Share via

My microphone will not work in all my browsers

Ayo Sonuga 0 Reputation points
2025-12-21T12:04:49.9233333+00:00

Hi there,

I’m having an issue where my microphone does not work in any web browser. It works perfectly in the Windows Sound Recorder, but not in Chrome, Edge, or any other browser.

I have already checked the browser settings by going to Settings > Privacy, search and services > Site permissions > Microphone, and the microphone is enabled. Microphone access is also turned on in Windows under Settings > Privacy and security > Microphone.

To rule out a hardware issue, I replicated the same settings from my partner’s similar laptop on mine, but the microphone still does not work on any browser. Even a simple Google voice search does not activate the microphone, although it works fine on my partner’s laptop.

I am using Windows 11. I have also gone into Device Manager, uninstalled and reinstalled the sound drivers, and rebooted the system. The issue happens with both the built-in microphone and an external microphone.

Could you please advise on what else I can try?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Settings
0 comments

3 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. John Oliver 11,630 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-12-21T14:17:33.1833333+00:00

    Hello Ayo Sonuga, thanks for posting this in our community.

    You’ve already checked Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone, but please confirm that microphone access for apps is turned on and that microphone access for desktop apps is also enabled by scrolling down in the same settings page.

    Next, check the browser-level permissions. In Chrome and Edge, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Microphone. Make sure the correct microphone is selected, as it sometimes defaults to “Disabled” or the wrong device. Clear permissions for sites and test again by clicking Reset permissions for any problematic sites.

    If the issue persists, try disabling exclusive mode in sound settings. Right-click the speaker icon, select Sounds, then go to the Recording tab. Choose your microphone, click Properties, and open the Advanced tab. Uncheck “Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device” and “Give exclusive mode applications priority.” Apply the changes and restart your browsers.

    You can also reset browser settings. In Chrome, go to Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults. In Edge, go to Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to default values.

    Finally, make sure your browsers are updated to the latest version. If the problem continues, uninstall and reinstall one browser to rule out corruption.

    Kind regards,

    John Oli

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Horace Wiggins 440 Reputation points
    2025-12-21T13:55:58.1+00:00

    Have you looked at the Control Panel>Sound>Recording and checked to see if the Microphone is set as your default device?

    User's image

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments

  3. AI answer

    2025-12-21T12:05:00.68+00:00

    It sounds like you've already done a lot of troubleshooting to resolve the microphone issue across different browsers. Here are some additional steps you can try:

    1. Check Browser Permissions Again: Even though you've checked the settings, ensure that the microphone permissions are set correctly for each specific website you are trying to use. Sometimes, individual sites can have their permissions overridden.
    2. Test with Different Browsers: If you haven't already, try using a different browser like Firefox or Opera to see if the issue persists there as well.
    3. Update Your Browsers: Ensure that all your browsers are up to date. Sometimes, bugs in older versions can cause issues with hardware access.
    4. Check for Windows Updates: Make sure your Windows 11 is fully updated, as updates can fix bugs related to hardware compatibility.
    5. Run the Audio Troubleshooter: Windows has a built-in troubleshooter for audio issues. Go to Settings > System > Sound and scroll down to find the troubleshooter.
    6. Check Audio Input Settings: Go to Settings > System > Sound, and under the Input section, make sure the correct microphone is selected as the input device.
    7. Disable Exclusive Mode: In the Sound settings, right-click on your microphone device, go to Properties, then the Advanced tab, and uncheck the option that allows applications to take exclusive control of the device.
    8. Reinstall Browsers: As a last resort, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the browsers to reset their settings completely.

    If none of these steps resolve the issue, it may be worth checking if there are any specific settings or software installed that could be interfering with microphone access, such as security software or other audio management applications.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

    Was this answer helpful?

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.