Windows 10 is still disliked by some users, while others believe that this software, on the contrary, is much more convenient than previous versions. However, we will not go into details and consider the pros and cons of software. Moreover, he has the same problems as previous versions. Especially when it comes to laptops. And the point is not always that the developers created the programs incorrectly or with errors. Most often, users simply misuse the device.
Very often, a laptop with Windows 10 does not see a microphone. Moreover, this happens both in the normal mode of operation, and when using various instant messengers involving voice communication.
Checking the device
If the microphone does not work on a laptop with Windows 10, then first of all, you need to check its connection. To do this, make sure that:
- The device is connected correctly. If the microphone is running on battery power, it could be discharged.
- The laptop is equipped with software compatible with the drivers for the voice signal transmission device.
- The microphone volume is not set to the minimum value.
If the microphone is built into the laptop, then most often the problem lies in older drivers. However, many gamers use gaming headsets or external devices. In this case, you must check:
- USB connector You need to try disconnecting and reconnecting the microphone to the jack.
- Female connector If we are talking about such a device, then you need to make sure that the connection is made to the correct port.
How to check that the problem is not in the laptop
When the microphone does not work on a laptop with Windows 10, then you need to try connecting it to any other gadget (for example, to the phone). If it works properly and transmits an audio signal without any problems, then the problem clearly lies in the system settings.
In situations where the microphone does not work on any of the devices, you will either have to purchase a new one, or try to fix a broken gadget.
Updating drivers
Very often, the voice recorder does not work due to old or faulty sound software. In this case, you need to reinstall the drivers for the microphone. To do this, you must:
- Go online.
- Open "Device Manager" on the laptop.
- Select "Sound controllers" and double-click on them with the mouse.
- Press the right key and select “Update Driver”.
- Choose to automatically search for updates and wait for the system to find new software on the Internet.
Microphone drivers will install automatically. If this does not help, you can use other methods.
Troubleshooting
To run this tool, you must:
- Go to the "Start" and drive in the search for "Troubleshooting".
- Find “Troubleshooting Audio Recordings” and continue.
- Select “Sound Recording”, indicate the device with which there are problems, and follow the instructions of the system.
However, this does not always help in the matter of how to turn on the microphone on a Windows 10 laptop.
Sound setting
Sometimes the system does not recognize the microphone due to incorrect settings. In this case, you need:
- Go to the sound settings.
- Connect the microphone to the laptop.
- Go to the “Sound” tab and select “Record”.
- A window will appear listing all active and disconnected devices. In order to display them all, you need to right-click in this window and select "Show Disabled".
- If the microphone appears, but the icon is translucent, then you need to click on it with the mouse and activate it.
- If the device does not appear at all, then it's not about the settings.
However, in addition to turning on the microphone on a laptop (Windows 10), you need to pay attention to its work. In the settings next to the icon of the sound recorder there are several horizontal gray bars. They show how well the microphone works. If the strips do not change color in the process of recording speech, this means that the sound signal does not pass.
Set up the device by default
In a situation where the microphone does not work on a laptop with Windows 10, you need to make some manipulations. To do this, you must:
- Go to the settings, find the “Record” tab and select the port that you plan to use. There may be several.
- Click on the microphone icon with the right mouse button and select “Use by default”. If this line is inactive, then this indicates that the device is already in use in this mode, but does not work.
You may also need to pre-activate the microphone if its icon is displayed in gray. To do this, just right-click on the device and click "Enable".
Check the volume setting
Very often, when the microphone does not work on a laptop with Windows 10, the reason lies in the fact that its sound is muted in the device settings. In this case, in the usual volume window, everything is displayed in the operating mode.
To solve this problem, you need:
- Go to the sound settings.
- Go to the “Record” tab and find the icon of the device used.
- Click on it with the mouse (right click) and select “Properties”. A new window will open.
- Go to the tab that is responsible for signal levels.
- If there is a red crossed out circle on the volume icon, you need to click on this button and activate the device. The thumbnail should be blue.
- Move the volume slider to the desired mode by moving it to the right.
- Confirm changes.
If the microphone does not work in Skype
In this case, you need to go into the program settings and go to the “Sound” tab. In the window that appears on the monitor, select the device to be used. Sometimes, by default, a “Stereo Mixer” is installed there. This option is not intended for transmitting a voice signal, but for playing sound in other conditions.
Webcam microphone
Very often, users use combined devices that can simultaneously transmit image and sound. As a rule, such webcams work through a USB cable and are often buggy.
You need to install the drivers for the device used from the disk, which is usually in the package with the camera. If it was not at hand, then just go to the manufacturer’s website and download the software directly.
Also, the reason may lie in a malfunctioning USB port. In such a situation, you need to try connecting the camera to another connector. If this does not help, then it is recommended that you update the drivers for the USB modules. They can be found on the website of the manufacturer of the laptop itself.
Usually there are no problems with how to restore the microphone on a laptop with Windows 10. The main thing is to try all the options for fixing the problem. If all else fails, then you can try restarting the computer. Perhaps one of the registries failed or some of the data was lost during the next laptop software updates.