No microphone

Question

My computer has no input options in settings. How do I reactivate my laptops microphone

Answer 1

Use these steps in order on Windows 11 to bring back and reactivate the laptop microphone:

1. Turn on microphone access in Settings
   1. Select Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone.
   2. Make sure Microphone access is turned On.
   3. Make sure Let apps access your microphone is On.
   4. Turn Let desktop apps access your microphone to On as well.
2. Check that the internal mic is selected and working
   1. Go to Start > Settings > System > Sound.
   2. Under Input, see if a microphone is listed.
   3. If one appears, select it, then under Input settings choose Start test, speak normally, then Stop test and Play the sample. If needed, raise the Input volume slider.
3. If there is still no input device listed, reinstall audio drivers
   1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
   2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
   3. Right‑click each audio device related to the laptop’s sound (for example, Realtek, Intel, or the OEM audio device) and select Uninstall device.
   4. 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.
   5. Restart the computer. Windows will attempt to reinstall audio devices and drivers automatically.
   6. If nothing appears after restart, open Device Manager again, right‑click Sound, video and game controllers, and select Scan for hardware changes.
   7. When the audio device reappears, right‑click it and select Update driver.
4. Verify again in Sound settings
   1. Return to Settings > System > Sound.
   2. Under Input, confirm the internal microphone now appears and select it as the input device.
   3. Run the Start test again and adjust Input volume as needed.

If the microphone still does not appear after driver reinstall and access is enabled, this can indicate a hardware issue with the built‑in microphone and may require device manufacturer support.

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References:

• Fix microphone problems
• Internal Microphone not detected - Microsoft Q&A
• internal microphone on windows 11 not working - Microsoft Q&A
• Mic stopped working about a month ago - Microsoft Q&A
• My audio inputs and outputs suddenly disappeared, how do i fix this? - Microsoft Q&A
• I don't see an audio input device - Microsoft Q&A

Answer 2

Hold down Windows + R keys, type in mmsys.cpl and hit enter. Then go to the Recording tab. Do you see the Microphone? If so, please make sure it is not disable (you can right click to enable it). Also make sure it is set as default device. Then double click on the microphone, go to Levels tab, make sure it is not muted.

Go to Windows Settings > Privacy > Microphone, make sure allow apps access is turned on.

Install audio driver from computer manufacturer website. If you need help finding driver, please type msinfo32.exe in the search on the taskbar and hit enter, then share a screenshot of the pop up please.