Category: PC Drivers

Everything is set. It’s time. You click the link to join a Zoom meeting. You hear everyone. But no one can hear you. That sucks!

Let’s get right to it then. Following are some easy, step-by-step fixes you can do to get that mic working for Zoom in Windows 10.

Note: Why focus on Zoom for this article? Zoom downloads increased from just less than five million to 26.9 million in March 2020, so chances are this is your video chat app of choice for your online meetings.

Fix #1 – Check That Your Mic is Correctly Plugged to Your PC

This fix assumes that you have an external device you’re using as your microphone for your Zoom meetings. If that’s not the case, feel free to move on to the next recommended fix.

1. Unplug your microphone and plug it back in to ensure that it’s not just loosely connected.
   
2. If you’re using a USB audio device, then try plugging it into a different usb port.
   
   Note: If you’re using a USB hub or USB extension cable, try plugging the device directly into your computer’s USB port.
3. For Bluetooth headsets, or microphones, make sure to PAIR the device with your Windows computer.

Fix #2 – Check that your Microphone Device is Not Muted

1. On the Windows Taskbar, right-click the speaker icon and then click Open Sound Settings.
2. Under Input, click the Choose your input device down arrow and select the microphone device you want to use.
3. If you’re using an audio headset, check that its Mute switch – if it has one – is not turned on.

This is my Jabra headset and where the Mute button is on my device.

Fix #3 – Check that Zoom is Allowed to Use Your Microphone

1. Use the Windows search box, type microphone privacy settings and select this option when it appears.
2. Under Microphone, switch the Allow apps to access your microphone toggle to On.
3. Scroll down further till you find Allow desktop apps to access your microphone, and then toggle that to On too.

Note: Ensure that Zoom Meetings is one of the desktop apps listed as allowed to use the microphone.

Tip: Is the Zoom app not listed under Microphone Privacy Settings?

• Uninstall Zoom.
• Restart your PC.
• Re-install Zoom.

Fix #4 – Ensure that Zoom is Using the Default Microphone

1. Log into your Zoom desktop app.
2. On the right side of the Zoom pane, under your profile icon, click the Settings icon .
3. On the left pane, click Audio.
4. Under Microphone, ensure that audio device selected is the same device you chose under Fix #2 above. If not, click the down arrow and then select Same as System.
   
5. While you’re in there, perform a mic test.
   • Under Microphone, click Test Mic.
   • Say something into your microphone.
   • Whatever you say should be played back to you.
6. While you’re in there, check that the microphone is not automatically set to mute when you join a meeting.
   Ensure that the setting Mute my microphone when joining meeting is off.

Note: By the way, the Meeting Host can mute meeting participants so be sure this is not the case.

Fix #5 – Update Your Audio Drivers

If you’re microphone is still not working with Zoom even after going through the Windows and Zoom solutions above, then you may need to update your device drivers.

Audio drivers ensure that Windows can recognize and operate your audio devices, including your microphone. In the same way, USB ports and Bluetooth also need device drivers to function.

Hardware manufactures release new device drivers all the time. This is their way of releasing new product features or new functionality for their devices, as well as fixing any bugs that may have been detected by consumers over use.

How to Update Drivers Manually

Normally, for sound problems you should go your PC manufacturer’s website and install the latest Windows 10 sound drivers available for your laptop or desktop PC. However, if you have a custom PC, or if you built your PC yourself (impressive!), you should probably head to your motherboard manufacturer’s website and download audio drivers from them.

If, like me, you’re using a USB microphone, try to download and install the recent release of USB controller drivers from the manufacturer’s website.

How to Update Drivers Automatically

If you don’t have time or the know-how to properly select, download and install the drivers you need, you can do this process automatically with DriverFinder. (Shameless plug!)

DriverFinder does exactly what its name suggests… instantly find the RIGHT device drivers you need. Once you install DriverFinder, it will automatically recognize your system info and details, as well as all the devices installed or connected to your PC.

It will then compare the drivers installed on your system against our DAILY UPDATED and ever-growing driver database. From here, just download and install the latest audio driver found for your device.

