Sound Record not working

Question

I have been able to use my sound record before today, but I am not certain what I did, I was playing around with the settings for my sound recorder, system won't allow me to record

Answer 1

Hi Tina James,

Thank you for posting on Microsoft Q&A forum regarding the issue with Sound Recorder. I understand how frustrating it can be when something that was working previously suddenly stops, especially after adjusting a few settings.

I can see that Q&A Assist has already shared a few initial steps. To make things clearer, I’ll go through them in more detail below so we can pinpoint what’s causing the issue:

Step 1: Check microphone permissions

Windows may currently be blocking Sound Recorder from accessing your microphone.

1. Open Settings and go to Privacy & Security.
2. Select Microphone.
3. Make sure Microphone access is turned On.
4. Also confirm Let apps access your microphone is enabled.
5. Scroll down and ensure Sound Recorder (or Voice Recorder) is allowed.

If this setting was turned off, turning it back on often resolves the issue immediately.

Step 2: Confirm the correct microphone is selected

Sometimes Windows is listening to a different input device than expected.

1. Go to Settings > System > Sound.
2. Under the Input section, check Choose your input device.
3. Select the microphone you are actually using (built‑in mic, headset or USB mic).
4. Speak normally and watch the input level bar.

If it moves, Windows is receiving sound.

Step 3: Make sure the microphone isn’t disabled

Even if the microphone exists, it may be disabled at the system level.

1. Press Windows + R, type mmsys.cpl and press Enter.
2. Open the Recording tab.
3. Right‑click in the empty area and enable Show Disabled Devices.
4. If your microphone appears as disabled, right‑click it and select Enable, then Set as Default.

Step 4: Repair the Sound Recorder app

If the microphone works elsewhere but not in Sound Recorder, the app itself may need a reset.

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
2. Find Sound Recorder and open Advanced options.
3. Click Repair and test again.
4. If needed, you can also select Reset (this won’t affect system audio settings).

As a final check, please also try recording audio in another app (for example, the Camera app or a meeting app).

• If it works there but not in Sound Recorder, the issue is app‑specific.
• If it doesn’t work anywhere, the issue is likely system‑ or driver‑related.

Please let me know the results after trying these steps and I’ll be happy to assist you further.

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Answer 2

If your sound recorder is not working, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Check Device Manager: Ensure that your audio drivers are installed and functioning properly. You can do this by opening Device Manager and looking for any issues with the audio drivers.
2. Update or Roll Back Drivers: If your drivers are outdated, visit your device manufacturer's website to download the latest audio drivers. If you recently updated the drivers and the issue started afterward, consider rolling back to a previous version.
3. Run Troubleshooter: Use the built-in troubleshooter for audio issues. Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and run the Playing Audio troubleshooter.
4. Check Sound Recorder Policy: If you are using a managed device, check if there is a policy setting that disables the Sound Recorder. You can refer to the policy settings in the ADMX documentation to see if the Sound Recorder is allowed to run.
5. Check App Permissions: Make sure that your sound recording application has the necessary permissions to access the microphone and other audio devices.

By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the issue with your sound recorder.

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References:

• How to fix this. no audio device is installed - Microsoft Q&A
• Policy CSP - ADMX_SoundRec