Windows 10: 2021 Windows 10 Home 20H2 microphone not working and microphone privacy settings crashes

Windows 10 Home20H2OS build 19042.1202Windows Feature Experience 120.2212.3530.0Up until last week sometime my microphone was working fine. Now - I'm guessing after a Windows update - all microphone devices are broken and the microphone privacy settings app crashes when microphone privacy is selected. I have read all the online questions/help I could find and am now able to do sfc /scannow without any problems found. I've run the DISM and re-registered with the powershell command as suggested in other threads. I have yet to see someone post that one of these solutions actually worked on on

:)

 

window crashes when i open camera or microphone setting in privacy

Answers to your questions:

• Yes, both are working properly before.
• Yes, i'm logged in as administrator.
• No app can use camera or microphone. All apps said to allow in the privacy setting.

And i can't really solve using the adjustment on privacy setting. 'cause as i've said before, everytime i open camera or microphone setting in privacy, the window crashes everytime.

as for the troubleshooting, it couldn't identify the problem.

 

Microphones not working and settings app crashing when i try to enter "microphone privacy settings"

Hi,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.



I appreciate the efforts taken by you in resolving the issue. I understand that you are unable to use your Microphone. I’ll certainly assist you with the issue.



However, please let us know:

• Are you aware of any changes made to the computer prior to this issue?
  
• Are you using an external Microphone or internal Microphone?
  
• What is the make and model of the computer?
  

As you mentioned that the settings Windows crash when opening the Privacy settings, I would suggest you to refer the steps mentioned below:



Method 1: Re-register Settings app



We can try re-registering the Settings app using PowerShell and see if that helps. Refer the troubleshooting steps mentioned below:

1. Press Windows + X key together and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
2. Accept the UAC prompts.
3. Now type in the following command and hit Enter: Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name windows.immersivecontrolpanel | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose}
4. Restart the PC.

Method 2: New user account



If re-registering Settings app didn’t work, try in a new user account and see if the issue persists. Refer the steps from the article Create
a local user or administrator account in Windows 10.



Method 3: DISM Command



I would also suggest you to try using DISM to fix the corrupted Windows system files on your PC. Refer the article Using
System File Checker in Windows 10



You may also want to refer the troubleshooting steps mentioned in the article

Fix microphone problems.



Let us know how it goes.



Regards,

Nikhar Khare

Microsoft Community - Moderator

 

Camera and Microphone Privacy

Hi Moustafa,

This issue occurs due to permission issue, driver issue, license for an app is out of sync with the license installed on the computer or if the app is not updated. To give permission to Camera and Microphone app, you may follow
these steps:

• Go to Settings.
• Select Privacy.
• Look for Camera, make sure that “Let apps use my camera” is turned On. You may choose the apps that can use your camera as well.
• Go back to Privacy and select Microphone, make sure that “Let apps use my microphone” is turned On. You may choose the apps that can use your microphone as well.
  

If the issue persists, we would suggest that you check out this
link. This will provide you troubleshooting steps regarding Camera and Microphone issues.

Feel free to contact us if you have further inquiries.