When Snipping tool is set to movie mode the microphone is not available, it stopped working?

Question

I have new computer. 2 months old. Windows home 11, Intel Core Ultra 7, Intel Arc Graphics. Acer, Aspire 14.

A few days ago I used the movies setting with sound and it worked fine. However now when I try to use it the microphone is crossed out. When I try to enable it I get a message

"We dont have access to your micophone."

"Open Microphone privacy settings" So I click this and a pop up opens

"Did you mean to switch apps?" which I say "Yes" to.

It opens the Privacy & security > Microphone window in Settings. I look down the list and Snipping tool is On.

When I go to the Snipping tool I click on the 3 Dots and open the Settings of the Snipping tool and both "Include microphone input by default when a screen recording starts is [On].

As is Include system audio by default when a screen recording starts. [On]

Things I have done. I have turned options On and Off,

I have tried a Repair on the app.

I have tested the headset that Im using on the computer, it does record.

I'm Using phone jack/ wired ear buds with built-in microphone. The type you use on a phone, and not blue tooth. I plug them into the jack of the computer, just to be clear.

Can anyone suggest what next to try to diagnose why this is not working.

Thank you.

Answer 1

So I have resolved this problem.

Go to Device Managers/Sound, video and game controllers. Delete all the drivers and devices for under this heading. You will need to reboot. It is possibly that you only need to delete some, those directly related to Microphone or audio, anyway I deleted them all. When I rebooted the microphone in the Snipping tool/Movie became available and worked.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Hi,

Thank you for sharing your question.

This issue often happens when Windows loses access to the selected input device, when permissions are out of sync, or when another app or driver change interrupts microphone access. Even if the Snipping Tool shows permissions as On, Windows can still block access at the privacy level, or the default microphone may have switched unexpectedly. Updating the Snipping Tool and confirming that Windows recognizes your headset mic often resolves this.

To move forward, you can check the microphone privacy settings again, update your audio drivers, confirm the correct default input under Sound settings, and test a different microphone to see whether the behavior changes. Running the audio troubleshooter may also identify a hidden permission or driver issue.

Before we go deeper, can you confirm whether the microphone works in other apps like Camera, Sound Recorder, or Teams on your new computer? That will help narrow down whether this is a device, permissions, or Snipping Tool–specific issue.

Feel free to follow up and I’ll walk you through the next steps until the microphone works normally again.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Best Regards,

Noel

Answer 3

It sounds like you're experiencing issues with the microphone access for the Snipping Tool in movie mode. Here are a few steps you can try to diagnose and potentially resolve the issue:

1. Check Microphone Privacy Settings: Since you mentioned that the Snipping Tool is already set to "On" in the microphone privacy settings, ensure that other apps are not blocking access to the microphone. You can check this by navigating to Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone and ensuring that other apps are not interfering.
2. Test with Different Microphone: Since you are using wired earbuds, try testing with a different microphone or headset to see if the issue persists. This will help determine if the problem lies with the earbuds.
3. Update Audio Drivers: Make sure your audio drivers are up to date. You can do this by going to Device Manager, finding your audio device under "Sound, video and game controllers," right-clicking it, and selecting "Update driver."
4. Run Windows Troubleshooter: You can run the audio troubleshooter by going to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and selecting the audio troubleshooter. This may help identify any underlying issues.
5. Check for Windows Updates: Ensure that your Windows is fully updated, as updates can resolve bugs and improve functionality.
6. Reinstall Snipping Tool: If the problem persists, consider uninstalling and reinstalling the Snipping Tool to reset its settings.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, it may be worth reaching out to Microsoft support for further assistance.

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References:

• How to fix this. no audio device is installed - Microsoft Q&A
• I have no sound on an new LG Gram laptop - Microsoft Q&A