my input microphone is not working

Hi,

Let me check the status of the Microphone.

Press Windows+R keys on the keyboard, or Right-click Start on the Taskbar and choose Run.

Type "mmsys.cpl"

Press Enter.

Go to the recording tab.

Take screenshot of the following:

1. Recording tab.
2. Properties of the Mic > General.
3. Volume and Advanced.

To attach a screenshot, see below:

• Press Windows key + Shift + S together on the keyboard. The screen will dim with overlay. Drag the pointer to take a screenshot.
• The screenshot will be copied to the clipboard. Please press Ctrl+V in the editor to paste it, then confirm to attach the image.

Alternatively, you can press the PrtScn key on the keyboard, if it exists, to directly copy the Entire screen, which you can paste using CTRL+V.

I’m eager to hear back and work together to find a solution.

Follow these steps in order on Windows 11 to restore your input (microphone) devices:

1. Check physical mic and mute keys

• If using a headset, make sure it is fully plugged in or properly paired (Bluetooth) and that any mute switch on the headset is off.
• Since the F8 mic key is not working, treat it as possibly disabled at the OS level and continue with the steps below.

2. Make sure apps and the system can access the microphone

1. Select Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone.
2. Turn on Microphone access for the device.
3. Turn on Allow apps to access your microphone.
4. Scroll down and ensure Allow desktop apps to access your microphone is set to On.
5. If using a camera with a built‑in mic, also go to Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Camera and make sure camera access and app access are On.

3. Verify a default input device is selected

1. Select Start > Settings > System > Sound.
2. Under Input, check Choose a device for speaking or recording.
   • If a device appears, select it.
   • Select the > next to it, then under Microphone test choose Start test, speak, then Stop test and Play the recorded sample.
3. If nothing appears under Input, continue to driver troubleshooting below.

4. Run the built‑in audio troubleshooter

1. Go to Start > Settings > System > Sound.
2. Scroll down to Advanced.
3. Under Troubleshoot common sound problems, choose Input devices.
4. Follow the wizard and apply any fixes it suggests.

5. Reinstall audio drivers if no input devices are listed

1. Right‑click the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
3. For each audio device related to your sound card or audio chipset:
   • Right‑click it and select Uninstall device.
   • Check Attempt to remove the driver for this device (or Delete the driver software for this device) and select Uninstall.
4. Restart the PC.
   • Windows will attempt to reinstall audio devices and drivers automatically.
5. If nothing appears after restart:
   • Open Device Manager again.
   • Right‑click Sound, video and game controllers and select Scan for hardware changes.
6. Once devices reappear, right‑click the main audio driver and select Update driver.
7. Return to Settings > System > Sound and confirm that an input device now appears and can be tested as in step 3.

If, after these steps, there is still no input device listed at all, this usually indicates either disabled hardware at firmware/BIOS level or a hardware fault, and OEM support for the PC or motherboard should be contacted.

References:

• Fix microphone problems