Microphone volume in Phone Link has gone (almost) silent

Question

Microphone volume in Phone Link has gone (almost) silent

Sean Rudd 40

Phone Link application was working fine using my USB webcam's microphone. I installed Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5064081) (26100.5074) and now the input volume is stuck at what I assume is 1%, as it's still BARELY audible. If I switch the communications input device to the hands-free speakerphone device built into my monitor, it works fine, but the voice quality suffers due to comparably poor microphone design. All other applications installed can use the webcam microphone without issue; this seems to be isolated to Phone Link.

All related audio drivers, including "Sean's iPhone Hands-Free HF Audio" as well as Logitech BRIO (Generic USB Audio), show driver dates and versions specific to preview (8/26/2025 10.0.26100.5074). The option to "Roll Back Driver" is greyed out.

Researching the history of this issue with Phone Link reveals it's not new and is possibly linked to the Generic USB Audio driver. However, nobody has confirmed this with absolute certainty. What I've done thus far:

Repaired and reset phone link
Uninstalled phone link via PowerShell and reinstalled from app store
Ensured all devices, apps, and drivers are at their latest versions (including Logitech)
Tried switching input devices during calls
Removed and re-added Bluetooth connection to iPhone (several times).

Phone Link version on PC and phone is the latest - 1.25081.83.0 on Windows 11 and 1.25081.127110022 for Link to Windows app on iPhone.

I've considered removing the preview update to see if that helps, but there are aspects I like about the update that I'd love to keep. I'm having trouble finding the previous audio driver versions.

Any assistance would be appreciated. I've scoured the web and tried numerous techniques from years past that didn't seem to help then and still don't.

Brad Otter 10 Reputation points

2025-09-15T20:27:18.21+00:00

I'm on Windows 11 Pro and have the same problem. Is there a fix coming soon?
Torsten - 20 Reputation points

2025-09-18T02:27:06.5466667+00:00

i hafe exactly the same issue but all my microphones are the same and the standard answer from the microsoft staff doesent work - THIS IS VERY ANNOYING nothing helped mic stuck at 1% or whatever ALLOW AUDIO CONTROLLS in the app PS has nothing to do with preview update since i dont use them
Mike 5 Reputation points

2025-10-13T23:43:00.3533333+00:00
Same here. Logitech C920. Had been working great before, then started failing recently. Works well if I switch to my machine's low quality built-in microphone, but extremely quiet if I use my USB microphone. I have verified that the USB microphone works well at a proper volume for all other programs without issue, including Teams and Zoom.

Machine: Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 8

OS: Windows 11 Pro 24H2 (26100.6584)

Phone Link: 1.25082.142.0

Microphone: Logitech HD Pro C920

Microphone firmware: 7.5.1023

Microphone driver: Microsoft, 10.0.26100.1 (2024-03-31)

Nothing obvious sticks out in KB5064081 (26100.5074) (2025-08-29), but I do have this installed and it started around the same date, so it is a possible cause. Releases up to KB5065426 (26100.6584) (2025-09-09) have yet to fix this.

I'm glad to see this post because I thought my microphone just wasn't working at all. I tested so many things to try to get it working, just to find out it is working, but extremely quietly.

I hope we can have a resolution soon.
HEGDESASPECT 5 Reputation points

2025-10-14T04:19:34.42+00:00

I received the 25H2 and this issue is NOT resolved.
Jevan Johnson 0 Reputation points

2025-10-19T18:40:57.17+00:00

I now have a fuzzy mic sound when using it since this same KB update. The so called fix KB did not fix. I cannot remove the update that is causing the issue because well its windows and to be able to remove an update causing issue would be just absurd. Edit: Nice to see Microsoft Customer Support still cutting me off before I can reach a representative.
Darrell Lines 0 Reputation points

2025-10-22T23:32:41.21+00:00

My mic just does not want to work in Phone Link
Kammthaar 0 Reputation points

2026-06-17T17:57:40.3066667+00:00

I was with the same problem since I migrated on Windows 11.
Switching my audio input from stereo to mono saved the day for me.
I hope that helps.
Best regards
Mike 5 Reputation points

2026-06-17T18:26:23.8366667+00:00

I recently applied the 2026-05-16 driver update (10.0.26100.8521) and this issue appears to be resolved for me, even without the audio enhancements workaround.
Alan Knittel 0 Reputation points

2026-06-17T20:05:57.37+00:00
This fixed the Brio:

1. Voice Clarity is enabled

Your screenshot shows:

While I don't think this is the root cause, this AI processing layer sits between the microphone and applications.

For a test, I'd temporarily set:

and retest Phone Link.

I don't expect miracles, but it eliminates one more variable.

2. Input volume is only 84

Your Brio is set to:

For troubleshooting, I'd move it to:

and test again.

A 19% gain increase won't fix a major routing bug, but if the far end currently hears you "very faintly," every bit helps.

9 answers

Your answer

Brad Otter 10 Reputation points

2025-09-15T20:27:18.21+00:00

I'm on Windows 11 Pro and have the same problem. Is there a fix coming soon?
Torsten - 20 Reputation points

2025-09-18T02:27:06.5466667+00:00

i hafe exactly the same issue but all my microphones are the same and the standard answer from the microsoft staff doesent work - THIS IS VERY ANNOYING nothing helped mic stuck at 1% or whatever ALLOW AUDIO CONTROLLS in the app PS has nothing to do with preview update since i dont use them
Mike 5 Reputation points

2025-10-13T23:43:00.3533333+00:00

Same here. Logitech C920. Had been working great before, then started failing recently. Works well if I switch to my machine's low quality built-in microphone, but extremely quiet if I use my USB microphone. I have verified that the USB microphone works well at a proper volume for all other programs without issue, including Teams and Zoom.

Machine: Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 8

OS: Windows 11 Pro 24H2 (26100.6584)

Phone Link: 1.25082.142.0

Microphone: Logitech HD Pro C920

Microphone firmware: 7.5.1023

Microphone driver: Microsoft, 10.0.26100.1 (2024-03-31)

Nothing obvious sticks out in KB5064081 (26100.5074) (2025-08-29), but I do have this installed and it started around the same date, so it is a possible cause. Releases up to KB5065426 (26100.6584) (2025-09-09) have yet to fix this.

I'm glad to see this post because I thought my microphone just wasn't working at all. I tested so many things to try to get it working, just to find out it is working, but extremely quietly.

I hope we can have a resolution soon.
HEGDESASPECT 5 Reputation points

2025-10-14T04:19:34.42+00:00

I received the 25H2 and this issue is NOT resolved.
Jevan Johnson 0 Reputation points

2025-10-19T18:40:57.17+00:00

I now have a fuzzy mic sound when using it since this same KB update. The so called fix KB did not fix. I cannot remove the update that is causing the issue because well its windows and to be able to remove an update causing issue would be just absurd. Edit: Nice to see Microsoft Customer Support still cutting me off before I can reach a representative.
Darrell Lines 0 Reputation points

2025-10-22T23:32:41.21+00:00

My mic just does not want to work in Phone Link
Kammthaar 0 Reputation points

2026-06-17T17:57:40.3066667+00:00

I was with the same problem since I migrated on Windows 11.
Switching my audio input from stereo to mono saved the day for me.
I hope that helps.
Best regards
Mike 5 Reputation points

2026-06-17T18:26:23.8366667+00:00

I recently applied the 2026-05-16 driver update (10.0.26100.8521) and this issue appears to be resolved for me, even without the audio enhancements workaround.
Alan Knittel 0 Reputation points

2026-06-17T20:05:57.37+00:00

This fixed the Brio:

1. Voice Clarity is enabled

Your screenshot shows:

While I don't think this is the root cause, this AI processing layer sits between the microphone and applications.

For a test, I'd temporarily set:

and retest Phone Link.

I don't expect miracles, but it eliminates one more variable.

2. Input volume is only 84

Your Brio is set to:

For troubleshooting, I'd move it to:

and test again.

