Hello
Welcome to the Microsoft Community.
In Windows, there's no built-in feature that provides a detailed log of microphone usage by applications, including start and end times, directly accessible to users. The Event Viewer primarily logs system events, errors, and warnings, and while it includes some information about device usage, it doesn't track detailed usage statistics for specific devices like microphones at the application level.
However, you can monitor which applications are currently accessing your microphone through Windows 10 and Windows 11 privacy settings:
- Go to Settings > Privacy (In Windows 11, it's Settings > Privacy & security).
- Select Microphone under "App permissions."
- Here, you can see which apps have access to your microphone and toggle access on or off. If an app is currently using your microphone, you'll see "Currently in use" next to the app name.
For more detailed monitoring, you might consider third-party software solutions that are designed to monitor and log hardware access by applications. These tools can provide detailed insights into which applications are accessing your microphone and for how long. Be sure to choose reputable software and check user reviews and security features before installing.
Remember that using third-party software might come with privacy and security considerations, so it's essential to ensure that any software you choose to install is from a trusted source and has a good reputation for safety and reliability.
I hope this helps! If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask.
If there is anything not clear or I can't understand your problem, please do not hesitate to let me know.
Best Regards
Patch - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist