Last updated 28 August 2026
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Run the microphone test first and watch the meter. If it moves when you speak, the microphone works and the problem is in your calling app. If it stays flat, work through these in order.
1. Check for a hardware mute
This is embarrassing often enough to be worth checking first.
- Many headsets mute automatically when the boom arm is rotated up.
- USB microphones usually have a mute button, sometimes with no clear indicator.
- Headset cables often have an inline mute switch.
- Some laptops have a microphone mute key on the function row, occasionally with its own LED.
2. Check which input is selected
A laptop with a headset plugged in has at least two microphones, and the operating system does not always choose the one you expect. Plugging in a headset changes the default, which is why a call can start fine and go silent after you connect headphones.
The input source list on the microphone test shows every input your browser can see. Try each one and watch the meter.
Test with the setup you will actually use. If you plan to wear a headset on the call, plug it in before testing. A test done without it proves nothing about the call you are about to join.
3. Check the input level
Windows lets you set microphone level to zero without any warning that something is wrong.
- Open Settings, System, Sound.
- Under Input, select your microphone.
- Check the Input volume slider is well above zero.
- Speak and watch the test bar move.
On macOS, open System Settings, Sound, Input and check the input level slider and the meter there.
4. Check operating system permission
On Windows: Settings, Privacy & security, Microphone. Enable microphone access, allow apps, and scroll to the bottom for Let desktop apps access your microphone. That last switch governs browsers, Zoom and Teams.
On macOS: System Settings, Privacy & Security, Microphone, and tick the app. Quit and reopen it afterwards, since macOS applies the change only on relaunch.
5. Check the physical connection
A 3.5 mm plug that is not fully inserted commonly gives working headphones with no microphone, because the microphone contact is the furthest ring on the plug. Push it in firmly until it clicks.
Also check you are using the right socket. Laptops with separate headphone and microphone jacks will not carry microphone signal through the headphone socket, and a headset with a single combined plug needs a combined socket or a splitter adapter.
6. Check the app's own settings
If the meter moves on our test but nobody can hear you, the fault is in the calling app. Each app selects its own input independently.
| App | Where to look |
|---|---|
| Zoom | Settings, Audio, then Test Mic |
| Teams | Settings, Devices |
| Discord | Voice & Video; also try Legacy Audio Subsystem |
| Google Meet | Settings, Audio, plus the site permission in the address bar |
7. Reset the driver on Windows
Open Device Manager, expand Audio inputs and outputs, right-click your microphone, disable it and enable it again. If that fails, uninstall the device and restart so Windows reinstalls it.
Related
Common questions
The meter moves here but nobody can hear me on calls.
The microphone works, so the fault is in the calling app. Check which input that app has selected, and confirm you are not muted inside it or on a hardware switch.
My headset microphone does not work but the headphones do.
The plug is probably not fully inserted, since the microphone contact is the furthest ring. Push it in until it clicks. Also confirm the socket supports a combined headset plug.
There is loud background hiss.
A high noise floor, common with cheap microphones and long unshielded cables. Move the microphone away from the computer and any USB hubs, and enable noise suppression in your calling app.
My microphone is very quiet.
Raise the input volume in your system sound settings and move closer to the microphone. Most microphones expect to be within about 30 centimetres of your mouth.