Learn How To Test Microphone Windows 10 And Troubleshoot Mic Problems

While using microphones on Windows 10, you can come across a variety of technical issues. Most of these problems can occur due to hardware and software defects in the mic installed on Windows 10.  Some errors in a microphone can occur due to outdated audio drivers. Whereas, there are a few issues that occur only when your mic works with some specific programs. Overall, any technical error in the microphone can be really irritating and requires proper instructions for its correct setup and testing. So, if you are experiencing any audio problem and want to know how to test microphone Windows 10, check this article. Here, you can learn a few quick fixes to troubleshoot technical problems in mic by testing it easily.


How To Test Microphone Windows 10 And Check Its Working Or Not?

Whenever you face any difficulty while connecting a microphone to Windows 10 based device, it is essential to test the mic. Before you go through the instructions to learn how to test microphone Windows 10, you can try a few things to check its connectivity. So, first plug its jack into your computer and see if the device is detected by the system. In case the mic is of USB type, you have to insert the device in a working USB port. For initial testing, you must connect the microphone to a device that has a genuine version of Windows 10. Now, after plugging the mic to your PC, apply these following methods.

 


Method 1: Test Microphone Using Microphone Setup Wizard


You must make sure that you have connected the microphone in the correct jack or USB port. Then open the Control Panel, click on the Start menu on Windows screen.

Next, type ‘control’ in the search box and click on the first option. In the Control Panel section, locate the option of ‘Ease of Access’.

Then go to the heading of ‘Speech Recognition’ and click on the link for ‘Set Up Microphone’. It opens the window of Microphone Setup Wizard, where you can select the correct microphone settings for testing.

In this wizard, you can select the type of microphone that you want to test for troubleshooting any problem. Here, you have to identify the accurate name of the mic installed or connected to Windows.

After selecting the microphone, click on the ‘Next’ button and then go to the volume adjustment settings. In this screen, you can adjust the volume of your mic and say anything to see if its working or not.

 

Method 2: Use Recording To Test Microphone


There is a Recording tab in sound settings on Windows 10, which can be utilized to test the microphone. Now, let’s first check the process to install a new mic on Windows 10.


Steps To Install New Mic


This method is applicable for those users who want to know how to test microphone Windows 10 since they want to install the mic for the first time. So, locate the icon of the speaker on the bottom-right portion of your Windows screen. Then right-click on it and hit the option of ‘Sounds’.

Next, click on the tab of ‘Recording’ and click on the microphone icon. At the bottom-left of this window, there is a ‘Configure’ button. So, click on this tab and it will open a new ‘Speech Recognition’ window.

On the right side of the window, you will find the heading of ‘Configure your Speech Recognition Experience’. Under this, click on the ‘Set up microphone’ option and wait for the Microphone Setup Wizard.

As the wizard opens, you have to follow the on-screen steps for doing the microphone setup. So, below the heading of ‘Adjust the volume of microphone’, you may be asked to read a few sentences aloud. Once you finish speaking the sentences, you can click on the ‘Next’ button.

After this, the Microphone Setup Wizard window will display ‘Your microphone is now set up’. So, click on the ‘Finish’ button to complete the setup process of your microphone on Windows 10.

 

Steps To Test An Already Installed Mic


The following steps are applicable for those users who already have installed microphones(new/old).

From the above steps, you already know how to open the ‘Recording’ tab by clicking on the sound icon. So, while testing a new or old microphone on Windows 10, you need to test your microphone by speaking anything on the installed mic.

There is a green color bar on the right side, just beside the icon of the microphone installed on Windows. While speaking on the mic if you see the green bar rising to the maximum level, it means the microphone is working perfectly on your system.

However, if none of the above methods work to test your microphone on Windows 10, you can make use of any voice recording app. Simply, choose a mic testing program that is compatible to run on Windows 10. After installing the software, select the microphone and test its working condition using the voice recorder application.

