Has the microphone stopped working? This is not a common problem, but not a very rare one. There are many reasons why this happened, and a trivial breakdown requiring replacement of equipment is just one of them. Sometimes it can be much simpler. The article will discuss options for why the microphone stopped working on a laptop or computer, what can be done about it, and in the most tragic case - how is the microphone repaired.
Microphone not included
Oddly enough, but distraction is sometimes the cause of many troubles. So, the microphone may be in perfect condition and ready to work, but simply not to be turned on.
How to check if this is not so and that the microphone stopped working due to the forgetfulness of the owner of all the equipment? To do this, go to the "Recording Devices" tab (it can be found in the menu that appears if you right-click on the speaker image in the panel at the bottom of the screen), and the PC itself will display all available microphones for recording and their current status on the display.
The same can be checked in the "Device Manager" (you can find it using the search "Windows").
The problem with the drivers
Also, the microphone may stop working if the drivers for it are installed incorrectly, are outdated, or none at all. You can verify this manually - in the "Device Manager". But a microphone program can also help with this, which itself will automatically find the necessary executables on the Internet and install them on a PC.
There is another advantage to using it. The microphone program (correctly selected, of course) is able to diagnose the state of recording devices, identify problems and give advice on how to fix them.
Weak microphone
How does the user know that the microphone has stopped working? He is not heard on the record. But there is an option that the performance is not broken, just the signal is insufficient and the voice (or any other sound) as a result is not perceived by the device and, as a result, is not reproduced. This problem can be solved using the "Microphone Amplification" option in the settings of this equipment. You will need to check the box next to the function.
Incorrect software setup
Maybe the microphone works when using the standard recorder "Voice Recorder" from "Windows", but absolutely does not want to do this on Skype? Then the problem is not in it, but in the configuration of this service.
The microphone in "Skype" is configured separately, using the "Tools" tab in the top menu of the program. You should make sure that everything is right there and all the checkboxes are checked so that afterwards you won’t be surprised why the microphone stopped working.
The microphone is not selected as the main unit
If the microphone refuses to work in online recording services (voice recorders such as “Vocaru” or recording from an online webcam), then it may not be selected as the main recording device. The best option is to accept what the site itself will offer. This means allowing the input device (in this case, recording) and ticking if the microphone is selected by default.
Line input failure (for externally connected recording devices)
If the externally connected microphone stops working, the problem may not be in it, but in the line input. Checking this is very simple: firstly, try using a "native" PC recording device, and secondly, you can connect an external microphone to another device (any other laptop, tablet, smartphone, computer, etc.). If the problem is with the line input - well, you have to carry it for repair.
Incorrect connection
This reason also applies to microphones that are connected separately. If the laptop has only one line-in input - for a headset, recording device and headphones, confusing it with any other is very problematic. But if there are two inputs - separately for headphones and for a microphone - it is quite realistic. Make sure that the connection is correct before starting to panic.
Test microphone
So, if the user is actively searching for the reason why the microphone has stopped working, he will be forced to constantly check it. The standard features of Windows (any version) allow you to do this in real time.
You just need to go to the tab "Recording devices" (how to do this, it was already written in the same article a little earlier), select the appropriate one and find the option "Listen" in the parameters. Put a checkmark in front of her. Done - now all the sounds that come into the microphone will be simultaneously output to the PC speakers.
There you can find other configurations of the recording device: experiment with microphone amplification, noise reduction and all that.
If this still happened
Another reason is not ruled out why the microphone, which was already mentioned at the very beginning, stopped working. This is if it is broken - this is also possible.
The probability increases if:
- the microphone did not stop working suddenly; there were prerequisites for this;
- the device has been dropped or subjected to other physical effects;
- the microphone does not work in all cases in which it can be used, and not just in one service (such as Skype, RedCall, or a regular voice recorder).
In this case, the microphone (if it is separate from the PC) or the entire laptop will have to be carried to a service center where they can provide professional assistance.
Microphone repair can be quick or lengthy (depending on the severity of the breakdown). The price also varies widely - depending on which recording device needs to be fixed and why it broke.
Finally
If the microphone has stopped working, the main thing is not to despair, not to be upset and not to panic, but instead go through the main points and find out why this could happen. In the article they are all presented. A careful and careful check guarantees (in most cases) the preservation of both the recording device and nerves. For each case of a real microphone breakdown, there are ten troubles that occur due to pure dispersion.