To reduce background noise on your mic in Windows 10, open the microphone’s Properties, go to the Levels tab, and lower Microphone Boost. Then check the Enhancements tab for Noise Suppression and turn it on if it’s there. Windows 10 doesn’t have its own noise filter for every mic, so these options depend on your microphone’s driver.
Applies to: Windows 10. Keep in mind that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Security updates now come only through the Extended Security Updates program, which stops on October 12, 2027.
1. Open your microphone’s properties
- Right-click the speaker icon on the taskbar and select Open Sound settings.
- Under Input, choose your microphone, then select Device properties > Additional device properties.
You can also press Windows + R, type mmsys.cpl, select the Recording tab, and double-click your microphone.
2. Lower Microphone Boost
Boost makes your voice louder, but it makes background noise louder too.
- Select the Levels tab.
- Set Microphone Boost to 0.0 dB or +10 dB, and raise the Microphone slider instead if your voice is too quiet.
- Select Apply.
If Microphone Boost isn’t listed, your driver doesn’t offer it. If your voice is too quiet without it, turn up mic volume in Windows 10 instead.
3. Turn on Noise Suppression
- Select the Enhancements tab. On some PCs it’s called Advanced or has the audio maker’s name.
- Check Noise Suppression and Acoustic Echo Cancellation if you see them.
- Select Apply, then test your mic.
If there’s no Enhancements tab, try updating the audio driver from your PC maker.
4. Use your app’s noise filter
Most call and meeting apps have their own noise suppression, and it often works better than the driver setting. Look in the app’s audio settings for an option like Noise suppression or Background noise. Turn on only one noise filter at a time, because two filters together can make your voice sound choppy.
Where to find noise filters in popular apps
- Microsoft Teams: Settings > Devices (or Devices and audio), then set Noise suppression to Auto or High.
- Zoom: Settings > Audio, then set Suppress background noise. Auto suits most calls, and High works better in loud rooms.
- Discord: User Settings > Voice & Video, then turn on Noise Suppression.
- NVIDIA Broadcast: a free app for PCs with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics card. It filters noise for any app that uses its virtual microphone.
Menu names change as these apps update, so search the app’s settings for “noise” if you can’t find the option.
Other quick fixes
- Move the mic closer to your mouth and away from fans or keyboards.
- A headset mic usually picks up less noise than a laptop’s built-in mic.
- Turn off Listen to this device on the Listen tab, so you don’t hear yourself with a delay.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check how my mic sounds now?
Record a short clip in Windows 10 and play it back.
My mic isn’t working at all. What now?
Work through the fixes for a microphone not working in Windows 10 first, then come back to noise.
Does Windows 10 have Voice Clarity?
No. Voice Clarity is a Windows 11 feature on some PCs. On Windows 10, use the driver’s enhancements or your app’s noise filter.
Why does my voice sound robotic or cut out?
The noise filter is too strong, or two filters are working at once. Lower the app’s setting to Low or Auto, and turn off Noise Suppression on the Enhancements tab if the app has its own.
How do I stop the mic picking up my typing?
Use push-to-talk if your app has it, so the mic only works while you hold a key. A directional headset mic also picks up much less keyboard noise than a laptop mic.
Will a new microphone help more than settings?
Often, yes. A headset or a USB mic placed close to your mouth picks up your voice much more strongly than the room, so filters have less work to do.
If you move to Windows 11, you can turn on noise suppression in Windows 11 with Voice focus.
Two support pages go deeper: Fix microphone problems and Disable Audio Enhancements (the Enhancements tab).
When you’re not talking, muting your microphone in Windows 10 keeps noise out completely.
Matt Jacobs writes and maintains the guides on Support Your Tech, which he started in 2017. He spent most of his career keeping small-business PCs running and still takes the occasional consulting job, so the steps here come from fixing the same problems on other people’s computers. Every guide is checked on his own Windows 11, Windows 10, Mac, iPhone and iPad before it goes up.