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We have covered 14 fixes in this post to assist you in fixing the Chromebook microphone not working problem. We’ll talk about:

• Common issues why the microphone doesn’t work
• How to get the mic working again
• Tips to fix static, background noise, and get the best possible audio quality
• Other common Chromebook FAQs and microphone bugs

You start to understand that it’s not your fault, the other participants’ fault, or even your own fault despite the fact that your microphone is on. You can hear it on your Chromebook. It needs to be fixed because there is a problem.

Causes of Mic Not Working on Chromebook

This could be happening for a variety of reasons.

Some of the most common reasons why the mic doesn’t work on Chrome OS are:

• Microphone sensitivity too low
• Blocked permissions for specific sites or apps (you may have blocked access)
• Restrictions from a managed/enrolled network xyz
• defective or subpar microphone (verify warranty!)

The first places we’ll look for suspicious activity are the hardware, settings, and other common troubleshooting areas of your microphone.

It’s possible that the microphone’s sensitivity is the secret reason it’s not picking up anything.

How to Fix the Mic Not Working on Chromebook

1. Restart Chromebook

Restarting the Chromebook should frequently be sufficient to restore the microphone’s functionality. Restarting the Chromebook will therefore be the first step.

Click the time button on your Chromebook in the bottom-right corner of the shelf. Press the Shut Down icon. Your Chromebook will be turned off by this. Turn on the Chromebook as usual after waiting at least 30 seconds.

2. Reset Chromebook Hardware

The hardware on your Chromebook should then be reset in an effort to fix the microphone. You don’t have to open up your Chromebook, and neither this method nor deleting your data are necessary. Only the hardware itself will be restarted, including the keyboard, touchpad, camera (which might be affecting the microphone somehow), and so on.

1. Turn off your Chromebook using the Shut Down button in the Quick Panel.

2. Press and hold the Refresh button and while keeping it pressed, press the Both buttons are on your keyboard, the power button.3. Release the Refresh button once the Chromebook has turned on.

3. Check Microphone Settings

If the microphone is turned off or its sensitivity is set too low or high, the Chromebook’s microphone will not function, and you risk hearing noise in your audio. To fix it, follow these steps:

1. Click on time at the bottom-right corner of your ChromeOS.

2. Open the Quick Panel. Click on the arrow next to the Sound/Speaker icon.

3. On the next screen, make sure the Microphone icon is turned on. It needs to be highlighted. Click on it to turn on the microphone if it’s grey or has a bar on it.

4. Set the microphone volume to the middle and then make further adjustments.

4. Change Default Microphone in Chrome

Make sure the correct microphone is selected in Chrome Settings if you use an external microphone with your Chromebook.

1. Your Chromebook should be open in Chrome.

2. Click on the three-dot icon at the top and go to Settings.

3. Go to Privacy and security > Site settings.

4. Scroll down and click on Microphone under Permissions.

5. Click on the drop-down box that lets you select the default microphone and choose the microphone that you want to use.

5. Grant Microphone Permission in Chrome

If a website or a web app does not allow you to use the microphone, you must grant it permission in Chrome as shown below.

1. Go to Chrome Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Microphone as shown in the above method.

2. Scroll down and enable “Sites can ask to use your microphone“.

3. Make sure the website where you are not permitted to use the microphone is not listed under the section labeled “Not allowed to use your microphone” by scrolling down further. If it is, click on the Trash icon next to it,

4. Alternatively, open the website in Chrome and click on the Lock icon next to the the address bar’s URL Switch on the microphone by turning it on.

6. Connect External Microphone Again

Your Chromebook may not function properly if you remove the external microphone because it frequently believes that it is still attached. Simply reattach the microphone to the Chromebook using the USB or 3.5mm jack to fix it.

7. Disconnect Bluetooth Headphones

Are your Chromebook’s Bluetooth earbuds or headphones in use? That might also be the cause of the malfunctioning Chromebook microphone. In essence, you may not be able to use the internal microphone on your Chromebook because it may still be connected to the Bluetooth device.

Turn Bluetooth off on your Chromebook to solve the problem. For that, click on time at the bottom-right corner of your Chromebook and press the Bluetooth button to turn it off. At the bottom, it ought to say Off.

8. Try in a Different App

You should test your Chromebook’s microphone in a different app if it isn’t working in one particular app. The Camera app on the Chromebook will be a wise choice. In fact, https://mictests.com/ allows you to test it online.

If the microphone functions properly elsewhere, check the app’s microphone settings or uninstall and reinstall it.

9. Update Chrome Browser

The microphone capabilities on your Chromebook might be compromised by an outdated Chrome version. As a result, you need to update it. The Chrome browser is automatically updated, just like ChromeOS. However, if you don’t frequently turn off your Chromebook, this might not have happened.

To update the Chrome browser manually on your Chromebook, follow these steps:

1. On your Chromebook, launch Chrome.

2. Click on the three-dot icon at the top and go to Help > About Google Chrome.

3. The search for an update in Chrome will begin. Click on the Relaunch button to update If a new version of Chrome is available.

