How to Fix a Windows 11 Microphone keeps Turning OFF (STEPS)

Why does my Windows 11 Microphone turn off by itself?

The main reason why your Windows 11 microphone keeps turning off by itself is because the mic hasn’t been set as the default microphone, a muted audio feature, or the mic is turned off.

 

• Incorrect  setting on PC
• Muted audio feature
• Switched off microphone

 

Incorrect audio settings on your PC

 Your microphone may be connected to your PC but may not have been set as default. Hence, it tends to keep turning OFF by itself. You can change the settings to prevent this from happening.

 

Muted audio feature

The audio features may have been set to mute in the settings. This can be easily overcome by resetting the sound devices as well as setting their volume levels in accordance with your preferred choices.

 

Switched OFF microphone

If some of the settings of the microphone have been switched OFF, it causes your microphone to turn off. Once switched ON, you will have access to your microphone.

 

 

How to stop my Windows 11 Microphone from turning off?

You can stop your Windows 11 Microphone from turning OFF by setting the microphone to default, unmuting the audio feature, or switching ON the microphone feature.

Microphone issues can be easily resolved by following the instructions given below.

 

Set the microphone feature to default

1. In the taskbar, right-click on the Speaker icon.
2. Select Open sound settings.
3. Scroll down and click on the Sound control panel.
4. Click on the Recording tab.
5. Click on Microphone and select Set as Default.
6. Click OK.

 

Unmute the audio feature

1. Press the Windows and I keys simultaneously.
2. In Settings, go to System and then click on Sound.
3. Click on the Volume icon.
4. Reset the sound devices and set the volume level for the different apps according to your preference.

 

Switch ON microphone feature

1. In the search bar, type Settings.
2. Scroll down to the left side of the menu and click on Privacy & Security.
3. Scroll down to App permissions.
4. Click on Microphone.
5. Turn ON the toggle for Microphone access.

 

Why does Windows keep turning down my microphone?

Windows keeps turning down your microphone because the software has not been updated, erroneous audio input and output settings in the device manager, or wrong app permissions.

Some of the solutions to resolve these issues are given below.

 

Outdated software

1. Type Settings in the search bar.
2. Tap on Windows update.
3. Click on Check for Updates and then click Install updates.

Windows 11 checks for the software updates automatically as well.

 

Erroneous audio input and output settings

1. In the Windows taskbar, right-click on the Speaker icon.
2. Select Sound settings.
3. Locate the Input section and check the number of input microphones available.
4. Tick-mark the microphone you wish to use if it has been ticked OFF.

 

Wrong app permissions

1. Under Settings, click on Privacy.
2. Click Microphone in the left pane.
3. Click the Change button under the Allow access to the microphone on this device section.
4. Ensure the toggle switch for Microphone access for this device is turned ON.

 

 

How do I lock my mic volume?

You can lock your mic volume by preventing other apps from controlling your device, manually modifying the volume feature, or updating your microphone driver.

These minor glitches can be solved in the following manner.

 

Prevent other applications from controlling your device

1. Type Run in the search bar.
2. Type mmsys.CPL inside the text box and press the enter key.
3. In the Sound window, click the Recording tab from the horizontal menu.
4. Select the Microphone that you want to lock the volume.
5. Click Properties.
6. Click the Advanced tab and go to the Exclusive mode section.
7. Uncheck the box associated with Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device.
8. Click on Apply and restart your computer.

 

Manual modification of the volume feature

1. Type Run in the search bar.
2. Type control inside the text box and press enter.
3. On the Classic control panel interface, locate Sound on the top right of the screen.
4. Click on Sound and then click the Recording tab.
5. Select the microphone/headset that is active.
6. Click on the Properties button and go to the Levels tab.
7. Use the slider to adjust the volume according to your preference.
8. Click Apply.

 

Update your microphone driver

1. Type device manager in the search bar.
2. Expand the Sound, video and game controllers node.
3. Right-click on the device you wish to update and select Properties from the context menu.
4. Click on the Driver tab and then click on update driver.
5. Click on Search automatically for updated driver software on the next screen and follow the instructions.
6. Restart your device.