1. Click here to download and install DriverFinder.
2. Click Activate to register your copy of DriverFinder.
3. Click Start Scan to check for new drivers.
   
4. Download and install the latest device drivers recommended for your audio/microphone device.
   

Fix # 6 – Quit Other Chat & Teleconferencing Software

You may not realize this but perhaps other apps are on/open and are ‘locking’ the use of your microphone. So if you have Skype, GoToMeeting, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, etc. installed on your PC, ensure that all of them are completely closed.

1. Click the up arrow ^ on the Taskbar notification of Windows to see hidden icons.
2. If you see any chat or teleconferencing app there, right-click it and then click Quit or Sign Out.

Tip: If you want, you can also uninstall all other chat and teleconferencing apps you have installed on your PC to be sure, apart from Zoom of course. Reboot your PC and then perform a mic test again in Zoom.

Fix # 7 – Disable ‘Audio Enhancement’ Settings

Disable ‘Audio Enhancement’ settings for your output.

1. On the Windows Taskbar, right-click the speaker icon and then click Open Sound Settings.
2. Under Output, click Device Properties.
3. In the Device Properties window, click Additional device properties.
4. Click the Advanced tab.
5. Uncheck Allow hardware acceleration of audio with this device and Enable audio enhancements.
6. Click OK.

Note: If you don’t see the above settings, look at the options under Exclusive Mode and uncheck those options.

Disable ‘Audio Enhancement’ settings for your input.

1. On the Windows Taskbar, right-click the speaker icon and then click Open Sound Settings.
2. Under Input, click Device Properties.
3. In the Device Properties window, click Additional device properties.
4. Click the Advanced tab.
5. Uncheck Enable audio enhancements.
6. Click OK.

Note: If you don’t see the above settings, look at the options under Exclusive Mode and uncheck those options.

Fix # 8 – Use Your Phone as Your Microphone

If you’re already in a meeting, we understand you’re in a pinch and just want to use any mic ASAP.  In this case, you may want to use your phone as your microphone.

1. Download the Zoom app on your Android or iPhone.
2. On your phone, login into your Zoom account.
3. Go back to the Zoom desktop app.
4. Click on the arrow next to Mute, and then click Switch to Phone audio.
5. You will be given a meeting ID and password. Use it to join the meeting on your phone.

Fix # 9 – Run the Windows 10 Audio Troubleshooter

Windows 10 has a built-in troubleshooters that can help fix common issues. Especially for non-tech-savvy users the Windows troubleshooters are a good choice. Since there is a troubleshooter for Recording Audio, this can used used to troubleshoot and fix microphone problems.

To run the Windows 10 audio troubleshooter follow these steps:

1. In the Taskbar search box, type “troubleshoot setting”.
   
2. Click the Troubleshoot Settings icon in the search result.
3. In the Troubleshoot Settings window, click the Additional troubleshooters option.
   
4. Next, scroll down to locate the Recording Audio option and click it.
   
5. Finally, click the Run the troubleshooter button that appears.

The troubleshooter will execute and identify any problems with the microphone and related settings. In most cases any available fixes will be applied automatically. Just follow the on-screen instructions in case manual actions are required (like selecting the audio input device to troubleshoot).

Zoom Microphone not working on iOS devices

When using Zoom on an Apple iPhone or iPad, the microphone can also be muted.

The very first step is to allow Zoom to access your microphone. So when you see the message “Zoom” Would Like to Access the Microphone, make sure you click the OK option.

In addition the microphone access, the microphone can be muted within the Zoom app itself.

Follow these steps to make sure the microphone is not muted within the Zoom app on iOS.

1. Open the Zoom App.
   
2. Click the Settings icon in the lower-right corner.
   
3. Next, click the Meetings
4. In the Meeting Settings, make sure the option Mute My Microphone is disabled.
   

Start your meeting, or join your meeting with the Join with Audio option to make sure the audio (and microphone is enabled).

If you are still facing problems, try closing any other apps that might use the microphone. A last option is to restart the phone or iPad.

I hope this article has helped you with your ‘Zoom mic not working in Windows 10‘ issue. Do let me know below which fix worked for you! If you have any questions, or more suggested fixes please feel free to comment below as well.