• Look for the microphone drivers in the provided list of driver issues.
• Select it and then click on the Update Now tab available in front of the microphone driver.

This is how BIT Driver Updater can help you to resolve microphone not working issues and all other driver problems.

Windows 10 Mic is not Working : Fixed

Here we would like to conclude our guide to resolve the ‘microphone not working’ Windows 10. All the solutions that we have provided are quite helpful and previously tested. Although, we suggest everyone to try BIT Driver Updater. As it provides a comprehensive solution for many errors and issues of Windows PCs.

Coming back to the Windows 10 mic not working problem, if nothing works for you, then there may be some issue with the device. So, try using some other microphones. You can also check your microphone by connecting it with some other PC. However, if it works properly with the other computer, then we recommend you to contact your PC manufacturer or local computer repair center.

Furthermore, if you know some other methods that can fix this problem, then let us know in the comments.