A 19% gain increase won't fix a major routing bug, but if the far end currently hears you "very faintly," every bit helps.

Answer 1

Potential workaround for Phone Link microphone issues (low volume, stuttering, aggressive AGC)

If you are experiencing low microphone volume, intermittent cutting out, or what feels like aggressive Automatic Gain Control (AGC) specifically in the Phone Link app while using USB audio input devices (Jabra, Logitech, etc.), you might be hitting a conflict in the Windows 11 audio stack. Other apps like Teams or Zoom usually work fine, which makes this very frustrating.

The observed issue

In recent Windows 11 builds, generic USB audio devices often have "hidden" audio enhancements enabled by default. The problem is that the toggles to disable these are frequently missing from the Windows UI, leaving us with no way to stop the system from interfering with the audio stream.

A possible workaround

The following steps helped me "force" the necessary toggles to appear, allowing me to finally disable the background processing.

Step 1: Using Equalizer APO Device Selector

Installing a third-party APO (Audio Processing Object) seems to force Windows to expose audio enhancement settings that are otherwise hidden for generic drivers.

Download and install Equalizer APO (it's open-source).
Open the application Equalizer APO Device Selector (DeviceSelector.exe). It may open automatically after installation.
In the Device Selector window, first check the "Troubleshooting options" box at the bottom.
Now, find and click on your USB device in the "Capture devices" list at the top.
Once selected, additional options will appear at the bottom. You can generally leave the defaults (Install APO checked, Install as SFX/MFX or Auto).
Click OK and Restart your PC (this is a mandatory step).

Step 2: Disabling the "Audio Enhancements" toggle

After the restart, a new toggle should be visible in the standard Windows sound properties:

Press Win + R, type mmsys.cpl, and go to the Recording tab.
Right-click your device > Properties > Advanced tab.
Under the Signal Enhancements section, a new checkbox should now be visible: "Enable audio enhancements".
UNCHECK this box. (Note: This checkbox is typically invisible on generic USB devices until the APO is installed).
Also, UNCHECK both options under "Exclusive Mode" in the same tab, as Phone Link may try to override settings if these are active.

Summary

While the internal mechanism isn't fully documented, forcing the "Audio Enhancements" toggle to appear via the Device Selector allows you to disable system-level processing that is otherwise "baked-in" and inaccessible. This appears to resolve the conflict between the Windows audio stack and Phone Link's communication engine. It worked for me when nothing else did.

Adam 0 Reputation points

2026-03-03T19:53:07.09+00:00

This actually worked for me, thank you!

I had already downloaded and tried to use Equalizer APO, but even after cranking it all the way up it was inconsistent. I followed your steps exactly and it worked though. Thanks!
Mike 5 Reputation points

2026-03-04T00:12:39.2733333+00:00

This worked for me, too. After months, such a simple workaround... Thank you for sharing.

I don't really want to install anything, but I was able to get this working with a registry edit to disable the "hidden" audio enhancements property.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MMDevices\Audio\Capture\<GUID>\FxProperties] "{1da5d803-d492-4edd-8c23-e0c0ffee7f0e},5"=dword:00000001

Replace <GUID> with the proper instance ID GUID for your recording device. Easiest way to get this is to with Get-PnpDevice. Example for my Logitech C920:
Get-PnpDevice -Class AudioEndpoint -FriendlyName "*C920*" | ForEach-Object { $guid = if ($_.InstanceId -match '\{[0-9A-Fa-f-]{36}\}') { $Matches[0].ToUpper() } else { $null }; [pscustomobject]@{ FriendlyName = $_.FriendlyName; GUID = $guid } } | Sort-Object FriendlyName, GUID -Unique | Format-Table -AutoSize

The 1da5d803... value GUID maps to the Disable_SysFx property. DWORD "1" indicates audio enhancements disabled.

Restart the "Windows Audio" service after changes.

Testing with Sound Recorder, I think that my audio for Teams, Zoom, etc. is better with audio enhancements enabled, but only slightly. I'm still not sure whether I will leave it disabled permanently or only when I need Phone Link.
Mike 5 Reputation points

2026-05-28T13:49:12.56+00:00

Two months later and the source issue is still there, but I'm glad to say disabling audio enhancements still works.

