3 Easy Ways to Turn On the Microphone in Windows 10

Learn how to re-enable your microphone

3 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

After installingWindows 10, themicrophonecan be disabled. If this happens, there are a few things you can troubleshoot before going out and buying an external or internal sound card.

The free upgrade forWindows 10was available to everyone at one point. This gift did not come with no strings attached. The upgrade disabled microphone in PCs across the world.

If your computer is running Windows 10, the microphone should function regardless of whether you are using an HP, Dell, Lenovo, or any other laptop or desktop.

If the microphone driver is correctly identified and activated in Windows, it should function with the majority of microphones, whether they are in a headset, headphone, or standalone device.

There are a couple of settings in the Settings app of Windows 10 that will turn off your microphone across all programs. Even desktop programs cannot get microphone input if your webcam is off in settings. Regardless of the situation, we have the solutions here.

Quick Tip:

Before digging into the troubleshooting process we recommend you download and install the latest microphone drivers. A missing or damaged driver won’t allow the microphone to be set up properly.

Using a dedicated tool like Outbyte Driver Updater is a tested method we applied for this issue. Due to its large library, you can rest assured that you will get the latest version of the drivers.

Outbyte Driver Updater

How can I enable the microphone on Windows 10?

Some users will get frustrated easily and go out to buy an external sound card but for those users who would like to troubleshoot the issue, take a look at the following solutions.

1. Via Device Manager

1. Access theWinx Menuby simultaneously pressing theWindows + X keys.

2.SelectDevice Managerfrom the list.

Click onSound, Video and Game Controllers.
Right click on the sound card that is currently installed on thePC.
ChooseEnable device.
Restart the computer to finish the process.

If your microphone is not enabled, you can manually turn it on using Device Manager. This built-in tool allows you to easily enable or disable your sound devices, as well as update their drivers.

Note: If there is a yellow warning icon beside the name of the sound controller, the drivers for that controller are either damaged or uninstalled.

2. Using Sound Settings

3. Via Windows Settings

If these solutions do not work to resolve the issues with the microphone there may be damage to thecomputer’s hardware.

Hardware issues can be resolved by buying external components or having new internal components installed.

Buying external components to resolve this issue may be an inexpensive way to fix the issue. Resolving sound issues can take a few restarts and re-installations.

Be sure to exhaust all options before buying newhardware.

If you have any other suggestions or questions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below and we’ll be sure to check them out.

3 Easy Ways to Turn On the Microphone in Windows 10#

Outbyte Driver Updater#

How can I enable the microphone on Windows 10?#

1. Via Device Manager#

2. Using Sound Settings#

3. Via Windows Settings#