Help fixing a specific microphone input problem on Windows 11

Question

Hey all,

I'm having a specific mic problem in win11. To give context: upon boot everything works fine, but SOMETIMES when I open an application that uses my microphone, usually a videogame like BF6 or Arc Raiders. Suddenly my microphone stops working. The game and OS runs fine and smooth but just there's no input being captured by any microphone. Neither my internal laptop's microphone nor my HyperX headset or my JBL one. The driver itself or service crashes or something. When I try to open the sound settings or microphone settings, the settings keeps loading or crashes. The only way to fix it is through a reboot of the OS. and then I run the dice again on whether this repeats.

I tried some basic fixes that includes trying other microphones, removing the exclusive mode on every microphone. I had this problem on Win11 24H2, and I assumed its a software problem given it's nature. so I decided to install a fresh win11 copy (latest 25H2 version). and the issue is still there. I tried also restarting the Windows Audio service but it gets stuck on 'Stopping' so I just have to end up rebooting

I checked the event log for any obvious 'Errors' related to 'Windows Audio' but nothing.

Could it be a faulty HW component?

TL;DR

• Mic works completely fine
• Sometimes when opening an app or a game that uses mic (ex: BF6, Arc Raiders), all microphones stop working. (I assume the service itself)
• Microphone is completely detectable by all applications. Just no input whatsover is captured.
• Windows “Sound” and “Microphone” settings freeze or crash.
• Restarting Windows Audio service gets stuck on Stopping…
• Only fix is a full reboot.

Fixes tried:

• Changing, Plugging/unplugging Microphones
• Reinstalling the latest Windows Version
• Changed driver to an older version
• Checking Event Viewer during same time as the problem occurs but no major 'Errors'
• Disabled 'Exclusive Mode' before the problem occurs, as I can't open mic settings during the problem.
• Restarting Audio Service when problem occurs, but it gives me an error 1503 on 'Stopping': 'the service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion'

System

OMEN Gaming Laptop 17-db0xxx

Windows 11 Home 64-bit – Build 26200 (25H2)

Attached is my DxDiag output

<PII removed>

Answer 1

Hello Ram Ayoub,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. I'm happy to help.

Since this is a public forum, we will hide your personal identifiable information, and I have sent that link of yours containing your personal identifiable information in a private message so we can work together to resolve the issue. Also, please check your private message in case you want to share another screenshot to avoid leaking your PII by click on the Private Message button as show below

I understand how frustrating it can be when your mic suddenly stopped working when you play a game. A hardware component issue could be the cause; however, these issues are usually consistent, occasionally repeating isn't their usual behaviors.Before we proceed, I'd like to ask a few questions to better understanding this.

• May I know when did the issue starts and if there are any changes to the system before that.
• When it happens does it affects the output device as well or just the input?

In the meantime, please follow these steps to see if the cause is lying in some system corruption.

• Open "Command Prompt" as administrator.
• Type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter.
• After it is done, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
• Restart your computer to see if the issue comeback again.

I'm waiting for your reply.

Answer 2

It sounds like you're experiencing a frustrating issue with your microphone on Windows 11. Here are a few troubleshooting steps that might help resolve the problem:

1. Update Audio Drivers: Ensure that your audio drivers are up to date. You can do this by checking for Windows updates or visiting the manufacturer's website for the latest drivers.
2. Check for Windows Updates: Sometimes, issues like these are resolved in newer updates. Make sure your Windows is fully updated.
3. Disable Exclusive Mode: You mentioned you've already tried this, but ensure that under the properties of each microphone in the Sound settings, the "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device" option is unchecked.
4. Run the Audio Troubleshooter: Go to Settings > System > Sound, and under the Advanced section, run the troubleshooter for audio problems.
5. Check Event Viewer: Since you mentioned checking the event log, keep an eye on the Application and System logs for any errors that occur around the time the issue happens. This might give you more insight into what's going wrong.
6. Unplug and Replug Microphones: Sometimes, simply unplugging and replugging the microphone can reset the connection and resolve the issue.
7. Test with Different USB Ports: If you're using USB microphones, try connecting them to different USB ports to see if the issue persists.
8. Check for Hardware Issues: Since you mentioned the possibility of a faulty hardware component, if none of the above solutions work, it may be worth testing the microphones on another device to rule out hardware failure.

If the problem continues after trying these steps, it might be beneficial to contact your device manufacturer for further assistance, as they may have specific insights into issues with your model.

---

References:

• Resolved issues in Windows 11, version 24H2
• USB-connected audio or video devices malfunction when connected to specific Intel-based devices