I had Claude generate a script to switch back and forth up until now, but I'm going to stick with audio enhancements disabled going forward. Sharing script here if it helps anyone: Manage-Audio-Enhancements.ps1.txt. Remove ".txt" before using. Use at your own risk.

Example usage for the Logitech C920:

# For documentation, run "Get-Help .\Manage-Audio-Enhancements.ps1 -Detailed" & .\Manage-Audio-Enhancements.ps1 -NameLike c920 -Disable -Confirm:$false

Answer 2

Torsten - 20

@Anonymous @Ruby-N @Kha-N

Hello, could one of you please review this thread about the Phone Link microphone volume issue? It seems to affect multiple users and hasn’t received any official Microsoft response yet. maybe forward it etc?

Thank you for checking — this issue still persists across devices and versions.

Shaun Lynch 0 Reputation points

2025-11-10T21:47:51.3733333+00:00

Has anyone reviewed this thread yet ? Is there a fix ? It has ben 2 months since the enquiry was opened, but no-one seems to be doing anything about it.
Adam 0 Reputation points

2026-02-04T15:30:21.76+00:00

Still having this issue...

Answer 3

Hendrix-V 16,185 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi Sean Rudd,

Thank you for reaching out and sharing the detailed steps you’ve already tried.

Based on your description, this issue is linked to the recent Windows 11 24H2 Cumulative Update Preview (KB5064081), which introduced changes to the audio stack. These changes can cause USB microphones to show extremely low input levels in Phone Link, even though they work fine in other applications. The update includes updated audio drivers (version 10.0.26100.5074) that can affect how Phone Link handles communication devices, especially when Bluetooth and USB audio devices are both present.

Here are some steps that have helped other users, please kindly follow to see if the issue is fixed:

1 - Verify App Permissions

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and ensure Phone Link has access.

2 - Reinstall Audio Drivers

Open Device Manager.
Uninstall the Logitech BRIO and any “Hands-Free” audio devices.
Check “Delete the driver software for this device” when prompted.
Restart your PC and let Windows reinstall the drivers automatically (Optional: Download the latest Logitech BRIO driver from Logitech’s official site.)

3 - Disable Hands-Free Telephony for iPhone

Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
Right-click your iPhone > Properties > Services.
Uncheck Hands-Free Telephony and reconnect.

This forces Phone Link to use your USB microphone instead of the Bluetooth audio profile.

I look forward to receiving your update and I'm willing to collaborate with you till we resolve the issue. Please keep me informed.

Brad Hamilton 0 Reputation points

2025-09-11T21:59:49.0133333+00:00

This update has broken my Jabra Engage 75 headset. I get no audio through the speakers, though the mic seems to be working fine. There isn't a driver to install for this as it relies on Microsofts generic driver which is 10.0.26100.5074. There is not an option to roll this driver back to a previous version.... how can we get this fixed?
Sean Rudd 40 Reputation points

2025-09-13T01:40:44.31+00:00

Sorry, no go.

First, I verified app permissions. Phone Link is not listed in the apps under "Let apps access your microphone". Phone Link appears to rely on "Windows host process (Rundll32)", which has access under the "Let desktop apps access your microphone" option. I know this because of the "Last accessed" date and time listed underneath.

Using Device Manager, I uninstalled the devices relying on the Generic USB Audio driver, which are found under the "Sound, video and game controllers" section. These included the BRIO and Hands-Free HF Audio devices. Neither provided the checkbox to remove drivers. A Google search indicated that it's not an option because wdma_usb.inf=usbaudio.sys is a "system driver" and can't be removed. I also uninstalled the Logi Tune application, which removed all traces of the BRIO device from Device Manager. I rebooted several times during this process, and my system rediscovered the removed devices. I also reinstalled Logi Tune.

