Microphone Array driver is not updated in Windows 11, making the mic silent

Question

My laptop is Lenovo X1 Carbon Gen 7, which has a built-in microphone. The microphone is Microphone Array (Intel Smart Sound Technology (Intel SST)) with driver version 10.0.22000.1 (2021-06-05). It works well in Windows 10.

After upgrading to Windows 11, the microphone takes almost no sound input: not working to me.

In the Sound test section of the microphone show the input volume is only 4%:

This issue has been reported in Lenovo community, but the experts said that it's Microsoft driver, not Lenovo's:

https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Windows-11/Windows-11-Upgrade-Microphone-Issues/m-p/5111273

https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkPad-X-Series-Laptops/Build-in-Microphone-issue/m-p/5106573

https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Windows-11/X1-Carbon-9th-Generation-Microphone-Issues-Since-Windows-11-upgrade/m-p/5111030

Please help!

Answer 1

Your Lenovo Intel SST driver is not compatible to Windows 11. Your Intel SST driver (10.23.0.3672) is dated May 2020. You have to get Lenovo to fix it.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/status-windows-11-21h2#2746msgdesc

https://download.lenovo.com/pccbbs/mobiles/n2ea118w.txt

Answer 2

I found the updated Realtex driver in device manager under Sound, Video and Game Controllers>Realtek(R) Audio

Answer 3

I'm fairly certain I've found the issue. Please confirm. This was tested with a Lenovo E15, Gen 4.

Go to:

Device Manager>Software Components>Elevoc Audio Effects Component>Right-click>Properties>Driver

For me, the broken driver was:

Elevoc Audio Effects Component
Elevoc Technology
8/13/2022
3.0.3.118

From the driver tab, click on "Roll Back Driver". This should roll you back to the latest working version:

Elevoc Audio Effects Component
Elevoc Technology
12/20/2021
2.0.3.69

If you have version 3.0.3.118 and do not have the Roll Back Driver option, try clicking "Uninstall Device" and be sure to check the box that says "Attempt to remove the driver for this device" when the prompt comes up. Then click uninstall and restart the computer. Note that failing to click the check box will result in Windows reinstalling version 3.0.3.118. Windows 11 should then automatically install the old (working) version of 2.0.3.69.

This broken version 3.0.3.118 installed for me via "Optional Updates" through Windows Update. So, be sure not to reinstall this version by mistake.

Note that this is not an issue for Windows 10.

BROKEN VERSION:

DO NOT INSTALL THIS OPTIONAL UPDATE:

WORKING VERSION AFTER "ROLL BACK DRIVER" AND A RESTART