A Chromebook might be your device if you enjoy watching movies, browsing the web, or playing simple video games. A Chromebook may make a useful backup device for music and content development.
However, You could occasionally experience problems with microphones, due to the way they operate. For easy communication whether working or studying on a Chrome device, the microphone must be operational. Therefore, let’s discuss how to test mic on Chromebook to avoid static noises or unwanted problems during office meetings or urgent zoom calls.
Follow the instructions below to test the mic on your Chromebook:
Configuring Microphone Permissions:
- Step 1: Choose Privacy and Security from the Chromebook Settings if Google Chrome is your primary browser.
- Step 2: Select that option by going to Site Settings and clicking it.
- Step 3: After that, select Microphone and then Permissions.
- Step 4: The permissions for your microphone can now be viewed and modified to function. Make sure all applications have access to your mic.
Restart your Chromebook:
- Step 1: Plug in any external microphones that are connected, then click the notification area in the taskbar’s right corner.
- Step 2: Click the Power button to turn off the Chromebook when the menu appears.
- Step 3: After around 30 seconds, restart the Chromebook and sign in with your Google account.
- Step 4: Once the Chromebook is restarted, test the mic using Mic Tester to see if it’s working or not.
Connect an external microphone:
- Step 1: First, log into your Chromebook, and then through the proper port, insert your microphone. You’ll see a notification in the bottom right corner of your Chromebook.
- Step 2: Choose the options tab. To change your volume, click the arrow. It should direct you to the audio settings.
- Step 3: The audio settings’ input area is where you’ll find your microphone. Both your internal microphone and your external microphone can be chosen from the audio settings. You can select your external microphone and test it accordingly.
Update your Chromebook:
- Step 1: Select Settings by clicking the three dots in the top right corner of the screen.
- Step 2: Click on Check for updates after choosing About Chrome OS.
- Step 3: Wait for the update to install if one is available. The update will probably need to be finished with a restart.
- Step 4: Check your mic once the installation is finished.
Test the Microphone:
It’s usually a good idea to test the microphone using a browser application like Mic Tester. It will help to test both your internal and external microphones. The Troubleshooting instructions for windows can then be tried by going through it from beginning to end.
Inspect your audio input settings:
If you discover that the permissions for microphone access were disabled or the site is banned. Then, check your microphone’s status on the Chrome settings page and make sure the site you are visiting is not blocked.
Turn off incompatible extensions on your Chromebook:
Step 1: First, open Google Chrome, then go to Extensions.
Step 2: Click on the Manage extensions from the menu.
Step 3: To start, you can turn off each extension one at a time and check to see if the microphone functions.
Step 4: Alternately, switch off each extension individually and enable them one at a time until you identify the offender.
Step 5: Once you are done with all the above steps, test if the mic is working or not.
Default Microphone Settings
If you downloaded a microphone testing extension but there isn’t any change in the bars or soundwaves, you might need to switch the internal or external microphone that is normally used to capture sound.
- Step 1: Choose Settings from the menu.
- Step 2: Go to the Microphone setting by clicking on the Audio tab.
- Step 3: Kindly clarify that your built-in microphone is the default one displayed.
Utilize Guest mode:
Extensions are not available while in guest mode. Applications or add-ons that might tamper with the audio input are absent. If the microphone functions well in guest mode, then some internal program is interfering with the mic. You can log out as a guest and log back in normally to identify the program or extension that is producing background noise and stopping the microphone from functioning.
Changing Microphone Sensitivity:
You must change your microphone sensitivity using the microphone icon or the site settings if the sound is too faint.
- Step 1: Go to Settings, select the Audio tab, then select the Microphone settings.
- Step 2: Select the Input and then the Microphone slider bars.
- Step 3: To increase sensitivity, move the slider to the right.
- Step 4: Save the modifications, leave the settings, and then try the microphone.
Powerwash:
Your Chromebook’s factory settings are reinstated when you powerwash it. It is basically a hard reset function. Make sure you’ve tried everything else before erasing your Chromebook if you must. Take a backup of the crucial files you want to save.
FAQs:
Q1. Why is my Chromebook mic not working?
Ans: The following are some of the most frequent causes of the Chrome OS mic not working:
1) low microphone sensitivity
2) Blocked access to certain websites or app restrictions from the network.
Q2. How do I enable my microphone?
Ans: Settings. Select Site Settings. Tap the Camera or the microphone. Tap to activate or deactivate the camera or microphone.
Q3. Where is the microphone on a Chromebook?
Ans: Usually located close to the camera, the microphone resembles a little hole.
Q4. Why can’t people hear me on my Chromebook?
Ans: There could be many issues, but before that make sure to check the Audio Input settings on your Chromebook.
Q5. Why is my microphone not working?
Ans: Check your device’s sound settings to see if the media or call volume is muted or extremely low.
The Bottom Line
Chromebooks make it simple to use microphones. If none of the above-mentioned methods work for you, then you can seek professional help or try out new external accessories. Most gadgets can be plugged into a Chromebook with ease and function.