Sound or Microphone Not Working

Sound or Microphone Not Working

Use this when: Nobody can hear you, you cannot hear anything, or both.

Steps

Do this

What should happen

1. Check the obvious mutes: the app’s mute button, any physical mute on your headset, and the volume in the system tray.

There are usually two or three separate mutes. Between them they catch people daily.

2. Click the speaker icon in the tray and confirm the correct output device is selected.

Windows often keeps sending audio to a monitor, a dock, or headphones you unplugged an hour ago.

3. For the mic: Settings > System > Sound > Input, select the right device, and speak while watching the level bar.

Bars moving = Windows hears you and the problem is inside the app. No movement = go to step 4.

4. Check permissions: Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone — allow access and your app.

A blocked permission is silent with no error.

5. Check the app’s own audio settings — most calling apps have their own input and output pickers.

Teams, Zoom, and Meet each keep separate choices from Windows.

6. Restart the laptop if nothing has levels.

Clears a stuck audio device.

If that did not work

A wired headset works but the built-in speakers do not, or vice versa. Note which, and whether it is through the dock. Some docks do not pass audio properly.

Levels move in Windows but the app hears nothing. The app’s own input is set to the wrong device. Step 5.

No output or no input from anything after a restart. Ticket point.

Log a ticket

MEDIUM — Same day — No sound or no microphone from any device after a restart.


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