The microphone not working in the Windows 11 issue can affect either the built-in or external microphone on your computer. Still, in both cases, the signs and solutions are virtually the same. Fortunately, there are several proven ways you can fix the microphone not working in Windows 11, and we will discuss them in this article.
What Causes Microphone Not Working Issue in Windows 11?
There must have been a cause for this problem on your Windows 11 PC. Some users report that this problem first appeared after they began installing Windows updates on their computers, however, the issue is frequently brought on by an outdated or damaged microphone driver. Additionally, tampered audio settings are another significant factor for the microphone not working in Windows 11, as you may mistakenly disable or mute the microphone on your PC. Aside from improperly connecting your microphone if you’re having problems with an external microphone, these are the most frequent reasons for microphone problems on Windows 11 computers. We have identified the most effective solutions to address this problem based on these factors, and we will go over them in detail in the following section of this article.
Fix Microphone Not Working in Windows 11
If you use an external microphone, restart your computer and ensure it is connected properly to fix the microphone issue with Windows 11. If the problem persists after using those simple troubleshooting techniques, you should use the method discussed below to fix it.
1. Enable Microphone Access
Windows 11 has microphone permission settings that allow applications on your computer to use the microphone. Microphones on your computer won’t function if these permission settings aren’t enabled. Thus, by performing the following steps, you should check the microphone settings to ensure that you have enabled permission to use it:
- Press Windows + I to open Settings on your computer.
- Tap on Privacy & security.
- On the resulting page, navigate to the App permissions category and select Microphone.
- Now, toggle on the sliders in front of Microphone access and Let apps access your microphone options.
2. Check if the correct microphone device has been selected
You can use an external microphone in place of the built-in one on your computer. However, if the external microphone isn’t working, you probably forgot to choose it to be used. To set a microphone as default on your computer:
- Go to Settings on your computer and click on System.
- Select Sound and navigate to the Input section and select the microphone you want to use as default on your computer.
3. Run Audio Troubleshooter
A built-in Windows tool called the Audio Troubleshooter can assist you in identifying and fixing audio issues on your computer. Here is how to use this tool to fix the Windows 11 microphone issue:
- Tap the Search box on your Windows Taskbar and type troubleshooter.
- Select the Troubleshoot settings result.
- On the resulting page, click on Other troubleshooters.
- Navigate to the Recording Audio option and tap Run in front of it to run the troubleshooter.
- You will also be required to select the audio device you want to troubleshoot in a dialogue box, do that and wait for the outcome of the troubleshooter. If the troubleshooter can’t find any issue, you should move to the next solution.
4. Make sure the Microphone Device is not Muted
There are cases where your microphone device is muted, and as a result, the microphone won’t work on your computer. To rule out this possibility, follow the steps below and unmute your microphone.
- Press Windows + I to open Settings on your computer.
- Click on System and select Sound.
- Under the Input category, if the microphone icon in front of the Volume option is crossed, your microphone is muted. Hence, you should tap on the microphone option to unmute it.
5. Enable Microphone Device
If the microphone device isn’t enabled on your computer, you won’t be able to use it.
- Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager.
- Double-click the Audio inputs and outputs option.
- Right-click your microphone option and click on Enable Device. If the microphone device was enabled before, you move to the next solution.
6. Uninstall and Reinstall the Microphone Driver
The microphone on your computer might not be functioning as it should due to problems with the microphone driver. This can be the result of a corrupt or outdated microphone driver. It is recommended that you uninstall the microphone driver in this case and install a more recent version.
- Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager.
- Double-click the Audio inputs and outputs option.
- Right-click your microphone option and select Properties.
- On the Properties box, copy your microphone driver name and click on Uninstall Device.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to finish uninstalling the driver.
- Use the driver name you copied earlier to search for the latest microphone driver version for your computer. After that, download and install the driver on your computer. You can now restart your computer, and this issue should be fixed afterward.
7. Uninstall Windows Updates
Many individuals have complained that this issue began following a Windows update on their computer. If it applies to you as well, take the following actions to uninstall the most recent Windows updates from your computer:
- Go to Settings on your computer and click on Windows Update.
- Select Update history and scroll down to Uninstall updates.
- You will see your recent updates under Microsoft Windows on the resulting window; right-click it and tap Uninstall.
8. Restart Windows Audio Service
Restarting Windows Audio Service is another solution that sometimes helps resolve the microphone not working in Windows 11. This will give the background audio system background controls on your Windows 11 PC a fresh start. Follow these steps to restart the audio service:
- Press Windows + R to open the Run command box.
- Type services.msc in the box and hit Enter.
- On the Windows Services window, navigate to Windows Audio.
- Right-click it and select Restart. You can now close the window and check if the microphone issue has been fixed.
9. Run SFC and DISM scan
Running SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) scans is another technique to fix the microphone not working in Windows 11 because corrupt system files are another factor that could cause problems like this on your Windows computer.
- Press Windows + S to open the Windows Search box.
- Type Command Prompt in the search box and click on Run as administrator under the top result.
- On the Command Prompt window, type sfc /scannow and hit Enter.
- Also type DISM /online /cleanup-image /check health and hit Enter. Note: The DISM scan requires an internet connection, so consider that while running it.
How do I set up my wireless microphone on a Windows 11 computer?
To set up a wireless microphone on Windows 11 computer:
Make sure the microphone is discoverable. Press Windows + I to open Settings on your computer. Select System > Sound. On the Sound settings page, navigate to Input and select Add device to connect the microphone to your computer.
Why can’t I enable the microphone on Windows 11?
If you cannot enable the microphone on your Windows 11 computer, probably because it has greyed out, it is most probably because your microphone driver is corrupted or outdated.
How do I give microphone permission to an app on Windows 11?
You cannot use microphone on certain programs on your Windows 11 PC unless those apps have been granted microphone permission. The steps below should be followed, though, if you want to enable the microphone permission.
Press Windows + I to open Settings on your computer. Click on Privacy & Security, then select Microphone under the App permissions option. Navigate to the app you want to give microphone permissions and toggle on the slider in front of it.
Final Words
The microphone not working issue will sometimes occur on your Windows 11 computer due to the reasons we have discussed in this article. However, with the solutions we have also provided above, you can resolve the issue. Just know that you may have to try more than one of the solutions out before the issue gets fixed.
