Windows 10: Listen to Microphone through a Playback Device in Windows

How to: Listen to Microphone through a Playback Device in Windows

How to Listen to Microphone through a Playback Device in Windows


If you like, you can listen to your microphone through a selected playback device such as your computer speakers or headphone.

You can also listen to a portable music player or other device connected to the microphone jack through a selected playback device such as your computer speakers or headphone.

This tutorial will show you how to listen to microphone through a playback device such as speakers or headphone in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

*note If you listen to a connected microphone through speakers, you may hear feedback.



Here's How:

1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Sound icon.

*note If you like, you can open Run (Win+R), copy and paste the command below into Run, and click/tap on OK to directly open to the "Recording" tab in the Sound panel.

*Arrow rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL mmsys.cpl,,1

2. Click/tap on the Recording tab, and double click/tap on your default microphone device. (see screenshot below)



3. Do step 4 (on) or step 5 (off) below for what you want to do.


4. Turn On Listen to Microphone through a Playback Device
A) Click/tap on the Listen tab. (see screenshot below)

B) Check the Listen to this device box.

C) Under Playback through this device, select the playback device you want to listen through.

D) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 6 below.





5. Turn Off Listen to Microphone through a Playback Device
*note This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Listen tab. (see screenshot below)

B) Uncheck the Listen to this device box.

C) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 6 below.




6. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)




That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Enable or Disable the Microphone in Windows
• How to Allow or Deny OS and Apps Access to Microphone in Windows 10
• How to Change Default Sound Output Device in Windows 10

:)

 

Having to unplug microphone to hear playback.

Hi Mark,

There are several audio inputs on your PC depending on your motherboard. It is possible that you are plugging your
microphone in the jack which supports audio in and audio out (same as phone jacks) and is set as your playback device. When this happens, you will not hear the audio out because the audio signal is sent into the microphone. Simply unplug your
microphone and move it to the microphone jack and you will be able to hear the playback sound.





If you are sure that your microphone is connected to the microphone jack, it is possible that your playback device is being disabled by your microphone. To enable/change your playback device, kindly follow these steps:

• Right-click the Volume icon on the lower-left corner of your screen.
• Click Playback devices, right-click your speaker (or any preferred playback device), and click Enable.
  
  Note: If you cannot see your preferred playback device, right-click on your current playback device and click
  Show Disabled Devices.

Let us know how things go.

Regards.

 

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?

 

Microphone delay

Hi Alarask,

We appreciate you posting your concern here in the Community forum. Follow these steps in order to remedy the issue:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Type in Sound.
3. Select Recording tab.
4. Select Microphone.
5. Click on Properties button.
6. Select Listen tab.
7. Uncheck Listen to this device.
8. Hit OK and go to Playback tab.
9. Select your playback device and use Properties button.
10. Select the Levels tab and unmute the microphone.

If those steps didn't fix it, try to unpair the connection and pair it again.

If issue is still there, you may try to update the driver with the use of the steps in this link.

Please reply to this thread for us to help you further.

Regards.

 

App-Specific Playback and Recording Preferences

I was able to get this to work with my Philips SpeechMike. In order to do so, I had to right click on the speaker icon, choose sounds, then recording, then double clicked the microphone icon. Under listen, I chose the microphone under playback through this device.

A little trial and error but was able to figure it out. If anyone else is trying to get something similar to occur, you may have to follow the above steps.

 

Unable to record audio from Microphone when connected through AUX

Hello,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.



I understand that you are unable to record sound when you connect an external Microphone to your PC. I suggest you to follow the steps mentioned below and check if that helps.



Method 1:



Run the recording troubleshooter to fix the issue with Microphones.

1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
   
2. Under find and fix other problems click on Recording Audio.
   
3. Now click on Run the troubleshooter and follow the instructions.
   

Method 2:



Enable the Listen to this device settings.

1. Right click on the Speaker icon on the bottom right hand corner of the screen.
   
2. Click on Sounds and under
   Recording Devices select the Microphone.
   
3. Click on Properties and select
   Listen tab.
   
4. Check the box Listen to this device.
   
5. Now select the Default Playback Device under
   Playback through this device menu.
   
6. Click on Apply and then OK.
   
7. Click on OK.
   

Once the settings are changed you will be able to hear the sound from the default playback device.



Method 3:



Update the audio drivers and check if the Microphone is working fine. Refer the article

Update drivers in Windows 10.



Hope it helps.



Regards,

Prakhar Khare

Microsoft Community – Moderator