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HearMyMic
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Mic not working? Here’s how to fix it

Run the test below, then work down the checklist. Most silent microphones are fixed in the first three steps.

Microphone test

Your browser will ask for permission. Choose Allow to start.

Your audio never leaves your device.

Your mic is working

Listening…

–∞ dB

WaitingSay something at your normal speaking volume.

Something went wrong

See how to fix it

Record and play back

Hear exactly how you sound to others.

Your recording will show up here.

Hear yourself live

Plays your mic through your speakers or headphones.

Use headphones to avoid feedback. Speakers can cause a loud squeal.

Your microphone

Microphone
—
Sample rate
—
Channels
—
Echo cancellation
—
Noise suppression
—
Auto gain control
—
Estimated latency
—
Level
—

Results are approximate. They show what your browser reports, and can differ from what another app or the people on your call hear.

Start by finding out where the problem is

A microphone that “doesn’t work” is usually working fine and being stopped somewhere along the way: by a mute switch, by the wrong device being selected, by a permission, or by another app. The test above helps you narrow it down fast.

If the test won’t start, the message it shows tells you whether the mic is blocked, missing or busy. If the test starts but the meter stays flat, your computer can see a microphone and is getting silence from it, which points to a mute switch, a volume setting or the wrong device.

Fix a microphone that isn’t working

  1. Check the physical mute and the connection

    Look for a mute button on the headset, the cable or the mic itself, and for a mic mute key on your laptop’s keyboard. Unplug the mic and plug it back in firmly. Try another USB port. A 3.5 mm plug must go in the mic or headset jack, not the headphone-only jack.

  2. Select the right microphone

    Start the test and read the device name in the “Your microphone” panel. If it isn’t the mic you’re speaking into, choose the correct one from the Microphone menu, or change the default input in your system sound settings.

  3. Turn up the input volume

    On Windows 11, open Settings, System, Sound, and click your microphone under Input. On a Mac, open System Settings, Sound, Input. Make sure the input volume isn’t at zero.

  4. Check permissions in the browser and the system

    Click the icon at the left of the address bar and set Microphone to Allow. Then check that your operating system lets your browser use the microphone, under the Microphone section of its privacy settings.

  5. Close other apps, then restart

    Quit Zoom, Teams, Discord, recording software and other browser tabs that might be holding the mic. If nothing changes, restart the browser, then the computer. It clears stuck audio devices more often than you’d expect.

Questions and answers

The test says “Your mic is busy”. What does that mean?

Your browser found the microphone but couldn’t open it, usually because another program has exclusive use of it. Close meeting apps, voice chat and recording software, then press Try again. On Windows, restarting the computer releases a mic that’s stuck.

The test says “No microphone found”. What should I do?

Your browser can’t see any input device. Reconnect the microphone, try a different port or cable, and check your system sound settings to see whether it appears there. If the system doesn’t list it either, the mic, cable or port is the problem.

How can I tell if my microphone is broken?

Try it on a second device, such as another computer or a phone. If it fails everywhere, the microphone is faulty. If it works elsewhere, the problem is in the first device’s settings, port or drivers.

My mic works in one app but not another. Why?

Each app chooses its own microphone and needs its own permission. Open the failing app’s audio settings, select the microphone by name, and check that your operating system allows that app to use the mic.

My Bluetooth headset’s mic isn’t working. Any tips?

Make sure it’s connected as a headset and not only as headphones. Many devices list two entries for one headset, and only the “hands-free” or “headset” entry carries the microphone. Turning Bluetooth off and on, or pairing again, usually restores it.

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