What should I check first if I see symptoms of low microphone sound?

First, proceed with the ‘Mute the microphone and confirm input device selection’ step. The most common causes are poor microphone selection and hardware muting. We recommend that you avoid changing multiple settings at once and check to see if your symptoms change after each step.

How do I check the cause candidate ‘input level/amplification’?

If there is no change in the first step, compare in order until ‘Check Windows privacy rights’. If symptoms disappear immediately after certain actions or the conditions for their occurrence change, this can be an important clue in narrowing down the cause.

Microphone sound is too quiet: When do I need a professional inspection?

Even if you follow the above solution steps in order, if the low microphone sound symptom recurs or hardware abnormal signals such as a burning smell, abnormal noise, overheating, or failure to recognize parts appear together, we recommend backing up important data and having a professional inspection.

PC FIX

Computer Troubleshooting Guide

Audio

Problem with microphone sound being too low

If “microphone sound is low” is repeated, it is better to narrow the scope to input level/amplification and incorrect microphone device rather than changing several settings at once. Check the input device selection, app permissions, and input level first, then check the drivers and hardware.

Solving Order
We've organized the methods starting with the simplest and least expensive ones. Please check the solutions one by one, starting from the top.

Do you have these symptoms?

microphone sound low
The other person has a quiet voice
microphone volume low

main causes

Input level/amplification
Invalid microphone device
Terminal/Driver

How to solve

Please check them in order from the top. If the issue is resolved, you do not need to proceed to the next step.

Mute microphone and confirm input device selection

The most common causes are poor microphone selection and hardware muting.

Difficulty Easy time 3-5 minutes cost 0 won

1Check the physical mute button on the headset/microphone.
2In Settings → System → Sound → Input, select Physical Microphone.
3Tell me if the input level meter moves.

confirmation point

After these steps, see if the “microphone is low” symptom decreases or disappears. If there is no change, check the input level and amplification possibility in the next step.

Check your Windows privacy permissions

If microphone permission is turned off, the app will not be able to receive input.

Difficulty Easy time 3 minutes cost 0 won

1Open Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.
2Allow microphone access and app access.
3Also check the problematic app permissions.

Check the microphone and input volume inside the app

Discord·Zoom·Games may select a different device than the Windows default.

Difficulty Easy time 5 minutes cost 0 won

1Open the app audio settings.
2Specifies the input device as a physical microphone.
3Automatically checks input sensitivity and microphone volume.

Update or reinstall audio/microphone drivers

Outdated or corrupted audio/microphone drivers may be causing the symptom.

Difficulty Moderate time 10~30 minutes cost 0 won

1Check the device in Device Manager.
2Check your PC or component manufacturer's site for audio/microphone drivers for your current model.
3If the problem started immediately after an update, consider rolling back to the previous stable version.
4After installing the driver, restart your PC.

Test the microphone on a different port or device

Identifies jack specifications, distribution cables, and microphone failures.

Difficulty Moderate time 10-20 minutes cost 0 won

1For 3.5mm headsets, check whether your PC has a combo jack or a split jack.
2If necessary, use the correct TRRS distributor.
3Test the microphone on other devices as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

We've put together a list of things we frequently check regarding this issue.

Related issues

If the symptoms do not match exactly, please check the issue below.

Audio

Microphone is recognized but no sound is input

If the current symptom is close to “microphone not working,” first check your privacy permissions and input device selection. Check the input device selection, app permissions, and input level first, then check the drivers and hardware.

View solutions →

Audio

Problem with echo or PC sound coming into the microphone

If “microphone echo” repeats, it is better to narrow the scope to stereo mix/monitoring and headset leakage rather than changing several settings at once. Check the input device selection, app permissions, and input level first, then check the drivers and hardware.

View solutions →

Audio

The sound is too low even when the volume is maximised.

This guide is designed to categorize the volume/output level and communication attenuation items for each app in a safe order in “low volume” situations. Check everything in order, from output device selection and volume mixer to problems with drivers, cables, and the device itself.

View solutions →

Audio

No sound at all from speakers or headphones

If “no sound” repeats, it is better to narrow down the problem to the wrong output device, mute, or volume rather than changing several settings at once. Check everything in order, from output device selection and volume mixer to problems with drivers, cables, and the device itself.

View solutions →

Look for other symptoms too

If you enter the symptoms you are currently seeing in the PC FIX search box, we will find the related problem.

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