Why is my mic not working in Voice Recorder?

Voice Recorder is a useful built-in Windows application for recording audio from your microphone. However, many users encounter issues where their microphone is not working properly in Voice Recorder.

There are several potential reasons why your mic may not be picking up audio as expected in Voice Recorder on your Windows PC:

Mic Not Selected

One common reason a microphone may not work in Windows Voice Recorder is if the wrong microphone input is selected. Windows allows you to set a default microphone input that will be used across various apps and programs. If this default is set incorrectly, Voice Recorder may not pick up any audio.

To check your microphone input selection in Windows 10 or 11:

Open Settings and go to System > Sound.
Under Input, check that your desired microphone is selected as the default input device. For laptops, this is often the built-in internal mic.

If the wrong device is selected, click the dropdown menu and select the proper microphone input.

This ensures Windows Voice Recorder and other programs will use the intended microphone. You can also click “Device Properties” and go to the Levels tab to test your microphone input and see audio levels.

For more help, refer to Microsoft’s guide on setting up and testing microphones in Windows.

Mic Disabled

One common reason why a microphone may not be working in Voice Recorder is if microphone access has been disabled for the app. Windows 10 and 11 include microphone privacy settings that allow you to control which apps have permission to use your mic.

To check this, go to Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone and make sure the toggle for Voice Recorder is turned on. If it is off, simply flip it on to grant mic access. You can also click on Voice Recorder and make sure “Allow access to microphone” is enabled under Microphone access.

According to a Microsoft support article, issues with Voice Recorder could occur if the microphone privacy settings are blocking access. Confirming Voice Recorder has microphone permissions enabled in Windows Settings is an easy fix to try.

Mic Not Recognized

One of the most common reasons for Voice Recorder not detecting your microphone is that Windows does not recognize the microphone device. This can happen if the mic drivers are outdated or corrupted. To troubleshoot:

Check that the microphone is properly connected either via USB or 3.5mm audio jack. Unplug and reconnect.
Go to Sound settings and confirm the mic is listed under Input devices and set as Default Device.

Update audio and mic drivers from Device Manager. Right click device > Update driver.
Try different USB ports if using external USB mic.

If the microphone is still not being detected in Windows settings or Voice Recorder, the device itself may be faulty and require replacement. You can test the mic on another computer to confirm. Also try microphone troubleshooters from manufacturer if available.

Sources:

[How to Fix Windows 10 Voice Recorder Not Working](https://democreator.wondershare.com/voice-recorder/voice-recorder-windows-10-not-working.html)

[5 Ways to Fix the Windows 10 Voice Recorder App Not Recording Audio](https://www.makeuseof.com/windows-10-voice-recorder-app-not-recording-audio/)

Mic Volume Too Low

One of the most common reasons for a microphone not working properly in Voice Recorder is that the mic volume or gain level is set too low. Here’s how to check and adjust the mic volume:

Open the Sound settings in Windows by right-clicking the speaker icon in the system tray and selecting “Sounds.” This will open the Sound control panel.

Under the “Recording” tab, right-click your microphone and select “Properties.” Click the “Levels” tab in the microphone properties window.

Make sure the volume slider is set around 70-100, and toggle the “Microphone Boost” setting on if available. This will amplify the gain of the mic input signal. Refer to this Microsoft guide for more details.

If the mic volume is simply set too low in Windows, increasing it via the volume slider should make your microphone start picking up audio properly in Voice Recorder and other programs.

Additionally, try speaking closer to the microphone for more volume. If you are still too quiet even at 100% volume, the microphone hardware itself may need to be replaced or repaired.

Background Noise

Background noise can interfere with your microphone picking up your voice clearly in Voice Recorder. Here are some tips to reduce background noise:

Get closer to the microphone so it can better pick up your voice over ambient sounds. Position the mic 2-4 inches from your mouth if possible (source).

Use a microphone with a cardioid pickup pattern, which is more sensitive to sound coming from the front rather than all directions. This makes it better at rejecting background noise.

