Windows 10: Laptop not detecting external mic

submitted by /u/MightyBSz
[link] [comments]

:)

 

Laptop won't detect built-in mic on headsets/earbuds

Hi,

You may mute Mic: right-click on taskbar speaker/Sounds/Recording tab-->Mic properties/Levels-->mute.

Your laptop should have two mini-jacks, usually in front. One for mic (line-input) and the other for earphones (line-output) or external speakers.
You have to use a splitter cable which splits your 1 mini-jack headset cable into 2 mini-jack cables.
One for mic and the other for earphones:

 

Laptop won't detect built-in mic on headsets/earbuds

I'm running Windows 10 home on a Lenovo Ideapad laptop, and it doesn't detect the mic on any of my headsets/earbuds. I can hear playback fine on my headsets/earbuds, but it can't speak through them, since it insists on using the laptop's internal mic. This results in my typing/mouse clicks all being captured on audio.

• In sound properties recording tab, I just see "microphone (Realtek high def audio)" and "stereo mix (Realtek high def audio)"
  
• In sound properties playback tab, I just see "speakers (Realtek high def audio)", yet I hear audio fine on my headsets/earbuds?
  
• In device manager, it doesn't detect a headset either, displays the same list as the recording tab

So do all 3 of my headsets/earbuds have some kind of "plug and play but stays invisible to the OS" feature? One of them is the default Apple earbuds, I'm 100% sure there's a mic on there and these are brand new, so they aren't broken. Are these not supposed to appear as a "headset" device with the headset icon in sound properties?

 

Windows can't detect my external microphone

I have a Lenovo Yoga 520 but I didn't like the built in mic for the purpose that I want to use it for so I bought an external mic, but windows can't detect my external mic. Does anyone have any suggestions? I think I tried everything.