I tested Phone Link at this point, and while I could dial a call from my PC, the call audio was only on my phone and I could not "transfer" the call to my PC from either Phone Link or my phone. I removed my phone from the PC, reset Phone Link, and then re-added my phone. My ability to place calls and communicate from my PC has returned, but the microphone volume is still 1%. I think it's important to note that the BRIO microphone is working; it's just barely audible. Switching to a microphone not relying on the Generic USB Audio works fine, as before.

I could not find the option in Windows 11 Pro for iPhone>Properties>Services to uncheck Hands-Free Telephony. I could disable the "Sean's iPhone Hands-Free HF Audio" device in Device Manager, but that prevents Phone Link from "transferring" the calls to my PC. So, as was the case before re-linking my iPhone, I could dial from Phone Link but was forced to use my phone for speaker and mic.

At the end of all this, nothing has changed. I can just barely hear my voice from the test phone when using the BRIO for my mic. All other apps, as well as the audio input test using the "Communications" option, work just fine with the BRIO selected.
HEGDESASPECT 5 Reputation points

2025-09-13T07:40:48.2566667+00:00

I am facing the exact same thing. Tried all methods to fix, but no luck. Truly fed up with untested updates. I have switched off Preview Updates now. Enough of the bad quality.

Not just this, even the Microsoft Edge version got updated with this Cumulative update (or at least it looks like that) and it broke the Cookies handling in Edge. Something so fundamental. All the custom sites under edge://settings/privacy/clearBrowsingData/clearOnClose have been cleared.

Total mess up with this update.
Hendrix-V 16,185 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-09-13T08:46:14.59+00:00
Hi Sean Rudd,

I'm sorry that the issue persists.

If all the methods fail, you can consider these 2 options:

Uninstall KB5064081: Settings → Windows Update → Update history → Uninstall updates.

This will revert the audio stack to the previous stable version.

Manually install an older Logitech BRIO driver from Logitech’s support site (pre-Aug 2025 version).

Please keep me updated.

Thanks!
Sean Rudd 40 Reputation points

2025-09-17T13:18:35.9333333+00:00
The update in question does not appear in the list of uninstallable updates. I am struggling to find the prior version of Logi Tune, which provides the Brio drivers. I have a ticket open with Logitech because I can't afford the $500 Microsoft charges to address this issue.

I found an anomaly worth mentioning... There is an audio device that doesn't appear in the Volume Mixer until I establish a call via Phone Link and answer a call (which activates the audio exchange between my PC and phone). I mentioned it in my original post; It's named "Microphone (Sean's iPhone Hands-Free HF Audio)". What I've observed:

The device appears in Device Manager. If I disable the device, I can no longer transfer calls to my PC and MUST use the phone, even if I dial from the PC. The option to "Take the call on my PC" is disabled.

The device doesn't appear in System>Sound... ever.

The device appears in System>Sound>Volume Mixer only after the PC is used during a Phone Link call (not dialing, just answering). Upon reboot, it's gone again until another call is established.

The device doesn't appear in System>Sound>All sound devices at any point in time. No action on my part will cause it to appear.

When I click the down-arrow to the right of the device in Volume Mixer, there are two selectors: Output Device and Input Device. Both are always initially blank.

I can and have set the options to the devices I desire, which are also the default devices for communication (speakerphone output, Brio mic input). See image below.

When I leave Volume Mixer and return, the field settings are once again blank. I can find no means to make them "stick".

If I change the devices in the blank fields during a call, audio input and output devices will change accordingly. This includes switching microphones.

When selecting the speakerphone mic, the input audio levels are "normal"; when choosing the Brio microphone, the volume is very low.

I was typing this as I was testing, and now suspect it was a wild goose chase. In hindsight, I doubt that this has much to do with the Brio microphone input volume. I think its initial values are tied to the default communications devices and can be used to override them during a call, but that's all.

