Microphone not working? A checklist in the right order
If other people cannot hear you, the usual causes are the wrong input device, a mute switch, a blocked permission, or an input level so low that the microphone is effectively silent. Check them in that order, and test your microphone outside the call first so you know which step fixed it. A level meter that moves when you speak is the simplest proof that the microphone works.
Microphone testCan they hear me?OpenStep 1: Choose the right input device
A computer can have several microphones: a built-in one, a headset, a webcam, and sometimes a virtual device created by another app. The call app and the operating system each keep their own choice, so check both.
- Windows: Settings → System → Sound → Input.
- macOS: System Settings → Sound → Input.
Select the device you are actually speaking into, and watch its level meter while you talk. If the meter does not move, you have the wrong device, or the microphone is muted.
Step 2: Mute controls and permissions
Mute can be set in several places, so check each one:
- The mute button on a headset, or the inline control on its cable.
- The mute key on the keyboard, or a function-key combination on a laptop.
- The mute button inside the call app. Some apps join you in a muted state.
- The input volume in the operating system, which can be set to zero.
Privacy permissions
An app that is not allowed to use the microphone hears silence.
- Windows: Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone. Turn on microphone access, then check that the browser or app is allowed in the list.
- macOS: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone. Tick the browser or app.
Quit and reopen the app after changing the setting.
Step 3: Levels that are too low or too high
A quiet microphone sounds distant and gets drowned out by room noise. A microphone set too high clips: loud parts turn into crackle, and speech sounds flattened and distorted. Speak at your normal voice from the distance you would sit in a call, and watch the meter. You want it to move clearly without the peaks reaching the top. If the peaks reach the top, lower the input level in the sound settings. If the meter barely moves, raise the level or move closer.
Step 4: Bluetooth headsets
Many Bluetooth headsets have two modes. Music uses a high-quality stereo profile. When the headset's microphone is needed, many switch to a call profile that carries mono audio at lower quality. Your voice may sound thin after the switch, and the headset's microphone may not be selected until you choose it.
You have three options. Select the headset as both input and output in the sound settings. Or use the computer's built-in microphone for input, and keep the headset for output. Or use a wired headset. The switch is part of how the Bluetooth connection works, not a fault in the microphone.
Step 5: Echo and feedback
If the other person hears an echo of their own voice, sound from your speakers is going back into your microphone. Use headphones, or lower the speaker volume. Most call apps offer echo cancellation in their audio settings, so check that it is on. A headset keeps the microphone close to your mouth and away from the speakers, which is why it solves this so often.
Test outside a call
Open the microphone test and speak. You should see the level move. To check the output side too, play a sound through the speaker test. If the microphone works in the test but not in a call, the problem lies inside the call app: its input setting, its own permission, or a different device it has picked.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Meter does not move | Wrong device, or muted | Steps 1 and 2 |
| Meter moves, others hear nothing | Call app uses another device, or is blocked | Check the app's input, then step 2 |
| Crackle or flattened speech | Level too high | Step 3 |
| Thin voice after joining | Bluetooth call mode | Step 4 |
| Your voice echoes back | Speaker-to-microphone feedback | Step 5 |
If the camera is also failing on the same call, the webcam checklist covers that side.
Quick answers
Why can I hear myself but the others cannot?
The call app is often using another input, or the microphone is muted inside the app. Check the app's audio settings and its mute icon.
Why does my voice sound worse on a Bluetooth headset?
The headset switches to a call profile when its microphone is in use, and that profile carries lower-quality audio. A wired headset or the computer's own microphone usually sounds better.
Do I need to restart the computer?
Usually closing and reopening the call app is enough after you change a permission or an input device.
