HOW TO GET MY MICROPHONE WORKING

Walter Ochieng Absaloms 40 Reputation points
2026-01-07T05:53:58.67+00:00

My laptop inbuilt audio and microphone stopped working a while back and i have been using headphones which worked. SA short while ago, the headphones stopped working too and i updated windows and got the audio. However the microphone has refused to work. What could be the issue and how can i resolve that?

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Windows for home | Other | Devices and drivers
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Jess-Q 12,700 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-01-07T14:25:00.7166667+00:00

Hi @Walter Ochieng Absaloms

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.  

Regarding your issue, it sounds like your microphone stopped working because a recent Windows update may have changed your input settings or audio drivers. This can cause the default mic to switch, permissions to reset, or audio enhancements to interfere with proper input. 

Here are a few steps you can try: 

  1. Reinstall Drivers  
  • Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager. 
  • Expand Audio inputs and outputs. Right-click your microphone/headset and select Uninstall device. 
  • Expand Sound, video and game controllers. Find your main audio driver (usually Realtek Audio or Intel Smart Sound).  
  • Right-click it and select Uninstall device. 
  • Note: Do not check the box that says "Delete the driver software for this device" yet. 
  • Restart your computer.  
  • Windows will automatically detect the hardware and reinstall a fresh copy of the driver. 
  1. Check Optional Updates  

Drivers are often tucked away in the "Advanced" menu now. 

  • Go to Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates.  
  • Look for any hardware-specific audio drivers there. 

For more details, please refer to:  Fix sound or audio problems in Windows

Hopefully it will help work with your issue and if you have any other questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask.  

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".      

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread. 

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AI answer

2026-01-07T05:54:11.9666667+00:00

To resolve the issue with your microphone not working, you can follow these troubleshooting steps:

  1. Check Connections: Ensure that your microphone is properly connected. If you are using an external microphone, make sure it is plugged into the correct audio jack or USB port.
  2. Microphone Settings: Go to Settings > System > Sound and check if your microphone is recognized. You can also check the Sound Control Panel by typing mmsys.cpl in the command prompt to see if the microphone is listed and enabled.
  3. Microphone Troubleshooter: Run the Microphone Setup troubleshooter:
    • Go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone and ensure that microphone access is enabled for your device.
    • Then, go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters and select Recording Audio to run the troubleshooter.
  4. Audio Drivers: Ensure that your audio drivers are up to date. You can check for updates in Device Manager under Sound, video and game controllers.
  5. Check for Mute Buttons: If you are using a headset with a microphone, check if there is a physical mute button on the headset that may have been activated.
  6. Test with Another Device: If possible, test your microphone with another device to determine if the issue is with the microphone itself or the laptop.
  7. Windows Updates: Ensure that your Windows is fully updated, as updates can sometimes resolve hardware compatibility issues.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, there may be a hardware problem with the microphone or the audio input on your laptop.

References:

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