10. Update ChromeOS

Additionally, you need to confirm that your ChromeOS is updated to the most recent version. Go to Chromebook Settings and click on About Chrome OS from the left sidebar. Then, press the Check for updates button.

11. Disable Extensions

Your Chromebook’s microphone may not operate as it should if you have certain Chrome extensions installed, particularly those that deal with audio and sound. To determine which extension is harming your microphone, you must turn each one off one at a time.

1. In the Chrome browser, click on the three-dot icon at the top and go to More Tools > Extensions.

2. Use the toggle to disable each extension.

3. Keep it disabled or uninstall it after you’ve identified the offender.

Tip: Browse the most useful Chrome extensions for productivity.

12. Reset Chrome

Try resetting the Chrome browser if the solutions listed above didn’t work to fix the microphone on your Chromebook. The shortcuts, permissions, and other settings will be reset if you do this. Additionally, it will disable extensions and remove cookies. Your history, bookmarks, and saved passwords won’t be impacted.

To reset Chrome, go to Restore settings to their factory defaults in Chrome Settings > Reset and Clean up.

13. Reset Chromebook

The last step is to factory reset or power wash your Chromebook. Prior to performing a device reset, be sure to backup the data on your Chromebook because doing so will erase it.

Go to Reset settings by selecting Reset in the Chromebook’s Advanced menu.

14. the Last Resort

If you tried everything to fix the microphone on your Chromebook but were unsuccessful, you should notify the manufacturer because it might be a hardware problem. Learn how to determine your Chromebook’s model if they ask for the name.

How to Enhance Your Mic’s Audio Quality

If your mic registers but just has terrible sound (maybe your colleagues or peers comment that you’re always fading out or “sound far” from the mic), there are some things you can do to enhance the audio input instantly.

Here are some tips to get crystal clear sound through your Chromebook’s microphone:

Sit at the Right Distance from Your Device

Place the laptop at arm’s length from your neutral seat.

When speaking into the camera during an online chat, I’ve seen some people hunch over. This action is unnecessary.

Tilt the screen back if you can’t see it.

Don’t Talk Directly into the Mic

You’ll hear a lot of distortion if you speak into the built-in mic directly.

You can test this by blowing into the speaker of your phone. It’s the same thing.

You don’t need to put your face in front of the microphone nor do you need to “point” your mouth’s words towards it. Simply conduct yourself normally as you would if a second person were present.

Don’t act like a robot or anything by speaking in that manner.

Don’t Speak Too Loudly Or Too Quietly

Poor audio quality can result from speaking too softly or too loudly.

Speak more softly or move farther away from your laptop if you’re experiencing a lot of bass notes and choppy audio. It’s not designed for close quarters conversation.

You don’t have to bend your head down (which is a terrible posture) just to speak “into” the computer.

Talk to yourself as you would a regular person in the room, sitting up straight.

This will greatly improve the clarity of your voice.

Stay in the same spot and speak a little louder if you’re being too quiet. All of it boils down to that.

Any problems with the microphone on your Chromebook’s should now be resolved in terms of volume.

Use An External Microphone (Bluetooth, USB, Or Headphone Jack)

Use an external mic whenever possible.

This will rule out the possibility that your Chromebook’s hardware or an updated audio driver is to blame for the audio issues. It’s true.

Owners have reported that after a recent update to Chrome OS xyz, their audio has started to sound like the loud static noise from a television.

You can discover what’s causing the poor audio quality by using an external mic.

Get a microphone that is external (whether it is Bluetooth, USB, or an inline mic that plugs into the audio jack) and perform some microphone tests.

Examine whether the issue is still present. It might be a driver issue if the image is consistently hazy or crackly regardless of the device you use. You have no recourse until Google releases a fix for this.

You can attempt to revert to a previous version of Chrome by pressing the xyz key, or you can inform Google of the issue by posting in the support forums. Alternately, you could send suggestions straight to team XYZ.

But if the static goes away when you switch devices, you’ll know it’s just a hardware issue.

Use the built-in bug reporter and throw away that inferior microphone and use the superior one xyz instead.

Adjusting Microphone Settings

Around April of this year, Chromebooks received a new update (Chrome OS 81) that included a volume control for the microphone and headphones in the system tray.

If your mic suddenly stops working after an update, try doing the following steps to resolve it:

• Click on your picture at the bottom right corner
• Look for the small headphones icon in the system tray and click on it
• Adjust your microphone input and volume output as desired

Note: You won’t see this icon if no headphones are found. The slider, however, allows you to change the output.

Conclusion: Troubleshooting a Microphone Not Working on a Chromebook

One or more of the aforementioned solutions should fix any microphone issues on your Chromebook. After a Powerwash, if the built-in microphone is inoperable, try an external microphone. Hopefully, it won’t come to that and you’ll be able to fix it by changing the audio input settings or turning off an extension.

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