 


Troubleshooting Solutions To Fix Microphone Test Failure


Now that you are aware of how to test microphone Windows 10 from the above methods, you can understand these fixes as well. Yes, there can be critical issues with your microphone if it fails the initial testing. So, in this section, you can learn about a few quick fixes to troubleshoot mic problems. Let’s check out some solutions to make your microphone work on Windows 10.


Solution 1: Modify Microphone Settings On Windows 10


Many Windows 10 users have noticed that their microphones are not working properly after applying a recent Windows Update. Due to this, many programs and apps are unable to access the mic while working on Windows 10. So, if this is the issue with you as well, you can apply the following steps to change the privacy settings of your microphone.

Go to the Windows 10 Start menu and click on it. Then locate the Settings icon just above the power button on the display. Under the Windows Settings, find the option of ‘Privacy’ and click it. From the list of items on the left panel, choose ‘Microphone’ and view its expanded information.

Below the heading of ‘Microphone access for the device on/off’, hit the tab of ‘Change’. Make sure this switch is ‘On’ and then go to the next heading ‘Allow apps to access your microphone’. You have to turn on this switch as well.

Next, proceed to the section of ‘Choose which apps can access your microphone’. There, you can view apps and programs installed on your Windows 10, which has the option to access the mic. This list include the camera, Cortana, Feedback Hub, messaging, browsers, and many more apps. So, make sure to enable the microphone access for programs of your choice on Windows 10.

In case you are using a webcam to work on Windows 10, you can follow the above steps to go to ‘Privacy’. Then select the option of ‘Webcam’ instead of ‘Microphone’ and repeat the rest of the steps to troubleshoot mic problems.


Solution 2: Adjust Recording Levels For Microphone


In the above section in this article, you can find the instructions to open the tab for ‘Recording’. Then if the green bars don’t pop up as you speak on the mic, try this solution. However, this method will work for those Windows 10 users who have installed a working microphone. In case the mic has any technical problem, hopefully, this solution can resolve it. However, you have to apply this method in the form of steps to check which one can troubleshoot microphone issues on Windows 10.


Step 1: Set Your Mic As Default Device


So, select the microphone icon below the ‘Recording’ tab that is recognizable by Windows 10. Then click on the ‘Set Default’ button and hit the ‘OK’ button. Now, once again speak on the mic and see if it helps the green bars to rise up or not. If it doesn’t work then follow the next step to troubleshoot microphone.

 

Step 2: Boost Levels On Microphone Properties


Next, double-click on the microphone device installed on Windows 10. It will display the Headset Microphone Properties window. So, you have to click on the tab of ‘Levels’ and hit the ‘Properties’ button.

There you will slider switches to set the levels for both ‘Microphone’ as well as ‘Microphone Boost’ options. Make sure to move the sliders towards the extreme right for both the levels. Hence, for ‘Microphone’, make the value reach ‘100’ and set it as ‘+30.0 dB’ for ‘Microphone Boost’. After setting these values, you have to click on ‘OK’ button to save these changes in ‘Microphone Properties’ window.

 


Step 3: Untick Disable All Sound Effects Option


If step 1 and 2 doesn’t resolve microphone problem on Windows 10, try this step. So, in the ‘Microphone Properties’ window, click on the tab of ‘Enhancements’ (if there is one). Here, you can see a checkbox beside the option of ‘Disable all sound effects’. Make sure to uncheck this box and then hit the next tab ‘Advanced’.

Under ‘Advanced’, there is a checkbox for ‘Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device’. You have to uncheck this box and click on ‘OK’ button to save these changes.

Finally, return to the Windows 10 Start screen and click on ‘Sounds’ and hit the tab of ‘Communications’. Then choose the option of ‘Do nothing’ below the heading ‘When Windows detect communications activity’. Click on ‘OK’ and hopefully, the microphone is configured correctly on Windows 10.

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Nathaniel Villa
Nathaniel Villa
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