How to Increase the Microphone Volume in Windows 11

Windows 11 delivers an improved user experience in many aspects, but as with any operating system, it isn’t perfect. Some users have reported issues with microphone volume, which can lead to various problems.

If you’re working from home, the odds are you’re on Zoom or Skype having meetings, so you need to have excellent microphone quality. The same applies to using your Windows 11 computer to record videos or talk with friends.

Unless you’re dealing with a hardware issue on your Windows 11 laptop, fixing this problem is usually straightforward. We’ll guide you through all the potential solutions, and you can apply the process of elimination until you find what works.

Check the Windows 11 Sound Settings First

Before we get into how to solve issues with microphone volume, it’s vital to check the volume settings. Perhaps your microphone volume is just very low, and all you need to do is adjust it to the level that works for you.

The good news is that you can do that in a few clicks as long as you follow these steps:

1. Go to the Start menu and select “Settings” from the list of options.
   
2. Choose “System” from the left-side pane, followed by “Sound.”
   
3. Under the “Input” section, you’ll notice the “Volume” tile with a slider. Check the volume percentage.
   
4. If the volume is too low, make sure to move the slider to increase it.
   

If the input volume slider is under 20%, that’s probably the reason others can’t hear you on a call. Ideally, the microphone volume should be above 85%.

However, you can test the microphone to ensure it produces the volume level you want. Here’s how to perform the test:

1. Click the “Microphone” tile located above the volume slider.
   
2. Under “Input settings,” click “Start test.”
   
3. Say something in your normal tone of voice or play a sound for several seconds.
4. Stop the test and read the results displayed by Windows next to the test button.
   

If your microphone volume is what you need it to be now, you don’t need to worry anymore. However, if the microphone volume is not great or the microphone doesn’t work at all, then move on to the following solutions.

Check the Windows 11 Microphone Permissions

Some Windows 11 users might test their microphone volume and find that it works fine. But when they get on Zoom or another video calling app, the microphone is silent again.

When this occurs, it’s entirely possible that you haven’t enabled microphone permissions in Windows 11. Without these permissions, third-party apps can’t access the microphone, and you can’t have audio and video calls. It’s a super easy fix–all you need to do is follow these steps:

1. From the Start menu, select “Settings.”
   
2. Click “Privacy & security” option.
   
3. Select “Microphone” from the following window.
   
4. Next to “Microphone access,” move the toggle switch from “Off” to “On.”
   
   

Now, go back to the third-party app and test your microphone. Keep in mind that Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams, and other similar applications have internal sound settings. So, you might need to adjust microphone volume levels within the app manually too.

Make the Most of Microphone Troubleshooter

One of the best features of Windows 11 is that you can troubleshoot any issues you encounter. Windows users know that occasional glitches are common and can occur for various reasons.

To troubleshoot the microphone volume problem, you need to access the Windows 11 system settings. Here’s how that works:

1. Go to “Settings” by clicking on the Start menu.
   
2. Select “System” and click the “Troubleshoot” tile.
   
3. Click the “Other troubleshooters” option.
   
4. Select the “Recording Audio” tile and click the “Run” button.
   
5. The troubleshooting window will appear. Make sure to select the “Microphone” option.
   
6. Click “Next.”
   

This might take several minutes as the Windows scan your system and look for problems. If it finds any, it will suggest fixes as well.

Update Microphone Drivers

If your Windows 11 microphone volume is not working correctly or there are many glitches and inconsistencies, perhaps you’re dealing with an outdated driver.

Often, merely updating a driver solves an entire range of issues. Fortunately, Windows 11 makes this a straightforward endeavor. Here’s what you should do:

1. Go to the Start menu and enter “Device Manager” into the search box. Alternatively, right-click on the Start menu.
   
2. Launch the “Device Manager” and expand the “Audio inputs and outputs” section.
   
3. Right-click on the “Microphone.”
   
4. From the extending menu, select “Update driver.”
   
5. When another window appears, select “Search automatically for drivers.”
   

Your Windows 11 computer will search for the latest microphone driver online and download it. When finished, make sure to restart your computer.

Note: Your computer needs to be connected to the internet to find the driver.

Tweak the Microphone Boost

If your microphone driver is up-to-date but still experiencing volume problems, perhaps you need to adjust the microphone boost, a built-in Windows setting.

This should be the go-to fix if your microphone is working, but you can’t increase the volume in any other way. To access this feature, follow these steps:

1. In your Windows 11 taskbar, right-click on the speaker icon in the bottom-right corner.
   
2. When a menu appears, select the “Sound settings” option.
   
3. On the next window, choose the “Advanced settings” section.
   
4. Select “More sound settings.”
   
5. A new pop-up window will appear. Select the “Recording” tab.
   
6. Right-click on the “Microphone” and select “Properties” from the drop-down menu.
   
7. Select the “Levels” tab on the new window.
   
8. Move the slider to increase the microphone sound sensitivity.
   
9. Click “Apply” followed by “Ok.”
   

This solution should significantly increase your microphone’s volume level, provided there are no hardware issues.

Additional FAQs

What do you do if your external microphone is not working?

Windows 11 PC users rely on external microphones to get the audio input, but they may still run into software problems.

All of the solutions suggested above apply, even if you’re using an external microphone. Many Windows 11 laptop users prefer to use an external microphone. However, it’s vital to point out that these microphones can be damaged easily.

As a result, the microphone volume level might be too low or not work at all. After exhausting all the software fixes, consider checking the microphone’s cable or testing it on another computer to see if there is a problem.

Making Sure Your Microphone Volume Is Optimal

Finding the perfect microphone volume level is incredibly important, especially if you use it every day. In most cases, the issue is that the volume is too low or non-existent, but even if it’s too loud, it’s essential to know how to fix it.

Checking the microphone volume level comes first, as it might be set too low. But other fixes include running the microphone troubleshooter, updating drivers, or adjusting the microphone boost.

Also, don’t forget that third-party apps need Windows 11 permission to use your microphone and have separate sound settings you may need to adjust.

How often do you experience microphone volume issues? Let us know in the comments section below.