Why isn't My Headset Mic Working & How do I Fix it? - Windows & Software Settings

Having trouble getting your headset mic working on your PC? Between hardware and software there is a lot of different things that could be causing the problem but in my experience the main reason microphones won't work is due to some simple Windows software settings that need to be properly configured. In this video I go over the most common settings and show you how to properly configure them. Usually you just need to adjust a few things in the Sounds settings in Windows Control Panel or in the Realtek HD Audio Manager (aka Realtek Audio Console) to get your mic working. Sometimes you'll need to grant permission in the Windows Privacy settings or simply switch the input device and output device settings in your games or other applications. I'll walk you through all of these in this video and with any luck one of these tips will get your headset mic working so you can game, stream and voice chat to you hearts content. Cheers! :)

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Wanna skip to a particular part of the video? Use the Time Stamps. :)

Time Stamps

0:00 - Intro
0:39 - If this video doesn't help check out my other videos
1:37 - Make sure you mic isn't 'Muted'
2:10 - Switching your audio device in the Windows task bar
2:54 - Assigning Headpones and Microphone for 3.5mm headsets
4:27 - Using the Realtek Audio Console (a.k.a. Reaktek HD Audio Manager)
6:15 - Adjusting Sounds settings in Windows Control Panel
8:43 - Granting Permission for applications to use your Microphone in the Windows Privacy Settings
9:39 - Switch input and output device in your applications, i.e. in your games and voice chat apps
10:06 - Conclusion
10:39 - Thanks for Watching! Like, Share, Comment & Subscribe! :)

Music in this video -

"It's All Happening" by Huma-Huma from the YouTube Creator Studio Music Library

"Nimbus" by Eveningland from the YouTube Creator Studio Music Library

[Johnny-dfmi]

The unmute button, dude, you are a legend, I was going crazy.

[carmangaming]

I've had my computer using my webcam mic for almost 2 years now and had no idea how to fix this. Your tutorial helped my teammates be able to hear me better, thank you so much!

[CamilleGeronimoRomero]

Hi. My Asus tuf gaming H3 headset mic is not working. What should I do? I followed all the steps here.

[mystgirlone]

You've saved me from bashing my head on the wall twice now. Straight-forward, clear instructions, helpful time stamps. Fortunately I bookmarked your vid after the first time or I'd be certifiable by now. Thankyou so much.

[phoenixbc]

I find it extremely unpractical that Windows 10 (and other versions of Windows BTW) make it so difficult to fix a microphone sound. All possible sound settings related to a microphone in Windows should be placed at ONE and only ONE single central place inside the control panel. And in there, there should also be a button that says "reset microphone to default settings" that works. We really don't care of all possible settings: all we want is that it works, that's it.
Also there should be another separate tab for headphone & speaker with all possible settings, and the settings must be on that page, not some kinds of links that bring us to another page.

[grewtik]

This guy just solved my problem .. i looked onto sooo many other videos but this is the best video. thank you soo much. keep up the good work

[anthonysanchez]

ive ran into a problem where if i connect the audio output side of the adapter it works, but when i connect the mic side of it it ends up saying that the headset output is unplugged.. and sometimes its the other way around, do i need to buy a new adapter or is it my pc?

[tinyelliott]

Having switched back to PC from a Mac I had spent a couple hours addressing issues unique to PCs and was grumbling about how easy Macs are. The mic issue was driving me crazy. Muted...man, I feel like an idiot. You're a life and sanity saver!

[Vika-nfbi]

I was full on sobbing because I've been watching videos on this for so long and couldn't find any solution. Of course it was muted..

[jacovanderschaaf]

question 7:00 i see the three icons, but the arror down are for me red, and there for i cant get the option enable, what sould i do now?

[wikawaki]

Please help I'm using a corsair void elite stereo and its just not registering anywhere on my pc or apps, when i plug it in i get the message that something plugged in and i'll choose to use audio and microphone but i don't see my headset anywhere not even on corsair software itself, I have sound but my mic only gives static and i don't know what to do i've tried a lot already and i'm lost now

[Cagri.Akdogan]

Thanks a lot, mate! It was the privacy settings, I was not even able to see the green bars at the setting because mic was completely not allowed at the privacy settings. Great applause for going through the privacy as well! Well done!

[o_ox_x]

My issue was covered at 7:59 with setting the mic as default on all platforms. And mic sensitivity. Cheers great video

[tamensire]

I have a pair of JBL LIVE 660nc headphones with a built in mic and it has this frustrating problem where whenever the microphone is used, it cuts out the headphones audio. another bizarre thing is that in the sounds panel, the headphones have two listings in the playback tab (one being titled headphones and one being titled headset) and one in the recording tab (that one being titled headset). I checked the properties of these devices and noticed a difference between the headphones and headset devices; the headphones had two channels and the headset had one. I don't see why there are two completely different device listings for the same device. Any help on this would be much appreciated!

[ofek_]

question i have to ports on my pc, in one of them i hear evreone but couldnot tallk, on the other port i can talk(other pepole can hear me) but i dont hear a thing. on my laptop it works fine. what can i do?? i tried litrealy anything

[tobiasroedgarza]

it littereally took me 3 months to find out that it was muted...

[Luke-ixzy]

nothing is working I cant use my headset mic at all. I can use the speakers in my headset but no mic. Pls help

[zmars]

I just got the Massdrop x Sennheiser PC37X Gaming Headset for Christmas and I have been having trouble for a while figuring out how to make the microphone work could someone help me out please. Im looking at the sound control panel and it is showing that there is no mic plugged in, but I have it plugged into the Mic in port. any clue why this is happening? I have tried a bunch of stuff but I can't make it work.

[loganmccormack]

Hey, I don’t know if you could playlist Ladders creator of this video but when you are turning up your headset microphone when you go on the windows, it won’t even let me move that little panel bar

[Maraksot]

Wanna skip to a particular part of the video? Use the Time Stamps. :)

Time Stamps

0:00 - Intro
0:39 - If this video doesn't help check out my other videos
1:37 - Make sure you mic isn't 'Muted'
2:10 - Switching your audio device in the Windows task bar
2:54 - Assigning Headpones and Microphone for 3.5mm headsets
4:27 - Using the Realtek Audio Console (a.k.a. Reaktek HD Audio Manager)
6:15 - Adjusting Sounds settings in Windows Control Panel
8:43 - Granting Permission for applications to use your Microphone in the Windows Privacy Settings
9:39 - Switch input and output device in your applications, i.e. in your games and voice chat apps
10:06 - Conclusion
10:39 - Thanks for Watching! Like, Share, Comment & Subscribe! :)