How to Turn On and Test Your Microphone in Windows 10

To turn on your microphone in Windows 10, select Start > Settings > Privacy > Microphone and make sure microphone access is on. Then go to Settings > System > Sound, choose your mic under Input, and speak. The Test your microphone bar moves when Windows hears you.

Applies to: Windows 10. Checked against Microsoft Support on September 25, 2026.

1. Allow apps to use your microphone

1. Select Start > Settings > Privacy > Microphone.
2. If Microphone access for this device is off, select Change and turn it on.
3. Turn on Allow apps to access your microphone.
4. Turn on the apps you want to use, and Allow desktop apps to access your microphone for programs such as Zoom or Discord.

2. Choose and test your microphone

1. Plug in the microphone, or connect a Bluetooth headset.
2. Select Start > Settings > System > Sound.
3. Under Input, pick your microphone in Choose your input device.
4. Speak normally. The Test your microphone bar should move.

If the bar barely moves, turn up the volume. See how to turn up mic volume in Windows 10.

3. Hear yourself (optional)

1. On the Sound page, select Sound Control Panel under Related settings.
2. On the Recording tab, double-click your microphone.
3. On the Listen tab, check Listen to this device and select Apply. Clear it again when you’re done.

If your microphone still doesn’t work

• Check that the mic isn’t muted by a switch on the headset, a key on the laptop, or inside the app you’re using.
• Make sure the mic isn’t disabled: in Sound Control Panel > Recording, right-click an empty area, select Show Disabled Devices, then right-click the mic and select Enable.
• Run the troubleshooter: on the Sound page, select Troubleshoot under Input.
• Update or reinstall the audio driver. See how to update all drivers on Windows 10.

Make your microphone sound better

• Too quiet: open Sound Control Panel > Recording, double-click the mic, and on the Levels tab raise the volume. If there’s a Microphone Boost slider, try +10 dB. Too much boost adds hiss.
• Too loud or distorted: lower the same Levels slider, or move the mic a little further from your mouth.
• Others hear an echo: they’re hearing your speakers through your mic. Use headphones, or lower your speaker volume.
• Background noise: many apps, such as Teams and Zoom, have noise suppression in their audio settings. Turn it on there.

If a Bluetooth headset mic sounds bad

When a Bluetooth headset’s microphone is in use, Windows switches it to a hands-free mode with lower sound quality, so music and voices sound flat during calls. That’s a limit of Bluetooth headsets, not a fault. For better call quality, use a wired headset, a USB headset, or the headset’s own USB dongle if it came with one.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the mic work in one app but not another?

That app may not have microphone permission, or it may use a different input device. Check the app’s own audio settings as well as Privacy > Microphone.

My headset mic isn’t detected. What now?

Try another port. Some laptops have one combined headset jack, and some headsets need a splitter for PCs with separate mic and headphone jacks.

How do I mute my mic quickly?

Many laptops have a mic mute key, often F4 or F8 with a crossed-out microphone. In calls, use the app’s mute button or shortcut, such as Ctrl + Shift + M in Teams or Alt + A in Zoom.

To record your voice, see how to record audio in Windows 10.

To mute the mic or turn it off completely, see how to mute your microphone in Windows 10.

If your microphone still isn’t picked up after these steps, see how to fix a microphone not working in Windows 10.

To hear your own voice through headphones on Windows 11, see how to hear yourself on your mic in Windows 11.

Microsoft’s guides are Windows camera, microphone, and privacy and How to set up and test microphones in Windows. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.

Related: connect wired headphones to a Windows 10 PC.