Helpful tips for using our Audio Troubleshooting
General:
If you’re using an external microphone/headset:
You can also:
- Ensure that all system software is up to date
- Try restarting your device to resolve temporary issues
General:
Close other applications that may be using the microphone
Other video or recording apps may be accessing your device’s microphone, which can interfere with its performance. Quit any other applications / close any unnecessary browser tabs to free up processing power and memory and to help ensure your microphone functions properly.
Note for iPad: Siri can interfere with recording audio on the iPad. For best results, disable Siri using the instructions below.
To disable Siri on iPad
- Navigate to Settings > Siri & Search
- Select the “Off” option for “Listen for”
Check input volume in device settings
If you’re on a laptop or Chromebook, you have the option of adjusting the input volume to change how sensitive the microphone is to sound. This cannot be changed on the iPad.
On a Chromebook
- Click the status bar at the bottom right corner of the screen
- Click on the arrow to the right of the volume slider
- Ensure the microphone you want to use is selected
- A grayed-out microphone with a slash through it indicates your microphone is muted. Click the icon to unmute your microphone
- Ensure the level on the slider is not set too high or too low
On a Macbook
- Click on the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen
- Select System Settings
- Navigate to the “Sound” section
- Under Input, ensure the microphone you want to use is selected
- Ensure the volume level on the “Input Volume” slider is not set too high nor too low
On a PC
- Open the “Sound Settings” menu by clicking the windows button and typing “Sound Settings” in the search
- Ensure the microphone you want to use is selected
- Ensure the volume slider is not too high or too low
Disconnect from any paired Bluetooth devices
Your device may be trying to pick up sound using another input source. To avoid this, turn off the Bluetooth feature or make sure no other microphones are unintentionally paired with your device.
On an iPad
- Navigate to the Settings app
- Tap on Bluetooth in the left sidebar
- Toggle Bluetooth "Off"
- Or disconnect any unnecessary devices by tapping the name and then selecting "Disconnect"
On a Chromebook
- Click the status bar at the bottom right corner of the screen
- Click on the “Bluetooth” icon OR click on the gear icon to navigate to the full settings menu and then search for “Bluetooth”
- Click the button to toggle it off
- Or disconnect any unnecessary devices in Settings > Bluetooth
On a Macbook
- Click on the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen
- Select System Settings
- Navigate to the “Bluetooth” section
- Choose “Turn Bluetooth off”
- Or disconnect any unnecessary devices
On a PC (Windows 11)
- Click on the group of icons to the left of the clock in the system tray (right side of task bar)
- Make sure the bluetooth button is turned off (greyed out)
If you’re using an external microphone/headset:
Check your microphone connection
Note: Bluetooth headphones/headsets are not currently recommended. Headsets that can be plugged directly into the device are preferred.
If you’re using an external headset with a microphone, please ensure:
- Your headset is fully plugged into the jack on your device
- The headphone jack on your device is free of debris
- The cord is free of bends, kinks, or bumps that could indicate internal damage to the wires
If the headset appears to be faulty, try swapping it out for a different one.
IMPORTANT: Check if the headset has an on/off switch or mute button. If it does, check to ensure that the headset is physically switched on and not muted!
Switch your input device
You may need to update the input device when you switch microphones (e.g. plug/unplug a headset) if your Chromebook or laptop does not detect the new microphone and switch automatically. You can do this by navigating to your Chromebook or laptop’s settings menu.
Note: iPads do not allow the user to manually switch microphones but rather switch automatically when a new microphone is connected.
On a Chromebook
- Click the status bar at the bottom right corner of the screen
- Click on the arrow to the right of the volume slider
- Select the microphone you would like to use
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On a Macbook
- Click on the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen
- Select System Settings
- Navigate to the “Sound” section
- Under Input, select the microphone you would like to use
On a PC (Windows 11)
- Open the “Sound Settings” menu by clicking the windows button and typing “Sound Settings” in the search
- Ensure the microphone you want to use is selected
- Ensure the volume slider is not too high or too low
Note: If you have connected an external microphone but do not see it listed in the settings menu, check to see if the microphone has a physical on/off switch or mute button. If it is off/muted, switch it on/unmute it and check the list again.
You can also:
Ensure that all system software is up to date
On an iPad
- Navigate to the Settings app
- Tap on "General" in the left sidebar
- Select "Software Update"
- Check for confirmation message or follow prompts to update.
On a Chromebook
- Click the status bar in the bottom right corner of your screen, then select the gear icon to open the Settings menu
- Click “About ChromeOS” and then “Check for Updates”
On a Macbook
- Click on the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen
- Select System Preferences
- Navigate to the “General” section
- Click on “Software Update” and follow prompts
On a PC (Windows 11)
- Open System Settings: click on the Windows button in your taskbar and search for “Settings”
- Select “Windows Update” from the menu on the left
- Click the “Check for updates” button
Try restarting your device to resolve temporary issues
Restarting your device can reset its system and clear up any temporary glitches or technical issues that may be affecting your microphone function.