How to Use Headset Mic on Windows 10/11 PC

You may face Issues while setting up your headset’s built-in microphone on your desktop PC. It could be that the receiver can’t hear you at the other end of the call or that there are internal technical problems that you did not recognize at first.

Either way, you need simple guides to set up a headset on your computer.

Such guidelines are on how to use a headset mic on a PC, to detect and fix the problems you encounter while using it, and to enable or disable a headset mic on your PC.

How to use headphones with mic on PC

To set up a headset on Windows 10 computer, you should put it up as a default input device.

There are two methods you can either use to make that happen:

Method 1: Control Panel method
Method 2: Sound icon method

Method 1: Control Panel method

Step 1) Open the control panel.

Long-press the Window logo on your keyboard and press “R”. Type control in the dialogue box provided and click on OK.

Step 2) Select large icons.

In the control panel, click on the view by drop-down and select large icons.

Step 3) Select Sound

Scroll down the list and click on Sound.

Step 4) Click on “Recording”

Once you have clicked on Sound, select the Recording tab at the top of the menu.

Step 5) Enable the headset microphone

Right-click on the headset microphone and select the Enable option.

Step 6) Set the headset microphone as a default device

Right-click on the headset microphone again, select Set as the default device, and press OK.

Method 2: Sound icon method

Step 1) Open the Sound Settings

Right-click on the sound symbol at your computer’s lower right-hand side corner and select Open Sound settings.

Step 2) Click on the sound control panel.

Step 3) Continue from Step 4 in the Control Panel method.

Once you have clicked on the Sound Control Panel, continue from step 4 in the Control Panel method.

How to turn the headset microphone on/off on your window 10 Computer

To use headphones with an inline mic on pc, enabling it on your computer is crucial, especially if it does not work after setting it as a default device in your system. You can also turn it off if you are in no need of it.

To turn a headset microphone on or off on your computer, there are two methods you could either use:

Method 1: Device properties method
Method 2: Manage sound devices option.

Method 1: Device properties method

Step 1) Select System

Click on the Start menu on your computer and select Settings. Under Settings, select System.

Step 2) Select device properties.

Under System, click on the Sound option and select Device properties.

Step 3) Enable/disable the device.

At the check box, you can check and uncheck the disabled option to turn the headset mic on or off.

Method 2: Manage sound devices option

Step 1) Select the Sound option.

Click on the Start menu on your computer and select Settings. Choose System amongst other options available and select Sound.

Step 2) Select Manage Sound Device

Scroll down to the Input option and click on Manage Sound device.

Step 3) Select the Microphone

Under the Input section, click on Microphone.

Step 4) Click on the Enable/Disable button

Note: You can use these methods to turn off multiple microphones on your desktop PC.

How to test a headphone mic on your laptop

Before you join that meeting or make that call, check your headset’s sound quality and mic volume. There are three different methods to test the headset mic on your computer:

Method 1: Window mic test
Method 2: Sound recording test
Method 3: Mic monitoring

Method 1: Window mic test

This method is the most straightforward in testing your headset mic. It is used when multiple devices are connected to your computer system. Hence, you must isolate the mic from other input devices and check it.

Step 1) Select Sound

On the Start menu on your computer, open Settings. Click on System and select Sound.

Step 2) Select “Choose your input device”

Once in the Sound section, scroll down to Input. Under Choose your input device, select the headset microphone you want to test.

Step 3) Test your microphone.

After selecting the headset microphone you want to use, you can test your mic by speaking into it and checking if the soundbar moves. If it does, it means your headset mic is well-functioning.

Method 2: Sound recording test

This method measures the clarity and authenticity of your headphone mic when speaking to someone. It requires that you record a voice note with the device microphone and play it to hear how it sounds.

Step 1) Search the voice recorder app in your system

Go to your search bar and type Voice recorder

Step 2) Allow access to your microphone.

Click the Yes option to allow Voice Recorder to access your microphone.

Step 3) Record and Play

Record your voice while speaking on the headset mic. Then click on Play to hear how the voice record sounds. If the recording is not clear and sounds, the problem could be from the app or the hardware device. Test the mic on another computer to confirm.

Method 3: Mic monitoring

This feature lets you check for a louder sound and voice clarity by transmitting the mic input to your headset. Although it is an old feature, it provides an accurate result.

