HOW TO GET MICROPHONE TO WORK WINDOWS 11 NEW COMPUTER

Hold down Windows + R keys, type in mmsys.cpl and hit enter. Then go to the Recording tab. Do you see the Microphone? If so, please make sure it is not disable (you can right click to enable it). Also make sure it is set as default device. Then double click on the microphone, go to Levels tab, make sure it is not muted.

Go to Windows Settings > Privacy > Microphone, make sure allow apps access is turned on.

Install audio driver from computer manufacturer website. If you need help finding driver, please type msinfo32.exe in the search on the taskbar and hit enter, then share a screenshot of the pop up please.

Follow these steps in order on the new Windows 11 PC:

1. Check microphone connection

• If using a wired headset or mic, make sure it is firmly plugged into the correct audio jack or USB port.
• If using Bluetooth, make sure the device is powered on and in pairing mode.

2. Make sure Windows sees the microphone

• Select Start > Settings > System > Sound.
• Under Input, look for the microphone under Choose a device for speaking or recording.
  • If it appears, select it and use it as the default.
  • If it does not appear, continue with the next steps.

3. Allow apps to use the microphone

• Select Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone.
• Turn Microphone access On.
• Turn Let apps access your microphone On and enable access for the apps that need it.
• If using desktop apps (like Teams, Zoom, browsers), make sure Let desktop apps access your microphone is On.

4. Set and test the microphone

• Go to Start > Settings > System > Sound.
• Under Input, select the microphone to use.
• Select > to the right of the device to open Properties.
• Under Input settings, select Start test and speak normally.
• Select Stop test, then Play to hear the recording.
• If volume is low, move the Input volume slider to the right.

5. If others cannot hear anything

• If the headset has a physical Mute button or switch, make sure it is not muted.
• For Bluetooth headsets, confirm they are paired and connected by following the steps in Pair a Bluetooth device in Windows.
• In Settings > System > Sound, under Input, confirm the correct device is selected.
• Still not working: in Settings > System > Sound, scroll to Advanced and run the Input devices troubleshooter under Troubleshoot common sound problems.

6. If Windows says “no microphone found” or shows no input devices

• Reinstall audio drivers:
  1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
  2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
  3. Right-click each audio device and select Uninstall device. Check Attempt to remove the driver for this device if available, then select Uninstall.
  4. Restart the PC. Windows will try to reinstall audio devices automatically.
  5. If nothing appears, open Device Manager again, right-click Sound, video and game controllers, and select Scan for hardware changes.
  6. After devices reappear, right-click the audio driver and select Update driver.

7. Confirm the microphone is installed and test again

• Go back to Start > Settings > System > Sound.
• Under Input, confirm the microphone now appears.
• Select it, open Properties (the > button), and use Start test / Play to verify it works.

If after these steps no input device appears at all, the issue is likely with the microphone hardware or the PC’s audio hardware and may require device manufacturer support.

References:

• Fix microphone problems
• How to set up and test microphones in Windows

Dear james sassano, 

I’m sorry to hear the microphone is not being detected on your new Windows 11 computer. I understand this can be inconvenient, especially on a new device. At this point, I recommend that you review and try the steps provided in both the AI generated answer and the Independent Advisor’s answer on your thread. Those replies typically include the most relevant checks for this scenario. 

To help narrow this down, could you please confirm the following: 

• What is the exact brand and model of your PC? 
• Is this the built-in/internal microphone, or are you using an external wired, USB, or Bluetooth microphone/headset? 
• In Settings > System > Sound, under Input, do you see any input device listed, or is the section blank?  
• In Device Manager, do you see any entries under Audio inputs and outputs or Sound, video and game controllers? If yes, is there any yellow warning icon shown?  
• Has the microphone never been detected since the first setup, or did it stop working after a change such as an update or connecting another audio device? 

In the meantime, please try the steps below: 

1. Run the built-in audio troubleshooter from Get Help 

• Open Start > search for Get Help 
• Type microphone not detected or audio troubleshooter 
• Follow the prompts shown on the screen 

2. Check whether the microphone appears under “All sound devices” 

• Start > Settings > System > Sound > scroll down to Advanced 
• Open All sound devices 
• Check whether a microphone is listed there, and if it is, open it and make sure it is available for use.  

3. Check for a hardware mute key or privacy control 

• If this is a laptop with a built-in microphone, please check whether the device has a microphone mute keyboard key, a function key related to privacy/audio or a physical privacy switch/button from the PC manufacturer. 

4. Install Windows and optional driver updates 

• Start > Settings > Windows Update 
• Select Check for updates 
• Then go to Advanced options > Optional updates 
• Install any available driver updates 
• Restart the PC after installation finishes 

While my initial response may not fully resolve the issue, I truly appreciate your cooperation as we work together toward identifying the most effective solution. Thank you so much for your understanding. 

I hope these steps help you get the microphone detected and working properly on your new Windows 11 PC. Wishing you success with the checks above and a smooth experience. 

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