Why isn't my mic working?
Name the failing layer. Does Windows list the input? Does the browser ask for permission? Does the meter move here while one call application stays silent? These observations point to different checks, so avoid changing drivers before confirming where the signal stops.
Check mute and connection before opening settings. A headset switch, loose USB connection or unpaired Bluetooth device can leave every software screen looking correct while no input arrives. Record the exact device name when it appears; similar built-in and headset names are easy to confuse.
The question why is microphone not detected anywhere begins with the operating-system input list, before the browser. If the device is absent there, this page cannot request it. Use a documented port or connection check for the model rather than repeatedly changing site permission.
Run the browser mic check first
Open the mic test, choose the intended input and press Start. Allow the site request when prompted, then speak at your normal call distance. Record whether the waveform moves, the average level changes and a five-second local recording plays back.
A moving meter narrows the problem. It shows that the current browser obtained a stream from the selected device. If the call app remains silent, compare its own selected input and mute control. Do not assume it automatically follows the browser choice.
No movement after permission needs a device comparison. Select another listed input, restart the run and keep the same speaking distance. If one input works, the browser path is available. If none work, return to the system input list and privacy controls.
Microphone not working on Windows 11
For microphone not working windows 11, open Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone. If the microphone test not working windows 11 symptom begins before the browser meter opens, check this system layer first. Microsoft documents separate controls for Microphone access, Let apps access your microphone and Let desktop apps access your microphone. Desktop apps do not appear as individual switches in the app list.
Next open Start > Settings > System > Sound. Under Input, choose the device used for speaking or recording. Microsoft provides a microphone test on the device properties page, including a recorded sample. Compare that system result with the browser mic test before changing a driver.
Does the input appear but sound too quiet? Check placement first, then the Input volume control on the device properties page. Repeat the same phrase after one adjustment. A louder playback is useful only if it does not introduce clipping, feedback or a new noise problem.
What a browser cannot inspect
A browser can request an input and analyse the media stream it receives. It cannot inspect the USB controller, cable wiring, analogue preamp or Windows driver internals. The question why isn't my mic working may therefore remain outside this page when the device never appears to the operating system.
A successful page result also has limits. Zoom, Teams, Discord and other applications can select another input or apply their own mute and processing. The browser cannot read those private settings, so compare the same named device inside the affected application.
No recording or level value from this guide is uploaded by probekits. Permission lets the local page receive the stream for the test. It does not grant this page access to previous recordings or to audio captured by another application.
Mic works here but not in Zoom, Teams or Discord
If the meter and local playback work here, leave the system device unchanged and open the affected application. Select the same named input, confirm its mute state and run that application's own check. This is the shortest path for a problem limited to one app.
If a usb microphone not working complaint begins with the device absent from every list, check its connection and another supported port before the driver step. For usb mic not recognized windows 11 after those checks, use the manufacturer's current instructions and the Windows device status. The browser cannot supply model-specific firmware advice.
If Windows stopped detecting the device after an update, Microsoft lists driver reinstall and update steps after permission, connection and input selection checks. Record the device and current driver before making that system change. A browser test alone cannot confirm that a driver is broken.
Symptom table
| Symptom | Likely layer | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| The stream never starts | Browser or Windows microphone permission | Allow both permission layers, reload and start again |
| The meter moves but the call app is silent | Wrong app input, app mute or app processing | Select the same named input inside the call app |
| The USB mic is absent from every input list | USB enumeration, cable, port, power or driver | Check Windows and hardware before rerunning the page |
Common questions
Why does my microphone work here but not in Zoom or Teams?
The browser and call application can use different input selections and permissions. Keep the working device unchanged, select the same name inside Zoom or Teams, check mute and run its own test. A clean browser result confirms this tab's stream; it does not inspect the application's audio route.
Can this page tell whether a USB microphone driver is broken?
No. It can show whether a listed USB input opens and sends samples to the browser. If the device is absent from Windows and every application, record that result and use the manufacturer's current instructions. The page cannot inspect, reinstall or diagnose the driver itself.
Does the microphone test upload my recording or measurements?
No. The live analysis and five-second recording stay in this browser tab. probekits does not upload the audio, device labels or level values. Closing the page releases the stream and discards the in-memory sample; you can also revoke site permission from the address bar.
Why isn't my mic working on Windows 11?
Check Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone, including microphone access, app access and desktop-app access. Then choose the intended device under System > Sound > Input. If Windows lists and tests it but one app fails, compare that app's own input and mute settings.
Why is my microphone not detected after an update?
Confirm permission, connection and the Windows input list first. If Windows still does not detect the device, Microsoft's current support path includes reinstalling or updating the audio driver. Record the device and driver before that change. This browser cannot prove the update or driver caused the loss.