Quick answer
The most common cause is the wrong microphone selected in the app itself or a permission denied at system level. First check if the microphone works in Windows or macOS, then in Zoom, Teams and Meet select the right device and raise the input level. If it still does not work, check that you are not muted by a mute button or a physical switch on the headset.
How to recognize the problem
- Others cannot hear you, but you hear them normally
- The microphone indicator in the app does not react while you speak
- The microphone works in voice recording but not in video calls
- The app shows a message that it has no access to the microphone
- Others hear you intermittently or very quietly
Most common causes
Wrong device in the app
Zoom, Teams and Meet remember the last selected microphone, so after connecting a headset or USB microphone they stay bound to the built-in or a virtual device.
Microphone permission is denied
Windows has a global permission and a per-app permission, while macOS has a per-app permission. If any of them is denied, the app does not receive any sound from the microphone.
Input level is too low or the device is muted
The microphone gain in the system may be at zero, and headsets or USB microphones often have a physical mute switch.
The device is used by another app
Some apps hold the microphone exclusively, so another app sees the device but does not get any sound.
Driver or Bluetooth connection
An outdated audio driver or Bluetooth headphones in playback-only mode without a microphone give silence or dropouts.
Step-by-step fix
- 1
Check if the microphone works in the system at all
In Windows open
Settings > System > Soundand in the input section speak while watching the level indicator. On macOS openSystem Settings > Sound > Inputand check the same indicator. If the level does not react here either, the problem is not in Zoom, Teams or Meet, but in the device or permissions. - 2
Check microphone permissions
In Windows 11 go to
Settings > Privacy & security > Microphoneand turn on microphone access, as well as the switch for the specific app (in Windows 10:Settings > Privacy > Microphone). On macOS openSystem Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphoneand enable permission for the app you use. After changing the permission, close and reopen the app. - 3
Select the right microphone in the app
In Zoom open
Settings > Audioand in theMicrophonedrop-down select the device you use, then clickTest Mic. In Teams go toSettings > Devicesand checkMicrophone. In Meet click the three dots in the call, openSettings > Audioand select the device. Avoid options like "Same as System" if you have multiple devices. - 4
Check mute in the app and on the device
Make sure the microphone button in the call is not in the off position and that the mute shortcut on the keyboard is not pressed. On headsets and USB microphones look for a physical switch or mute button. If the microphone is on a headset with a detachable cable, check that the cable is fully plugged in.
- 5
Raise the input level
In Windows in
Settings > System > Soundopen the properties of the input device and increase the volume, and if needed the boost if available. On macOS inSystem Settings > Sound > Inputmove the input level slider to the right. Speak at a normal volume and watch that the indicator does not go into the red. - 6
Close apps that hold the microphone
Close sound recorders, other calls, voice recorders and speech recognition programs. In Windows 11 open
Settings > Privacy & security > Microphoneand you will see which apps recently used the microphone (in Windows 10 openSettings > Privacy > Microphoneand check per-app permissions). Then restart the call. - 7
Check Bluetooth and drivers
If you use Bluetooth headphones, in Windows check in Bluetooth settings that the device is connected, then in
Settings > System > Soundwhether it appears as an input device. OpenDevice Managerand check if audio devices have a yellow warning sign; if needed update the driver from the manufacturer's site. On macOS inSystem Settings > Bluetoothif needed remove and reconnect the device. - 8
Test before the call
Before a call always do a test: Zoom has
Test Mic, Teams has a device test in settings, and Meet shows an indicator when you speak. If the test passes but others cannot hear you in the call, check that you did not join the wrong meeting or window and that another microphone is not selected in the call itself.
If nothing helped
First make a clean test with another program, for example voice recording in Windows or macOS. If it works there, the problem is in the app: clear the browser cache for Meet, in Zoom and Teams sign out and sign in again, then update the app to the latest version. If it does not work in recording either, unplug the USB microphone and plug it into another port, and if possible try on another computer. With older USB microphones and headsets, replacing the cable often helps too. When everything passes on one computer but not on another, compare permissions and selected devices, because that is where the difference is most often hidden.
How to prevent it
- Before every important meeting do a microphone test in the app
- Keep Zoom, Teams and the browser up to date
- Do not change the selected microphone in the middle of a call
- Check the physical mute switch on the headset before joining a meeting
When to call a professional
If you have gone through all the checks and the microphone still does not work in any app, or if it is a work computer with restricted permissions, it is better to contact IT support than to change drivers and system settings yourself.
IT infrastructure maintenance · Servers, networks, backup, security and helpdeskFAQ
Why can they hear me in one program but not in another?
Because each app remembers its own device selection and has its own permission. Check the microphone selection in each app individually, because a successful test in Zoom does not mean that Teams selected the same device.
The microphone works in voice recording but not in a call. What should I do?
That usually means that another device is selected in the call or that mute is on. Open the sound settings in the app during the call and select the same microphone that works in recording, then check the indicator while you speak.
Is it enough to turn on the microphone permission in the system?
In Windows, besides the global permission there is also a per-app permission, and on macOS the permission is per app, with approval on first launch. In Windows check both levels, and on macOS the permission for the specific app, then restart the app after the change.