Record in a room with soft surfaces like carpet, curtains, and furniture, which will absorb sound rather than reflect it. Hard surfaces like tile or glass can contribute to echo and ambient noise.

Turn off any electronic devices in the room that generate noise like fans, AC units, and televisions.

Use sound dampening materials like acoustic foam panels or blankets around the recording area to absorb unwanted noises.

If noise is unavoidable, record a sample of the background noise alone. Audio editing software may be able to sample the noise and subtract it from your vocal recording (source).

Mic Damaged

A damaged microphone can cause issues with your voice recorder not picking up any audio or the audio sounding distorted. There are a few signs that your microphone may be damaged and in need of replacement:

Poor frequency pickup – A damaged mic may only pick up certain frequencies while filtering out others, leading to thin, tinny audio quality (Source).

High levels of static or feedback – Damaged mics can produce a constant static or high-pitched feedback in recordings that does not go away (Source).

Intermittent sound – If the audio is cutting in and out inexplicably, it could mean moisture or debris has gotten into the microphone and damaged it (Source).

If you notice any of these issues consistently, it likely means the microphone hardware itself is damaged or worn out. The only fix is to replace the microphone.

Voice Recorder Issues

The Windows 10 Voice Recorder app itself can sometimes encounter problems that prevent it from working properly. Here are some things to try if the issues seem specific to the Voice Recorder app:

Restart the Voice Recorder app – Closing and reopening the app can help clear any temporary glitches.
Update the Voice Recorder app – Go to the Microsoft Store and check for any available updates to the app, which may include bug fixes.

Reset the Voice Recorder app – Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, select Voice Recorder, and choose Advanced options > Reset to reset the app to default settings.
Check app permissions – Make sure Voice Recorder has access to the microphone. Go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone and check that Voice Recorder appears under Allowed apps.
Reinstall the Voice Recorder app – Uninstall and reinstall Voice Recorder from the Microsoft Store to do a clean reinstallation of the app.

Use an alternative app – Try recording audio with a different voice recording app as a workaround.

If the microphone works in other apps, then the issue is likely isolated to the Voice Recorder app. Troubleshooting the app directly often resolves common problems.

Other Tips

If you find that neither the mic nor audio are working properly in Voice Recorder, here are some additional troubleshooting steps you can try:

Run the audio troubleshooter tool in Windows 10. This automated tool can identify and fix common audio issues. To access it, type “audio troubleshooter” into the Windows search bar and select “Find and fix audio playback problems” ¹.

Check your sound settings and make sure the right microphone and speakers are selected as default devices. Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound to verify and make changes ².

Update your audio driver, especially if you have a Realtek sound card. Search for and install the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website.

Restart your PC, as this can reset any audio issues caused by Windows updates or software changes.

Test your microphone and speakers in another app like Skype to isolate the problem to just Voice Recorder.

As a last resort, restore Windows to a previous working state. Back up your data first, then go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery and choose to revert to a restore point when your audio was functional.

When to Seek Help

If you have tried all the troubleshooting steps listed in this guide and your microphone is still not working properly in Voice Recorder, it may be time to seek professional technical help.

Signs that you should contact an IT professional or computer repair service include:

You have followed all the tips in this guide and tested different microphones, but the issue persists

The microphone is still not being detected at all in Voice Recorder or system settings
You have updated drivers, OS, and Voice Recorder app but the problem continues
You hear crackling/popping noises or microphone only records at very low volume

You suspect a hardware problem like microphone socket damage

Technology professionals have specialized tools and expertise to fully diagnose and resolve microphone and recording problems. They can test hardware components like the sound card or microphone jack and determine if those need to be repaired or replaced. Experts may also reinstall audio drivers, update firmware, or perform other system-level troubleshooting. In some cases the operating system may need to be reinstalled or reset. Rather than spending hours trying to fix it yourself, seek professional computer help to get your microphone working again efficiently.