AUDIO PROBLEMS

First check whether Windows 11 can see the microphone, then enable or select it; because updating the driver did not help, only reinstall the driver if the microphone remains completely undetected.

1. Check whether the microphone is detected and selected

1. Open Start → Settings → System → Sound.
2. Under Input, look for the internal microphone, often named Microphone Array or Internal Microphone.
3. If it appears:
   • Select it under Choose a device for speaking or recording.
   • Open its properties and select Start test.
   • Speak normally, select Stop test, and play the recorded sample.
   • Increase Input volume if necessary. ^1^

If this test works, select the same microphone in the audio settings of the affected application instead of the webcam microphone.

2. Enable microphone access

Open Start → Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone, then turn on:

• Microphone access
• Let apps access your microphone
• The switch for the application you want to use
• Let desktop apps access your microphone for traditional desktop programs such as Teams or Zoom

Desktop applications are controlled through the combined desktop-app switch rather than individual switches. ^2^

3. Check for a hidden or disabled microphone

Do this before removing any drivers:

1. Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
2. Select View → Show hidden devices.
3. Expand both:
   • Audio inputs and outputs
   • Sound, video and game controllers
4. Look for Microphone Array, Internal Microphone, or another microphone device.
5. If it is greyed out or disabled, right-click it and select Enable device.
6. If it has a yellow warning icon, open Properties and record the error code—such as Code 10 or Code 43—before making further changes. ^3^

Also check for a physical microphone-mute key or privacy switch on the keyboard or laptop.

4. If Windows still shows no microphone, reinstall the audio driver

Updating a driver and reinstalling it are different operations. Reinstallation replaces a potentially incomplete or corrupted installation.

1. In Device Manager, expand Sound, video and game controllers.
2. Right-click the main audio device and select Uninstall device.
3. If offered, select Attempt to remove the driver for this device, then choose Uninstall.
4. Restart the computer. Windows should reinstall the audio device automatically.
5. If it does not return, reopen Device Manager, right-click Sound, video and game controllers, and select Scan for hardware changes. ^1^

Removing the audio device temporarily disables audio until Windows reinstalls it, so note the device name before uninstalling.

5. Determine whether this is hardware-specific

If the internal microphone is still absent:

• Test an external USB or headset microphone.
• If external microphones work but the internal microphone never appears in Device Manager, contact the PC manufacturer with the exact model and any recorded Device Manager error code.
• If no microphone works, run Settings → System → Sound → Advanced → Troubleshoot common sound problems → Input devices. ^1^

References

1. Windows 11
2. Windows 11
3. My lenovo evo laptop does not recognise a microphone - Microsoft Q&A