I'm curious if others see the same behavior. I'd also like to know if anyone has any ideas on how I can roll the Generic USB Audio driver back to the prior version without uninstalling the update that my PC won't let me uninstall.
Adam 0 Reputation points

2025-09-17T13:52:37.0466667+00:00

I'm having the same issue, except I'm using an s24 ultra instead of an iPhone. I make calls every day through the phone link app, and now no one is able to hear me. I have to go back to using my phone directly. I tried removing the suggested drivers/devices, and checked the settings, but had the same results as above. I'm using a Sennheiser USB wired headset. I don't see the option to uninstall this update anywhere, and I'm not part of the early access program.
Sean Rudd 40 Reputation points

2025-09-17T13:55:55.0266667+00:00

I am also NOT part of the early access program. Although this is a "Preview", I think it was pushed out to everyone. Is everyone posting on this issue using microphone devices that rely on the Generic USB Audio driver?

To Microsoft: I want to reiterate that this issue is not entirely new. I had the same problem when I started using Phone Link around a year ago, so I didn't. I tried using it again a few months ago, and since it was working, I continued to use it. I'm unsure what was changed, but if it was the driver stack, I would expect the issue to affect multiple applications, but it doesn't. As was the case a while back, and as others in this thread have noted, it's only impacting Phone Link.

I have been an IT System Engineer for 40 years, and I know Windows pretty well. I've dealt with numerous issues that updates have caused, and the most important lesson is to listen and acknowledge problems when they occur. I sincerely hope that's what's happening on your end.

Here are links to this issue from past posts on different platforms. I've yet to find one with a solution:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/4098819/microphone-input-volume-ridiculously-low-with-phon

https://www.reddit.com/r/WindowsHelp/comments/1jcrnov/over_a_year_later_is_there_still_not_a_fix_to_the/

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/3752293/phone-link-audio-quality

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/3894687/cannot-talk-to-anyone-via-phone-link

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/3961106/microphone-isnt-working-for-calls-on-phone-link
Hendrix-V 16,185 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-09-19T04:17:18.8966667+00:00
Hi Sean Rudd,

Thank you for sharing such a detailed description of what you’ve observed, it really helps paint the full picture.

From what you’ve described (and what others have reported), this issue appears to be linked to the Generic USB Audio driver introduced with the KB5064081 cumulative update. The behavior you’re seeing with the temporary “Sean’s iPhone Hands-Free HF Audio” device is expected because Phone Link uses a Bluetooth Hands-Free Profile (HFP) session for calls. That virtual device only exists during an active call, which is why settings in the Volume Mixer don’t persist. Unfortunately, this also means Phone Link is routing audio differently than apps like Teams or Zoom, which explains why the problem is isolated to Phone Link.

This feedback is extremely valuable because it helps us identify and address issues that impact real-world scenarios. There's a work-around that you should try to see if it resolves the issue:

1 - Check for alternate driver entries

In Device Manager → Audio inputs and outputs, right-click your BRIO mic → Update driver → Browse my computer → Let me pick.

If you see an older “USB Audio Device” entry, select it and reboot.

2 - Disable audio enhancements and exclusive mode

Go to Settings → System → Sound → Input → [BRIO mic] → Advanced.

Turn off Enhance audio and uncheck Allow applications to take exclusive control.

3 - Set BRIO as the default communication device

In the classic Sound control panel, right-click BRIO → Set as Default Communication Device.

In Settings → Sound → Communications, choose Do nothing.

Please keep me informed on the issue. Thank you for your patience and for helping us improve the experience.
Sean Rudd 40 Reputation points

2025-09-19T15:27:16.8833333+00:00
Thanks. Here are the results:

There is no older version of the driver in Device Manager. The driver associated with the "Microphone (Logitech BRIO)" in Audio Inputs and Outputs is titled "Audio Endpoint" and is dated 3/31/2024. There was another compatible driver listed titled "Generic software device", which I tried, but with the exact same test results (I rebooted first). Note that this device is not the same as the "Logitech BRIO" found under "Sound, video and game controllers", which uses the recently updated Generic USB Audio driver. It's challenging to know what devices are being used by Phone Link.

I found no option for "Enhanced audio" in the Advanced settings for the device in System>Sound settings. I found and changed the "exclusive control" setting and repeated my test, but the results were the same (low volume). I also did other tests using audio troubleshooting, the test for audio and communications under System>Sound, and Zoom. Everything but Phone Link was working fine, as before.

