Clever Geek Handbook

If the microphone does not work, what should I do? On Windows XP, 7, 8, 10, laptop and Skype

Have you just connected the microphone to your PC, and the system does not “see” it or the device itself does not respond to your manipulations? Does the laptop’s built-in recording device stop functioning suddenly or after an update? This is still not a sign that it is specifically defective. In the article we will give detailed answers to the question: what to do if the microphone does not work, for different cases that take place.

Important: before solving the problem

The most likely reason why the connected microphone does not work is that it was not connected to the PC correctly. To get started, you need to remove the device from the connector as the manufacturer advises: disconnect and disconnect from the PC or use the "Safe Removal" (call - RMB on the device icon in the lower task bar).

If the microphone does not work, what should I do next? Verify the following:

  1. The device software is compatible with your version of the OS and correctly installed (uninstall it through the “Control Panel” - “Uninstall Programs” and reinstall it following the pop-up instructions).
  2. Check power - microphone battery must be charged. If he receives electricity from an external source - the cord is securely connected to the latter and is not damaged.
  3. Check the microphone volume level - there should be a medium or high value.
  4. See if you connected the device to the correct port:
  • If it connects to USB, then test with a different port.
  • If the microphone is connected to a specific jack, the latter is either highlighted in pink or has a microphone icon next to it, the inscription "mic".
  • Work is also possible from the headset jack (headphones + microphone).
  • Be sure to check the health of the device by connecting it to another PC. If it works flawlessly, then our tips will be useful to you. Otherwise, the microphone itself is malfunctioning.

Faulty microphone on Windows XP

If the microphone does not work, what is the first thing to do? Check its serviceability in the “Sound Recorder” utility (“Start” - “Standard” - “Entertainment”). If the microphone did not record a single sound, do the following:

  1. Right-click on the volume icon in the bottom line of the taskbar (tray) or click "Start" - "Accessories" - "Entertainment" - "Volume".
  2. Click on "Options", then go to "Properties".
  3. With a dot mark "Record" and a tick "Microphone".
  4. In the "Recording Level", make sure that the microphone is not turned off and drag the volume slider to the desired level.

if the microphone does not work what to do

If this method does not help, then do the following:

  1. RMB on the dynamics in the tray.
  2. Find "Opening the volume mixer."
  3. Go to the "Levels" and connect the device there.

The microphone does not work on Windows 7: what to do?

First of all, we advise you to install / update sound drivers on your PC:

  • Realtek;
  • SoundMax.

Choose the driver of the latest version, and it’s very important for the “seven” of 32- or 64-bit. Make the microphone active and set the proper volume level for it in the SoundMax or Realtek settings. If the microphone jack does not work on the front panel, then in the advanced (advanced) settings, block the use of the rear panel jacks if the device is connected to the front panel.

what to do if the microphone does not work

In the Windows settings, you can do the following:

  1. Find "Sound" in the "Control Panel".
  2. You need the “Record” attachment, and then the “Microphone”.
  3. After selecting “Microphone”, click on “Properties”.
  4. Check the activity and volume level of the device on all tabs.

Troubleshoot microphone issues on Windows 8 and 10

What to do if the microphone does not work on this version of the OS? Follow the step-by-step algorithm, if any step does not fix the problem, proceed to the next.

Update drivers:

  1. Go to the "Device Manager" menu.
  2. Two times LKM on "Game, sound, video controllers".
  3. RMB on the name of the driver - select "Update ...".
  4. Stop at the automatic search for new versions.
  5. After the system notifies you of a successful upgrade, check the microphone in Sound Recorder.

Use the "Troubleshooting":

  1. Open "Troubleshooting", select the tab with sound.
  2. Then you will need to "Troubleshoot audio recordings", then "Record audio" - click on "Next."
  3. Select the name of your microphone - "Next".
  4. Follow the instructions of the assistant program.
  5. You can confirm the correction of a particular problem by clicking on "Apply ...".

Check your sound settings:

  1. Connect the device.
  2. Find "Sound" in the menu and go to this section.
  3. The Record tab is useful to you.
  4. RMB click on an empty area of ​​this window.
  5. Choose to show disconnected or disconnected devices - if your microphone is among them, try reconnecting it, following the conditions from the first subtitle of the article.
  6. If your microphone is defined in the "Record", then when pronouncing sounds, noise, gray bars next to its name in this window should change to green. If this does not happen, leave the tab open and continue to the next step.

The default setting:

  1. In the "Records" note the icon next to the device designation - if it is not a checkmark in the green circle, but the down arrow in gray, then right-click on it and select "Enable" - the device was inactive.
  2. Check "Default."
  3. OK confirm the action. Do not close the Record.

Volume control:

  1. RMB select "Properties" by clicking on the desired microphone in the "Recordings".
  2. Select the "Levels" tab, move the sliders higher - louder.
  3. The blue speaker icon should not be crossed out with a red stop.

Disable improvements:

  1. RMB on the speaker icon in the tray.
  2. Select Recording Devices.
  3. Two clicks on the microphone.
  4. Improvements - Disable All - Apply.

Format change:

  1. RMB on the speaker in the tray.
  2. "Recording equipment" - two clicks on the microphone.
  3. "Advanced" - select one of the 16-bit channels.
  4. In the same tab, uncheck the permission to use the microphone programs in mono mode.
  5. Apply the changes.

the microphone does not work what to do windows 7

The microphone does not work on the laptop: what to do?

If the built-in beech microphone does not work, then you need to do this:

  1. Go to the "Device Manager", find the sound recorders. Then RMB on each of the items - "Update Driver".
  2. If "firewood" is not installed, then download the latest version of Realtek for your OS version.
  3. "Control Panel" - "Sound".
  4. Select the desired microphone, click "Properties" - turn on the device, turn up the volume.
  5. If problems occurred after the last update, then "roll back" the OS back by selecting the desired restore point - the date in "System Restore".

the microphone does not work on the laptop what to do

Skype Microphone

What to do: the microphone does not work in Skype, but in general it functions perfectly? The algorithm is as follows:

  1. Go to the application, then in the "Tools", select "Settings".
  2. Next - "Sound Settings" - select the desired microphone from the available ones.
  3. Say something - if the strip next to him began to turn gray to green, everything worked out.
  4. If the element remains gray, then alternately select all available microphones, until one of them differs in proper operation - as in step 3.

Skype microphone does not work what to do

What to do if the microphone does not work on a laptop or PC, we sorted out. We hope that our tips will help you deal with the problem.

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