Microphone & Audio
Why Is My Microphone Not Working? Step-by-Step Fixes
Microphone not working? A two-minute checklist, then fixes for Windows, Mac, Chrome, Zoom, Teams, Google Meet and Discord, and how to spot a real hardware fault.
Microphone & Audio guides
Fix a microphone that is not working and choose the right mic for calls, streaming and podcasts.
Related free tools: Webcam & Mic Test
Microphone & Audio
How to Choose the Right Microphone: A Buyer’s Guide
Choose the right microphone for calls, gaming, streaming or podcasts: dynamic vs condenser, USB vs XLR, polar patterns and the few specs that matter, then test it free.
In this section
- Why Is My Microphone Not Working? Step-by-Step Fixes, Most microphones that stop working have a settings problem, not a broken part. Check that the right input device is selected, the mic is not muted, and the app has microphone permission in your system privacy settings. Then run a free online mic test to see whether the input level moves.
- How to Choose the Right Microphone: A Buyer’s Guide, Choose for your room first. In untreated rooms, close placement and pickup pattern matter more than dynamic versus condenser design. Pick USB for a direct connection; XLR needs an audio interface. Cardioid suits one speaker. Compare recordings at your normal speaking distance with a free mic test.
Every guide in Microphone & Audio is written and maintained by the FastSaveMedia author, shows its published and updated dates, and links to the free browser tools that do the job.