 

How do I stop my microphone from auto-adjusting Windows 11?

You can stop your microphone from auto-adjusting in Windows 11 by running an audio troubleshooter, modifying the sound settings, or checking for malware on your device.

These simple problems are easily solved with equally simple solutions.

 

Run an audio troubleshooter

1. Type settings in the search bar.
2. In the Settings window, click on Update and Security.
3. Click Troubleshooting the left pane and click on Additional troubleshooters in the right pane.
4. Under Get up and running, locate Playing audio and click on it.
5. Click the Run the troubleshooter button.

 

Modify the sound settings

1. Type sound settings in the search bar.
2. On the Sound control panel, click on Communications.
3. Under the When Windows detects communications activity section, check the box associated with the Do nothing option.
4. Open the Microphone array properties section.
5. Under Levels, set the microphone level to about 75.
6. Click on Enhancement.
7. Uncheck the Acoustic echo cancellation checkbox. 
8. Enable the Disable all sound effects option.

 

Check for malware on your device

1. Type settings in the search bar.
2. In Settings, click on Update and Security.
3. Click on Windows Security.
4. Under Protection areas, click Virus & threat protection.
5. In the new Windows Security window, click on Scan options.
6. Select Full scan and then Scan Now.

 

How do I turn on the microphone on my laptop Windows 11?

You can turn ON the microphone on your Windows 11 laptop by changing the privacy settings, changing the sound settings, or enabling the microphone feature in the device manager.

The following simple steps will help you overcome this issue.

 

Change the privacy settings

1. Type settings in the search bar.
2. On the left of the screen, click on Privacy & security.
3. On the right of the screen, click on Microphone.
4. Enable the Microphone access feature if it is switched OFF.

 

 

Change the sound settings

1. Type settings in the search bar.
2. On the left pane, click on System.
3. On the right pane, select Sound.
4. In the Input section, select Microphone.
5. In the Audio section, click on Allow.

 

Enable the microphone feature in the device manager

1. Press the Windows and X keys at the same time.
2. From the list on the screen, select Device manager.
3. Expand the Audio inputs and outputs node.
4. Right-click on your disabled microphone.
5. Select Enable device.

 

How do I unmute my microphone Windows 11?

You can unmute your microphone in Windows 11 by changing settings using your keyboard, changing settings in the device manager, or changing settings in the control panel.

The solutions given below can help you overcome these glitches with ease.

 

Change settings using your keyboard

1. Locate the Microphone key on the top most row of your keyboard.
2. Press the Microphone key to unmute or mute it.

 

Change settings in the device manager

1. Type device manager in the search bar.
2. Inside the Device Manager window, you need to expand the Audio inputs and outputs node.
3. Right-click on the device which you want to unmute and select Enable device.

 

Change settings in the control panel

1. Type control panel in the search bar.
2. Click on the Sound icon.
3. Tap on the Recording tab.
4. Right-click on the microphone you want to unmute.
5. Click on Enable and then click OK.

 

How do I mute my microphone Windows 11?

You can mute your microphone in Windows 11 by resorting to the new keyboard shortcut, disabling the microphone in PowerShell, or disabling the microphone in the Settings section.

You don’t have to fret over these minor issues if you follow the instructions given below.

 

New keyboard shortcut

1. Press the Windows, Alt and K keys on your keyboard simultaneously. This is possible only if you are in a Microsoft Teams call or on an app that supports this Mute feature.

 

Disable the microphone in PowerShell

1. Open Windows terminal (admin).
2. Select Windows PowerShell.
3. TypeGet-PnpDevice I Where-Object {$_.FriendlyName -like ‘*Microphone*’} I Disable -PnpDevice -Confirm:$false into the PowerShell.
4. Press Enter and close Windows terminal (admin).

 

Disable the microphone in the Settings section

1. Press the Windows and I keys together.
2. On the left of the screen, click on System.
3. On the right of the screen, click on Sound.
4. Click on the microphone you wish to mute.
5. Click on the don’t allow button.