microphone

Question

when i talk into the microphone with a question it says there's no sound

Answer 1

Dear Melanie Harris, 

Thank you for your question and for sharing the details into Microsoft Q&A Forum. 

I understand how confusing it can be when you’re speaking into the microphone but the app still reports “there’s no sound.” At this point, I recommend that you review and try the steps provided in both the AI generated answer and the Independent Advisor’s answer on your thread. Those replies typically include the most relevant checks for this scenario. To help narrow this down quickly, could you share a bit more detail? 

• Which microphone are you using (built-in laptop mic, wired headset, USB mic, or Bluetooth headset)? 
• Does the issue happen only in that one app/feature, or also in another app? 
• If you’re using a browser-based feature, which browser is it and does it happen on all sites or only one? 
• Also, could you please confirm which Windows version you’re using? You can check by going to Settings > System > About, or type “winver” in Start > Run as administrator > share the version shown. 

In the meantime, here are a few basic steps you can try: 

1. Make sure “desktop apps” are allowed to use the microphone  

• Go to Settings > Privacy & security >Microphone 
• Turn on Microphone access, Let apps access your microphone and Let desktop apps access your microphone  
• Then re-test. 

2. If the feature runs in a browser: check site permissions 

• If you’re using a web page that listens for your voice, open the page where you’re trying to use the microphone. 
• Click the site information icon next to the address bar (often a lock icon). 
• Find Microphone permission and set it to Allow. 
• Refresh the page and test again. 
• Please try the same test in an InPrivate window  

3. Try a different microphone 

• If you’re using an external microphone (USB/Bluetooth/headset), please try one quick comparison test, switch the input to your PC’s built-in microphone (if available), or plug in a different known‑working headset/microphone.   
• Re-test the same feature/app and check if it can detect your voice. 

While my initial response may not fully resolve the issue, I truly appreciate your cooperation as we work together toward identifying the most effective solution. Thank you so much for your understanding. 

I hope these checks help resolve the “no sound” message and get your microphone working normally again. Wishing you a seamless experience using voice features moving forward. 

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Answer 2

Hi,

What specific app are you using the microphone with? Are you on Windows 10 or Windows 11?

To isolate the problem, let’s check whether the microphone issue happens only in a specific app or system wide.

Select Start > Settings > System > Sound.

Under Input, go to Choose a device for speaking or recording and select your preferred microphone.

To test your microphone, speak into it and check the Input volume section. Does the volume bar move when you talk?

Answer 3

Use these steps in Windows to get the microphone working so Outlook (or other apps) can hear speech:

1. Check the physical mic and mute:
   • If using a headset, make sure it is fully plugged in or properly paired (for Bluetooth headsets) and that any hardware Mute switch on the headset or mic is turned off.
2. Make the correct microphone the default input device (Windows 11):
   1. Select Start > Settings > System > Sound.
   2. Under Input, go to Choose a device for speaking or recording and select the microphone or headset that should be used.
   3. Select > next to that device, choose Start test under Microphone test, speak normally, then select Stop test and Play to hear the recording. If nothing is heard, continue with the next steps.
3. Adjust microphone volume/levels:
   • Windows 11:
     1. In Settings > System > Sound, under Input, select the microphone.
     2. Under Input settings, use the Input volume slider to increase the level.
     3. Use Start test again and confirm the mic now picks up voice.
   • If using classic Sound Control Panel (for some devices like Surface):
     1. Go to Start > Settings > Sound > Sound control panel.
     2. On the Recording tab, select the mic, then Properties.
     3. On the Levels tab, raise Microphone and, if available, Microphone Boost (for example, Microphone around 50 and Microphone Boost around +24 dB), then test again.
4. Check microphone privacy settings (Windows 10; similar concept applies if using Windows 11 privacy controls):
   1. Select Start > Settings > Privacy > Microphone.
   2. Under Allow access to the microphone on this device, select Change and turn the toggle On.
   3. Under Choose which Microsoft Store apps can access your microphone, make sure the relevant app is turned On.
5. Run the built-in audio troubleshooter:
   1. Go to Settings > System > Sound.
   2. Scroll to Advanced and choose Input devices under Troubleshoot common sound problems.
   3. Follow the prompts to detect and fix microphone issues.
6. If Windows does not detect the microphone at all:
   1. Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
   2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
   3. Right-click the audio device and select Uninstall device. Check Attempt to remove the driver for this device (or Delete the driver software for this device) and select Uninstall. Repeat for other audio devices if needed.
   4. Restart the computer so Windows reinstalls audio devices automatically. If they do not reinstall, in Device Manager right-click Sound, video and game controllers and select Scan for hardware changes.
   5. After restart, in Device Manager, right-click the audio driver and select Update driver.

After these steps, test again in Settings > System > Sound using the microphone test. Once the mic works there, Outlook and other apps should also detect sound.

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References:

• Fix microphone problems
• Fix sound or audio problems in Windows
• Troubleshoot Surface sound and audio accessories
• The speaking participant's microphone has a problem
• I’m having sound problems in my audio or video call
• My audio inputs and outputs suddenly disappeared, how do i fix this? - Microsoft Q&A
• How to fix this. no audio device is installed - Microsoft Q&A
• Internal Microphone not detected - Microsoft Q&A
• Mic stopped working about a month ago - Microsoft Q&A
• Logitech G560 Speakers detect audio (volume bar moves) but no sound comes out - Microsoft Q&A