Windows 10: Why are my audio input settings greyed out and microphone not working?

Can someone help me figure out why my audio input settings are greyed out?

:)

 

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?

 

Windows Update messed with audio input devices (microphones)

Hello,



I updated my laptop yesterday, and today, I noticed that none of my audio input devices were functioning correctly. At first, I thought the problem was with my headset microphone, but even the preinstalled microphone array was not working.



While troubleshooting, I tried uninstalling, reinstalling, and updating drivers, and I even played with privacy and microphone access settings. I also restarted my laptop a dozen times, but none of these steps helped.



To make things worse, the option to roll back from the Windows update "is no longer available on this PC," according to the settings app.



I plugged and unplugged my headset several times. Plus, I am aware that my headset has a mute button and that my laptop came with a microphone mute/unmute button, but I don't think that is the cause of the problem, as the preinstalled array itself does not detect any audio. Can you help me resolve this issue?

Edit: I additionally tried:

• Using the troubleshooter.
  
• Messing with the 'default device' settings.
  
• Turning off the audio enhancements.
  
• Restarting the Windows Audio service in Services.
  

 

Bad Microphone Quality after turning on Audio Enhancements

Hello,

There are a few things you can try to improve the microphone quality while keeping Audio Enhancements on. Here are some suggestions:

1. Configure your input device settings: You can adjust the input volume and change the format quality to see if it improves the microphone quality. To do this, go to Settings > Sound and scroll down to the Input section. Adjust the input volume, change the format quality, and test your microphone.
   
2. Update your audio drivers: Outdated drivers can sometimes cause problems, so make sure your audio drivers are up-to-date .
   
3. Use a noise reduction feature: If you’re dealing with background noise, try using a noise reduction feature to eliminate microphone background noise .
   
4. Use a dedicated microphone or headset: Many laptops have low-quality built-in microphones. Try plugging in a dedicated microphone or headset into your PC.
   

I hope these suggestions help you improve the microphone quality while keeping Audio Enhancements on! Let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.

Cristiana