Windows 10: Windows Settings Grayed Out - Cannot Enable Microphone or Webcam

Extremely long rant against Windows deleted.....


I've spent the last 2 hours trying to help my mother over zoom by remote controlling her computer only to get increasingly angry. Two hours of google searches and various idiotic things like going into the registry have not helped.


Problem:

My mom got a new webcam/mic for her computer, of course it won't plug and play.


Issue seems to be Microsoft 10s idiotic privacy settings. When I go into microphone privacy settings I see that "Allow apps to access your microphone" is "off" BUT it is also entirely grayed out so I can't turn it on. Additionally, some incoherently stupid message comes up on the top of settings saying "Some of these settings are hidden or managed by your organization."


This computer is not part of an organization, it is a basic POS Windows 10 Home system. There is ONE user my mom, who is also the admin. There are no other computers connected to the network, nor are any network features being utilized. My mom literally uses this computer for Zoom and Gmail.


Most results from Google are telling me to go into registry to manually edit things this is so entirely bizarre, how in the hell could any non-technical person be expected to play around in the registry to get a freaking webcam/mic to work....


Image below sums it up just about right.







Thanks. My 60 year old mom also will be grateful that she can use the webcam that I promised her would be plug and play and has not worked out so smoothly.....

:)

 

Enabling Microphone Settings on Windows 10.

Hi sid071,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

I understand your concern. This setting might have disabled the Microphone in the computer.

I would suggest you to follow the steps mentioned below and enable the Microphone.

1. Press Windows and
   R key together on your Keyboard.
2. Type Control and hit enter.
   
3. Click on Hardware and sound > click on sound
   on the right pane.
4. Choose Recording tab and find the Microphone on the devices list.
   

• If you can’t find it:
  Right click on an empty space and select, “Show disconnected devices” and “Show disabled devices”.
  
• Select “Headphone” and click on “Properties” and make sure that the Headphone is enabled.
  

5. Select the Microphone and click the button Set Default. (Ref fig 1)







Fig 1: Enable Microphone.

If you would like me to provide additional advice, simply respond to this thread. I will get notified and I’ll reply to you as soon as I can.

Hope it helps.

Roohi Taj S

Microsoft Community - Moderator

 

My webcam and microphone is not working.

Hi Ali,

I will be glad to help you with the issue you have with Microphone and Webcam.

What is the make and model of your computer?

Did you make any changes to the computer prior to the issue?

This issue might be because of settings related to Microphone.

The issue cab be resolved by making Microphone as the default device and updating the sound card drivers.

Make sure that the Microphone is not disabled and is set as default.

Make sure that the microphone that you are using is not disabled and is set as default in the computer. Follow these steps to check this:

a) Right click on the volume icon and select “Recording devices”.

b) Now, right click on an empty space and select, “Show disconnected devices” and “Show disabled devices”.

c) Select “Microphone” and click on “Properties” and make sure that the microphone is enabled.

d) You may also check if the microphone that you are using is set as default.

I suggest you to follow the below link to troubleshoot with camera in Windows 10:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-in/help/17444/windows-camera-app-webcams-help

Please reply with the results, we are happy to help you further.

Thank you.

 

Setting up a webcam as the camera default

Hi Kevin

Method 1: If the Webcam is listed under Devices and printers, please follow the steps.

a. Press Windows key + R

b. Type: control printers

c. Hit Enter

d. Check if the Logitech webcam is listed.

e. Right click on Logitech webcam.

f. Click on Set this device as default.

Follow method 2 if webcam is not listed.

Method 2: What best we can do is we can disable the Internal webcam. You will be able to enable the webcam anytime you want.

Please follow the steps to disable HP Envy Webcam.

a. Press Windows + X, click Device Manager.

b. Click Imaging devices.

c. Right click on webcam.

d. Click Disable.