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“You’re on mute.” “We can’t hear you.” “Try leaving and rejoining.” There are few things more stressful than a meeting where everyone can see your lips moving and nobody can hear a word.
A microphone that doesn’t work in a call app is rarely broken. The sound has to get through several layers before anyone hears it: the mic itself, your computer’s privacy settings, your computer’s sound settings, the call app, and sometimes the browser. If any one of them blocks it, you’re silent.
Here’s the order I check them in, from the quickest fixes to the least likely.
First: the 30-second test
Before changing anything, find out which layer is failing.
- On Windows, go to Settings, then System, then Sound. Speak, and watch the bar under Input. If it moves, Windows can hear you.
- On a Mac, go to System Settings, then Sound, then Input. Speak, and watch the Input level meter.
If the level moves when you speak, your mic and computer are fine, and the problem is in the call app or browser. Skip to Step 4.
If the level doesn’t move, the problem is the mic, a mute switch or your computer’s settings. Start at Step 1.
Step 1: Check every mute button
It sounds obvious, but there are often three or four separate mutes between you and the meeting:
- The mute button in the call app itself.
- A mute button or switch on your headset or its cable.
- A mic mute key on your laptop keyboard. It’s often one of the function keys, marked with a crossed-out microphone, and many have a small light that shows when the mic is muted.
- Windows’ own mute. On Windows 11, the keyboard shortcut Windows key + Alt + K mutes and unmutes your mic in supported call apps, and it’s easy to press by accident.
Also check that nothing is covering the mic. On laptops, it’s usually a tiny hole near the webcam or along the edge of the keyboard.
Step 2: Give the app permission to use your microphone
This is the most common cause on both Windows and Mac. Your computer blocks apps from using the mic unless you’ve allowed them, and a single update or a “Don’t allow” tapped months ago can leave a call app silent.
On Windows 11
- Go to Settings, then Privacy and security, then Microphone.
- Make sure Microphone access is on.
- Turn on Let apps access your microphone.
- In the list below, make sure your call app is switched on, such as Microsoft Teams.
- Turn on Let desktop apps access your microphone. Zoom, Teams and your web browser count as desktop apps, so this one matters more than people realise.
On a Mac
- Open System Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Microphone.
- Find Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or your browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge or Firefox) in the list and switch it on.
- Quit the app completely and open it again. Mac apps often don’t notice the permission change until they restart.
If your app isn’t listed at all, open it and join a test meeting. The Mac will ask for permission the first time the app tries to use the mic. Click Allow.
Step 3: Choose the right microphone in your computer’s settings
Your computer may be listening to the wrong mic, such as a webcam you unplugged, a monitor, or headphones in the other room.
On Windows 11:
- Go to Settings, then System, then Sound.
- Under Input, choose your microphone or headset in Choose a device for speaking or recording.
- Tap the arrow next to it and use Start test to check it, then adjust Input volume if your voice is too quiet.
On a Mac:
- Go to System Settings, then Sound, then Input.
- Select the right microphone and raise the Input volume slider if needed.
If you still get no sound, Windows has a built-in troubleshooter. In Settings, then System, then Sound, scroll down and choose Input devices under Troubleshoot common sound problems.
Step 4: Select the right mic inside the call app
Even when your computer is set up correctly, the call app keeps its own choice of microphone. This catches people out constantly, especially after plugging in a headset.
Zoom
- Open Zoom, click your profile picture, then Settings, then Audio.
- Under Microphone, choose the right device from the drop-down menu.
- Click Test Mic, speak, and listen to the playback.
- If your voice cuts in and out or sounds too quiet, try switching Automatically adjust microphone volume on or off.
In a meeting, you can also click the small arrow next to the Mute button and choose a different microphone.
Microsoft Teams
- Click the three dots next to your profile picture, then Settings, then Devices.
- Under Audio settings, choose your mic from the Microphone drop-down.
- Click Make a test call. A test bot asks you to record a short message and plays it back.
The test call isn’t available in Teams on the web.
Google Meet
Meet runs in your browser, so check two things.
