Is your Mac’s microphone working? 6 Actual fix

Wouldn’t it be a hassle to connect with FaceTime, Zoom, Skype, use Siri, audio recording, etc. because your MacBook’s microphone isn’t working? This may be due to a basic glitch or mic misconfiguration. But don’t worry! Here’s a tested solution to fix an issue where the built-in microphone doesn’t work.

Let’s start with the microphone test

Hold down Command + space bar Summon Siri. You can also click the icon in the upper left.Well, listen to something like’how is the weather?‘If you see a transcript of the voice command, the microphone is fully functional.

At the hardware level, this is a good sign that the built-in MacBook’s microphone is working and you don’t have to spend money or time at the Apple Store.

Therefore, the problem may be due to app permissions, microphone input level, or temporary glitches. Let me show you how to fix it. But before that, here are a few words about the different microphones you can use on your Mac.

Learn about the different microphones you can use on your Mac

1.1. MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and other versions of portable Apple notebooks or iMacs have at least one built-in microphone. It can be used for all the purposes Mike normally does, such as FaceTime, Zoom, Skype calls, voice recording, and more.

Note: Other Macs, such as Mac mini and Mac Pro, don’t have a built-in microphone.

2.2. You can use external wired compatible microphones purchased from Amazon, Best Buy, your local computer shop, and more. Depending on the model, it may connect to a MacBook’s 3.5mm headphone jack or USB port.

3.3. You can also connect Apple’s wired EarPods or other manufacturers’ wired headsets to your Mac and use their microphones for calls, recordings, and more.

4.4. Finally, in this wireless era, you can use that microphone with AirPods or other third-party Bluetooth earphones, headphones, and more.

Now that you’ve cleared the basics, let’s jump to the fix.

How to fix a MacBook microphone not working issue

1. Modify the voice input settings

1. click Apple logo Select in the upper left System Preferences..
2. click sound..
3. Then click input tab.
   Here you can see all the available microphones. For example, in the image below, there are two microphones. AirPods microphone connected to the internal microphone. From here you can choose one.
4. Let’s fine-tune the settings of the selected microphone. Speak something at a normal pace.
   Can you see the hole next to it Input level Will it be full? If yes, the microphone is catching your sound. Speaking out loud will fill more holes.

   

5. Then you can increase the input sensitivity of the microphone by sliding Input volume Right slider.
   On the right side, the microphone can detect and pick up even low-pitched sounds. If it is on the far left, the microphone must speak very loudly to pick up the voice.
   
   

2. Give the app permission for the microphone

With the latest macOS versions, you can control whether your app allows access to your Mac’s microphone.

For example, if your Mac’s microphone isn’t working in Zoom, the Zoom app may have refused to request access to your microphone. Follow the steps below to enable the app to use the microphone.

1. Open System Preferences → Security and privacy..
2. click privacy tab.
3. From the left sidebar microphone..
   You should now see all apps with microphone access or denied status.

   

4. To allow the app Padlock icon At the bottom left, use your MacBook password to authenticate.
5. Then select the app’s checkbox to allow the app to access the microphone.
6. finally, finish With the app Resume It. The app is now ready to use the microphone.

   

3. Restart your MacBook

This is a great solution for fixing temporary glitches that your Mac picks up during normal use.Save work in progress → Click Apple logo Upper left → select Reboot..

Note: If a simple restart doesn’t solve the problem, try restarting your Mac in safe mode. If the microphone is operating in safe mode, this means that there are competing apps that are causing the problem. To work around this, update your Mac app and make sure you’re running the latest version of macOS available on your computer.

4. Check the internal microphone settings of the Mac app

Some voice recording apps, video editing apps, and video calling apps have an internal microphone setting. Make sure everything is working there.

In most cases, the microphone settings are in the app settings.To enter the app settings, open the app and press Command key +, (Kamma key)..

5. Reset NVRAM / PRAM

Another reliable fix for dealing with built-in microphones that don’t work on Mac is to reset NVRAM / PRAM. There is another guide on how to do that on an Intel-based MacBook. please look.

Note: If your computer has Apple Silicon, you can skip this.

6. Try dictation!

If the above solution didn’t help, enable dictation and see if this brings luck.

1. Open System Preferences Click keyboard..
2. click Dictation..
3. turn on Dictation..
4. After this, try using the microphone. It should work.

   

These are ways to fix problems with Mac microphones not working. I hope these help you. If not, use an external microphone for the time being and contact Apple Support for additional help.

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