Windows 10: Windows 11 laptop microphone/headset not working.

I have a Windows 11 laptop that I've been using for about a year now. Around a few months ago, my LucidSound headset mic stopped working with my computer, be it Discord, games or Voice Recorders, etc. I just chalked it up to the headset not working for whatever reason but about 2-3 weeks ago, the build-in microphone in my laptop stopped working and I currently have no way to communicate over my laptop. My headset is both bluetooth and wire compatible and I have already attempted to update the drivers for all these devices only for them to say that they are already up to date. When I open appli

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Apple Headset/Microphone not working

Windows 10, have 3 Apple headsets. I can hear audio just fine but the microphone isn't recognized at all. I tried this on multiple laptops and while the audio is fine, I cannot get the microphones to work. It's the Apple wired earbuds. Windows isn't even recognizing that the microphone is there, it keeps defaulting to Realtek microphone on the laptop. I can't find drivers for this headset. I even spent three hours with Apple trying to troubleshoot and they FedEx'd me three brand new headsets. Well seems the issue persists even on the three new items. Any ideas. Even my IT guys at work can't figure out how to fix it.

 

headset microphone not working

Hi

Welcome to Microsoft community.

Given the steps you've already taken, it seems you've covered the basic troubleshooting methods. However, there are a few more things you could try before concluding that the headset's microphone is broken:

1. Test the Headset on Another Device:
   
   • If possible, plug your headset into another computer or a compatible device. This can help determine if the issue is with the headset itself or your computer.
     
2. Inspect the USB Port:
   
   • It's possible the USB port might have been damaged when the headset was tugged out. Try using the headset with a different port, which you've done, but also check if other devices work correctly in the same port where the headset failed.
     
3. Disable USB Selective Suspend:
   
   • Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
     
   • Click on “Change plan settings” next to your current power plan.
     
   • Click on “Change advanced power settings”.
     
   • Expand “USB settings” and then expand “USB selective suspend setting”. Set it to Disabled.
     
4. Check Sound Settings in Control Panel:
   
   • Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound.
     
   • Under the Recording tab, right-click an empty space and make sure "Show Disabled Devices" and "Show Disconnected Devices" are checked.
     
   • If your microphone appears, enable it and set it as the default device.
     
5. Try a Different USB Cable (if detachable):
   
   • If your headset uses a detachable USB cable, the cable itself may be faulty. Try a different USB cable if possible.
     
6. Update Motherboard USB Drivers:
   
   • Sometimes, the issue might not be with the device but with the USB drivers of your motherboard. Visit the motherboard manufacturer's website to download and install the latest USB drivers.
     
7. Check if the Microphone is Disabled in BIOS/UEFI:
   
   • Although not common, some BIOS/UEFI settings might have options to disable microphone input for privacy reasons. Check your BIOS/UEFI settings to make sure the microphone or audio input is not disabled.
     
   • Disclaimer: Microsoft provides no assurances and/or warranties, implied or otherwise, and is not responsible for the information you receive from the third-party linked sites or any support related to technology.
     
     If you are going to modify BIOS Settings, please back up all your personal files first to ensure you do not lose data.
     
8. Use a USB Hub with External Power:
   
   • In some cases, the problem might be due to insufficient power being supplied to the USB ports. Using an externally powered USB hub could help in such situations.
     

If after trying these steps, the microphone still doesn't work but is recognized by your PC, it could indeed be a hardware issue with the microphone component of the headset. Given that the audio playback works fine, it points towards a problem isolated to the microphone. In such a case, contacting the manufacturer for a warranty claim (if applicable) or considering a new headset might be the next steps.

Let me know if you need further assistance.

Best regards

Derrick Qian | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

 

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?