Windows 10: USB microphone stops working when steam / games are opened

The microphone I have is a Blue Snowball ICE, which works completely fine until I open a game or a game launcher. The mic doesn't disconnect or anything, it just stops picking up audio until I either 1 unplug and plug back in the microphone or 2 disable and enable the device. It also does not pick up the microphone on startup, unless I unplug it first.


I have:

Uninstalled and reinstalled the drivers

Tried every single USB port, front and back

Disabled exclusive mode in Advanced Properties

Checked that apps are allowed access to the microphone

Turned off some USB power saving settings

Updated Windows to latest release

Ran the troubleshooter - nothing found

:)

 

Sennheiser GSP 350. Microphone stops working when I open any game

Wow, ok. I think I've fixed it by accident while fiddling around.

It appears to be the Realtek audio being the issue here. I don't use my onboard sound card as my headset is a USB headset only and my speakers are plugged into an ASUS sound card.

Step by step fix:

• I went into recording devices
• I enabled STEREO MIX (Realtek High Definition Audio)
• Then I set that Stereo Mix as the DEFAULT DEVICE (At this point it took over both input and output devices without my permission )
• Then set my Sennheiser headset as default recording and playback devices in their respective windows even though they both still said they were the default devices when they weren't

Headset microphone is currently functioning while in game now. I'll update the thread if it goes again. Should I completely disable Realtek audio??? Or will windows just force it to work again?

 

USB Microphone stops responding when opening games/applications

The microphone I have is a Tonor Q9, which works completely fine until I open a game or a game launcher. The mic doesn't disconnect or anything, it just stops picking up audio until I unplug and plug back in the microphone, or weirdly enough when I unplug
and plug my headphones (also USB powered) back in. It also does not pick up the microphone on startup, unless I unplug it first.

I have:

Uninstalled and reinstalled the drivers

Tried every single USB port, front and back

Disabled exclusive mode in Advanced Properties

Checked that apps are allowed access to the microphone

Turned off some USB power saving settings

Updated Windows to latest release

Ran the troubleshooter - nothing found

*Edit - I have also found that launching a game pass game such as Grounded did not cause this to happen, however any game on steam or modern warfare would cause this as soon as I opened the application.

 

USB Microphone stops responding when opening games/applications

I have tried all of these, and it sadly hasn't worked. It is also worth noting that for some reason windows store/ gamepass games do not cause my microphone to stop responding, only steam / other games.