Step 1) Select Sounds

Right-click on the Sound symbol at the lower corner of your screen and select Sounds.

Step 2) Click on Properties

Click on the Recording tab and select the microphone you want to use. Right-click on the microphone and select Properties.

Step 3) Check “Listen to this device.”

Click on the Listen tab option and check Listen to this device. In this way, you hear how your headset microphone sounds as it transmits your mic input back to your headset. You can disable the mic monitoring by unchecking Listen to this device.

How to fix headphones mic issues on Windows 10 PC

If, after trying out these methods and your headset microphone is still not working appropriately, you can follow some of these advanced ways to fix the issues. It could be an internal technical problem that needs to be resolved.

Method 1: Allow apps to access your microphone.
Method 2: Update sound driver
Method 3: Use the Windows Troubleshooter
Method 4: Try a different headset

Method 1: Allow apps to access your microphone

After enabling and making a headset mic a default input device, if it still does not work, one possible reason could be that some Microsoft apps have restricted access to your microphone by default privacy settings. To get it right, you should follow these steps.

Step 1) Search for the Privacy settings

Type Privacy settings in the search box

Step 2) Select the microphone

Scroll down on the list and click on Microphone.

Step 3) Allow access to your microphone.

Turn on the toggle bar to Allow apps to access your microphone. This change automatically creates access to your microphone in all apps.

However, if you want to be specific about the Microsoft app, scroll down to Choose which Microsoft apps can access your microphone and switch them on.

Method 2: Update sound driver

Step 1) Go to the device manager.

Right-click the Start menu to select Device Manager or type it in your search box.

Step 2) Select Sound, video, and game controllers

Then double-click on Sound, video, and game controllers to see the list of audio devices for you to choose one.

Step 3) Select “Update driver”

Right-click on the devices you have chosen and select Update driver.

Step 4) Select “Search automatically for drivers”

It will show if the driver is updated or not. If not, select Update driver.

Method 3: Use the Windows Troubleshooter

Step 1) Search for Troubleshoot settings on the search box

Step 2) Select “Additional troubleshooters”

Step 3) Click on “Speech”

Select the Speech option and click on Run the troubleshooter.

Step 4) Select the problem you are having.

Tell the computer the issue that needs to be fixed by selecting Cortana can’t hear me, or I can’t hear Cortana.

Note: However, since we are on about headset microphone, the former would be a better option to pick.

Step 5) Answer other questions

More questions will appear, so you can answer them and let the computer fix the problem.

Method 4: Try a different headset

In case the problem persists, even after using these methods, it is most likely that the fault comes from the headset. Try another headset to see if it works perfectly. And if not, use another computer to test those headsets.

FAQ

Your computer recognizes your headset when they are both properly connected. Some headsets can be connected to a computer through USB or a 3.5 mm Jack, while some are connected wirelessly.

If the issue persists, allow the Microsite apps on your computer to access the microphone by going to Privacy Settings.

Step 1) Locate your computer’s microphone input, headset, or audio jack.

Step 2) Connect the headset extension cable to the respective microphone and the headset input on your desktop.

Step 3) Then, connect the other end of the headset extension cable to the cable attached to your headset.

Step 4) Finally, test your headset microphone.

Note: You can only apply this method if your headset extension cable breaks out into a “Y”. The “double” end is for your system’s headset and microphone jack, while the “single” end is for the headset.

Summary

Control panel method: Used to set your headphone mic as a default device in your computer by long-pressing on the start logo and then “R”.
Sound icon: This method is the same as the control panel method except that you start by right-clicking on the sound symbol in your system.
Device properties: To turn your headset mic on or off.
Manage sounds: It also turns your headset mic on or off.
Mic monitoring: It transmits your mic’s input to your headset to check if the sound is clear enough.
Sound recording test: This method is used to test the clarity and authenticity of your voice by recording a voice note.
Window mic test: It isolates your input device (mic) from others for testing.
Allowing apps to access the microphone: This method fixes some technical issues.
Updating the sound driver: Another method you can use to resolve the problem of your headset and PC.
Using the Windows troubleshooter: Troubleshooting also helps to address the technical problem you may encounter.
Trying a different headset: Testing a different headset is the last step you take if other methods do not work.