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internal microphone on windows 11 not working

Ralf Holzapfel 0 Reputation points
2025-11-27T09:00:09.48+00:00

Hello..since yesterday morning my internal microphone on lenovo thinkpad is no longer working. I can also not enable it via the Mic key on the keyboard. External headset microphone is working without problems so it seems to be a driver error, but all windows updates are done and installed.

Windows for business | Windows 365 Enterprise

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  1. Q&A Assist
    2025-11-27T09:00:24.06+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    It sounds like you're experiencing an issue with your internal microphone on your Lenovo ThinkPad running Windows 11. Since external microphones are working fine, it could indeed be a driver issue. Here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem:

    1. Check Device Manager: Go to Device Manager and look for any issues with the audio drivers. You can right-click on the audio device and select "Update driver" to see if there are any updates available.
    2. Run Windows Update: Ensure that your Windows is fully updated. Sometimes, additional updates may be released that can resolve driver issues.
    3. Check Privacy Settings: Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone and ensure that access to the microphone is enabled for apps.
    4. Reinstall Audio Drivers: If updating doesn't work, you might want to uninstall the audio drivers and then restart your computer. Windows should automatically reinstall the drivers.
    5. Check for Hardware Issues: If the problem persists, there might be a hardware issue with the internal microphone. You can check this by using a different operating system or booting into a live USB environment to see if the microphone works there.

    If none of these steps resolve the issue, you may need to contact Lenovo support for further assistance.

    References:

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  1. HLBui 4,640 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-11-28T12:50:43.57+00:00

    Hi Ralf Holzapfel •

    How is everything? Have you been able to solve the problem? If you have, it's really appreciated to accept the answer as a way to share your experience with the community or feel free if you have any other questions!

    Thank you!

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  2. HLBui 4,640 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-11-27T11:29:59.6566667+00:00

    Hi Ralf Holzapfel

    I recommend first opening Device Manager -> Audio Inputs and Outputs and checking whether the “Microphone (Realtek/Intel Smart Sound Technology)” device is present or flagged with a warning icon. If it appears, please try uninstalling it and then selecting Scan for hardware changes to force Windows to reinstall a fresh driver.

    Next, please review the Lenovo Vantage application, as ThinkPad models often include additional mic and audio firmware controls that can override Windows settings including the hardware mic mute function. If Lenovo Vantage shows the mic as muted at the firmware level, toggling it there usually restores normal operation. It’s also worth checking Privacy & security -> Microphone in Windows Settings to ensure the internal mic device itself is not disabled. If the issue persists, installing the original OEM audio driver from Lenovo’s support page for your ThinkPad model often resolves cases introduced by newer generic drivers.

    If everything is okay, don't forget to share your experience with the issue by "accept the answer". If you need more information, feel free to leave a message. We are happy to help!

    Thank you

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