Microphone Not Working on Chromebook: 7 Fixes

Source: Microphone Not Working on Chromebook: 7 Fixes

When your Chromebook’s microphone stops working, it limits its functionality. To fix a microphone not working on a Chromebook, try these fixes.

Is your microphone not working on Chromebook? A non-working microphone reduces the functionality of your Chromebook.

For example, you cannot host conference calls through Zoom or Google Meet. You also can’t use other voice chat apps on your Chromebook.

Luckily, we have some troubleshooting steps you can take to fix the issue when your microphone isn’t working on a Chromebook. Here are seven solutions to try, whether it’s the built-in mic or an external mic you connect via USB.

1. Restart your Chromebook

If the built-in microphone isn’t working on Chromebook, there are some basic troubleshooting steps you can try. A quick and easy fix is ​​to turn off your Chromebook and turn it back on.

To restart your Chromebook:

1. Disconnect any connected external microphones and click notification area in the right corner of the taskbar (where the clock is).
2. When the menu appears, click power button to shut down the Chromebook.
3. Wait about 30 seconds, turn the Chromebook back on, and sign in to your Google account.

After that, launch an app that uses the microphone and see if it works. If you use an external microphone, Reinsert it after restarting by disconnecting and reconnecting it to the USB or micro-USB port on your Chromebook. If it still doesn’t work, try a different port if one is available on your Chromebook.

Still does not work? You need to try the following troubleshooting steps next.

2. Update your Chromebook

Chrome OS is updated quietly in the background – it includes security and stability patches. Even though it updates automatically, there’s no harm in manually updating your Chromebook if your microphone isn’t working.

To update your Chromebook manually:

1. press the three-point button in the upper right corner and select settings.
2. Choose About ChromeOS and click the Check for updates Button.
3. If an update is available, wait for it to install. A reboot is likely required to complete the update.

3. Check the audio input settings on the Chromebook

For the microphone to work properly, the audio input settings on your Chromebook must be enabled and adjusted appropriately.

To check the microphone input settings on a Chromebook:

1. press the notification area on the right side of the taskbar.
2. Choose audio settings Arrow icon next to the volume slider.
3. You can customize those Microphone volume slider and make sure it works. If it works, a circled check mark will appear next to the microphone listed.

4. Disable conflicting extensions on Chromebook

If you have too many extensions installed, one or more could be conflicting and causing the microphone on your Chromebook to stop working.

This is especially true for extensions that interact with your microphone or camera in some way.

To disable a Chromebook extension:

1. Open Google Chrome and click the extension icon on the toolbar.
2. Choose Manage extensions from the menu.
3. First, you can disable an extension individually and see if the microphone starts working. Alternatively, disable all extensions and turn them on one by one until you find the culprit.

If you find that a specific extension is causing the microphone not to work, leave it disabled or uninstall it completely if you don’t absolutely need it.

5. Enter guest mode on Chromebook

Another possibility is Enable guest mode on your Chromebook and use it to find a problematic extension or app.

If you switch to guest mode, extensions will be disabled. It is free of any apps or extensions that could hijack the audio input.

If the microphone works in guest mode, you can sign out as a guest, sign back in as usual, and find the app or extension that the microphone isn’t working.

6. Try a different app for your Chromebook microphone

If you’re just having microphone issues while using Zoom or Google Meet, try another app and see if it works. The app you’re using could be causing the microphone on your Chromebook to stop working.

Install a simple app to test your microphone like voice recorder. It’s free and easy to use – click the record button and speak a short message. If it works, there is most likely a problem with another app’s audio input settings.

Every app is different, but you should be able to go into the app’s settings, find microphone and audio input settings, and adjust them.

7. Factory reset the Chromebook with Powerwash

If the microphone on the Chromebook still doesn’t work, you can use the Powerwash feature to factory reset it as a last resort. The Powerwash process removes all user accounts and resets your device to how you first took it out of the box.

Powerwash your Chromebook:

1. Open Settings > Advanced settings > Reset settings and click the Reset to default Button.
2. To start the Powerwash function, you need to restart the Chromebook – click restart button and follow the on-screen instructions.

The time this takes varies and your Chromebook will restart a few times while it’s factory reset.

This should be a last resort, but if the mic isn’t working after a factory reset, it could be defective. Check your warranty and call tech support for more advice. If it’s under warranty, you may need to speak to the retailer you bought it from first.

Troubleshooting a microphone not working on a Chromebook

If the microphone isn’t working on your Chromebook, one or more of the options above should get it working again. Try an external microphone if the built-in microphone doesn’t work after a powerwash. With any luck, this won’t happen, and you can fix it by adjusting the audio input settings or disabling an extension.

If you’re new to Chromebook, there are other things that might interest you. For example, did you know that you can put a Chromebook on airplane mode? You can also add a second user on your Chromebook.

If your device is getting smudged and dirty, learn how to clean a Chromebook screen.

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