The BRIO has been and remains the default audio device for both normal input and communications. I've tried alternate devices and those that don't rely on Generic USB drivers seem to work just fine (though they lack the quality of the Brio). I changed the Sound (old interface)>Communications setting to adjust output volume from 80% to "do nothing", but it did not affect testing results.

Thanks for the suggestions. Do you know if anyone from Microsoft has a test workstation that can recreate this issue? If so, it would speed testing. If the issue can't be recreated, we could compare our driver versions. I have confirmed that I have the latest software installed from Microsoft (Windows 11 Pro), Logitech, Dell, and Intel. There is nothing "funky" about my setup, to the best of my knowledge.
Hendrix-V 16,185 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-09-20T07:42:59.3833333+00:00
Hi Sean Rudd,

Thanks for running those tests and writing everything up so methodically, that level of detail is exactly what helps narrow this down. Your results line up with what we’d expect if the Phone Link HFP (Hands‑Free Profile) path is interacting poorly with the updated USB audio stack rather than a Logitech‑specific driver.

There’s an active thread describing near‑silent Phone Link mic after KB5064081 that mirrors your environment. This indicates others are hitting the same path. The official guidance for audio regressions continues to be: collect diagnostics via Feedback Hub, keep Windows Update checked for subsequent LCUs (fixes for preview regressions typically ship in the next servicing release).

Thank you for approaching this like an engineer. For now, here's you can contribute to addressing the issue with us:

Feedback Hub submission: Open Feedback Hub → Report a problem → Devices and Drivers → Bluetooth and audio → Recreate my problem.

Start recording, place a Phone Link call to capture the low input, stop recording, and attach:

Phone Link Logs zip

ETL trace zip

PowerShell outputs (as text file)

Screenshots above

Link to this thread or the thread where others reported the same symptoms.

This package gives the Phone Link and Audio teams everything they need to repro or compare driver stacks.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. Accepting an answer helps us track the effectiveness of our support efforts.
Brad Otter 10 Reputation points

2025-09-24T17:47:48.1266667+00:00

Got an update to Phone Link today but the problem is still not resolved. Anyone else have any luck? Is anyone at Microsoft even looking at this problem?
Shaun Lynch 0 Reputation points

2025-09-30T01:32:02.44+00:00

I'm still having the same issue.
Mike 5 Reputation points

2025-10-29T04:12:48.3533333+00:00

There still seems to be no resolution here.

I did try seeing if it would be possible to install the prior Generic USB Audio driver via old install media, but got blocked by driver digital signatures (guessing bundled in the Windows installation directly, and not easily extracted?). It was a flaky enough approach to abandon it there.

Answer 4

Alan Knittel 0

Same issue. I have a Logitech BRIO webcam and tried every trick suggested in various forums. When will the stack be fixed?

Torsten - 20 Reputation points

2025-09-30T15:34:42.5966667+00:00

ahh i have a brio too but although a rode nt usb mini but still stopped working!!

Answer 5

Shaun Lynch 0

I have been having the same issue since processing a windows update on 01/09/2025. I initially thought it was my headset, so purchased a new one. I'm having the same issue with the new headset.

Both headsets work perfectly fine with MS Teams, but no-one can hear me when using Phone Link.

I have tried:

Uninstalling and reinstalling Phone Link.
Uninstalling the Windows update - KB064081 does not appear in list of updates available to uninstall.
Rolling back the driver - Roll Back Driver is greyed out.
Verifying the Microphone Access App permissions - Phone Link does not appear in the list of apps to allow access.
Disabling Hands-Free Telephony for my iPhone.

Nothing has worked so far. Please fix. I work from home and this is making dealing with customers far more difficult than it needs to be.

Darrell Lines 0 Reputation points

2025-10-22T23:34:08.37+00:00

Agree with the above

Microphone volume in Phone Link has gone (almost) silent

1. Voice Clarity is enabled

2. Input volume is only 84

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