- Before or during a call, click the three dots, then Settings, then Audio, and choose the right microphone.
- Make sure the browser allows Meet to use the mic. Click the icon on the left side of the address bar on meet.google.com and turn on Microphone.
Step 5: Check your browser’s permissions (Meet, Teams or Zoom on the web)
If you’re using any call app in a browser rather than its own app, the browser has its own microphone setting.
- Chrome: go to Settings, then Privacy and security, then Site settings, then Microphone. Choose the right mic at the top, select Sites can ask to use your microphone, and make sure the meeting site isn’t in the Not allowed list.
- Edge: go to Settings, then Cookies and site permissions, then Microphone, and turn on Ask before accessing.
- Safari: go to Settings, then Websites, then Microphone, and set the meeting site to Ask or Allow.
Remember that on Windows and Mac, the browser itself also needs microphone permission from Step 2.
Step 6: Close other apps that might be using the mic
Sometimes another app has grabbed the microphone. A second call app running in the background, a voice recorder, a game’s voice chat, or another browser tab with a meeting open can all stop your current app hearing you.
Close any other call apps completely, including from the system tray on Windows or the menu bar on a Mac, and close extra browser tabs. Then leave and rejoin the meeting.
If it still doesn’t work, restart the computer. It clears stuck audio connections more often than you’d expect.
Step 7: Bluetooth headsets and earbuds
Bluetooth headsets cause a lot of mic problems, because they use different modes for listening and talking.
- Check that your computer is using the headset’s microphone, not the laptop’s built-in mic or the other way round. On Windows, the headset’s mic often appears with “Hands-Free” or “Headset” in its name. Choose that one in your call app.
- When the mic is in use, the sound quality in your ears often drops noticeably. That’s normal for many Bluetooth headsets, not a fault.
- Make sure your earbuds aren’t still connected to your phone. Some will send the mic to whichever device they connected to first.
- If nothing helps, unpair the headset in your Bluetooth settings, pair it again, and restart the call app.
If you need to be heard clearly in an important meeting, a wired headset is still the most reliable option.
Step 8: Update or reinstall drivers and apps
If your computer can’t see the microphone at all:
- Update your call app to the latest version.
- Install any pending Windows or macOS updates.
- On Windows, right-click Start, open Device Manager, and expand Sound, video and game controllers. Right-click your audio device and choose Update driver. If that doesn’t help, uninstall the device, restart the PC, and let Windows reinstall it.
- Check your laptop maker’s support website for the latest audio driver for your model.
When it’s the hardware
If the mic doesn’t work in any app, on any setting, and the input meter never moves, test it on another device. If a headset works on your phone but not your laptop, the problem is the laptop’s port or settings. If it doesn’t work anywhere, the headset or mic itself has probably failed.
For laptops with a built-in mic that has died, a cheap USB or wired headset gets you through meetings until you can get it repaired.
Quick Answers
Why can’t people hear me on Zoom?
Check that you’re not muted in Zoom or on your headset, that Zoom has microphone permission in your Windows or Mac privacy settings, and that the right mic is selected in Zoom’s Settings, then Audio. Use Test Mic to check.
Why is my mic not working on Teams?
Make sure the right mic is selected in Settings, then Devices. On Windows, turn on Let desktop apps access your microphone in Privacy and security. Then use Make a test call.
How do I allow microphone access for Google Meet?
Click the icon on the left of the address bar on meet.google.com and turn on Microphone. Also check that your browser has mic access in your Windows or Mac privacy settings.
Why does my mic work in other apps but not in my call app?
The call app probably has the wrong microphone selected, or it doesn’t have permission in your computer’s privacy settings. Another app may also be using the mic.
Why does my Bluetooth headset mic not work on my laptop?
Your call app may be using the laptop’s built-in mic, or the headset may still be connected to your phone. Choose the headset’s “Hands-Free” or “Headset” mic in the app, and disconnect it from other devices.
What does Windows key + Alt + K do?
On Windows 11, it mutes and unmutes your microphone in supported call apps. If you press it by accident, your mic will be muted.
