Microphone Not Working on Laptop

Steps

1. 1

   Sound›Playback devices

   Right-click the sound icon in the taskbar.

   Select 'Sounds' from the context menu. If you don't see it, ensure your taskbar is not hidden.

2. 2

   Recording›Show Disabled Devices

   Go to the 'Recording' tab in the Sound window.

   Check if your microphone is listed and enabled. If not, right-click and select 'Show Disabled Devices'.

3. 3

   Set Default›OK

   Select your microphone and click 'Set Default'.

   The default device should have a green checkmark. If it doesn’t, select it again and click 'Set Default'.

4. 4

   Properties›Levels

   Test the microphone by speaking into it.

   Check if the sound level indicator moves in the Sound window. If it doesn’t, proceed to the next step.

5. 5

   Levels›OK

   Adjust the microphone level in the Levels tab.

   Increase the microphone level to 100 and click 'OK'. Test again to see if it works.

6. 6

   Settings›Troubleshoot

   Run the audio troubleshooter to fix issues.

   Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Recording Audio and follow the prompts.

A related guide is Laptop Overheating While Charging.

Questions

What if my microphone is not detected?

Ensure that your microphone is properly connected and enabled in the Sound settings. You may also need to update your audio drivers.

How can I check if my microphone is muted?

Right-click the sound icon in the taskbar and select 'Sounds'. Check the Levels tab for your microphone to see if it's muted.

What should I do if the audio troubleshooter doesn't help?

Try updating your audio drivers through Device Manager or reinstalling the audio device. If the issue persists, consider hardware issues.