Windows 11
- Select Start, then Settings, then System, then Sound.
- In Input, check the mic you are speaking into is the one chosen under Choose a device for speaking or recording.
- Select the mic to see its properties. Under Input settings, select Start test and speak normally.
- Adjust the Input volume slider if the result is too low, then test again.
Windows 10
- Select Start, then Settings, then System, then Sound.
- In Input, choose your mic, then select Device Properties.
- On the Levels tab, raise the Microphone slider. If that is not enough, raise Microphone Boost as well.
- Under Test your microphone, speak and watch the line. It should move from left to right as you talk.
Raise Microphone Boost one step at a time and listen back after each change.
Mac
- Choose Apple menu, then System Settings, then click Sound in the sidebar.
- Click Input, then select the mic you want in the list of input devices. It may be the built-in mic, a display's mic, your iPhone, or an external mic.
- Drag the input volume slider.
Apple's advice works in both directions: raise the input volume so your Mac can better capture a quiet voice, and lower it for a loud source so the recording is not too loud or distorted.
Zoom and Other Call Apps
A call app can set its own level on top of the system one. In Zoom, open Settings and the Audio tab:
- Drag Input volume to set the mic level, and use Test Mic to record a short clip and play it back.
- Automatically adjust microphone volume keeps your level steady for the other people in the call. While it is on, the Input volume slider is unavailable.
- If your voice fades in and out, Zoom suggests turning the automatic setting off and setting the slider by hand.
Discord, Teams, and browsers use the mic you pick in their own settings, which can differ from the system default. If the mic test sounds fine but a call app is quiet, check which mic and level that app is using.
Check the Level Afterward
Open the mic test, tap Record 5 Seconds, and talk. It plays the recording back and gives a verdict from the loudest moment:
- Too quiet: the loudest 50 ms stays below −45 dBFS. Raise the input volume or move closer.
- No sound: below −70 dBFS. The mic is muted, blocked by a permission, or not the one selected.
- Too loud: the recording reaches 99% of full scale and distorts. Lower the input volume.
If nothing registers at all on Windows, Microsoft says to check Start, Settings, Privacy & security, Microphone, and turn on Microphone access and access for apps. On a phone, Apple says to remove cases and screen films and clear any debris from the mic openings, the same lint that muffles a phone speaker.
If the level is right but your voice still sounds thin or distant, the mic itself may be the limit. Laptop mics sit far from your mouth. Our USB microphone guide lists desk mics that plug straight in.