Microphone stops working after switching devices

Your microphone worked, then stopped when you plugged in a headset, disconnected Bluetooth, or switched to another input. The computer may have changed its default microphone, or the app may still be listening to the old one.

Test the input outside the app where the problem happened. The Microphone Test shows whether sound reaches your browser, which helps narrow down whether the issue is the device, the system setting, or the app.

Test the microphone after switching devices

Open the Microphone Test and press Start microphone. Allow microphone access if your browser asks.
Speak a few words and watch the signal meter. The status should change to Sound detected, and the waveform should move.
Choose the microphone you want to use from the device list. Speak again and check that the meter responds to the selected device.
If you want to check the sound itself, press Record 5 seconds, say a short sentence, and play it back.
Switch to the other microphone in the list and repeat the check. If you just connected a device and it is missing, wait a moment and reopen the test.

Try the same microphone in the app where it stopped working. If the test hears you but the app does not, the microphone is working and the app may still have the previous input selected. If neither can hear you, check the system input and connection first.

What the result means

The meter moves with one microphone, but not the other

The working input is reaching the browser. The silent one may be muted, disconnected, or selected incorrectly in the system. Check its cable or Bluetooth connection, then select it in the computer's sound settings.

The test hears you, but the calling app does not

The microphone and browser access are working. Open the app's audio or device settings and choose the same microphone that worked in the test. Some apps keep the old input selected even after you connect a new one. For a related case, see how to tell which microphone your PC is using.

The meter does not move with either microphone

The browser is not receiving sound. The system may have switched to an unavailable input, microphone access may be blocked, or another application may be holding the microphone. Check the fixes below in order.

The device list does not show the microphone

The browser may not have permission to enumerate audio devices yet, or the computer may not recognize the new microphone. Allow access, reload the page, and reconnect the device. A browser cannot test hardware that the operating system does not expose to it.

The test reports “The microphone stopped or was disconnected.”

The input stream ended while the test was running. This can happen if you unplug a USB microphone, switch Bluetooth devices, or the operating system changes the active input. Start the test again after the device is connected, then select it from the list.

How to fix it

Reconnect the microphone. Unplug and reconnect a USB headset, or turn Bluetooth off and back on. Wait until the device shows as connected before testing it again.
Check the mute switch. Look for a mute button on the headset cable, earcup, or microphone boom. Some Bluetooth headsets mute when the boom is raised.
Select the input in the system. On Windows 11, open Settings › System › Sound and choose the intended microphone under Input. On macOS, open System Settings › Sound › Input and select it there. Speak and check whether the input level responds.
Allow microphone access. On Windows 11, open Settings › Privacy & security › Microphone and turn on Microphone access and Let desktop apps access your microphone. On macOS, open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone and allow your browser or calling app.
Check the browser's permission. Use the site controls beside the address bar to allow microphone access for the page, then reload it. If you denied permission earlier, changing the system input alone will not grant the browser access.
Choose the input in the app. Open the app's audio settings and select the connected microphone directly. If the app has a setting to use the system default, switch to the named device instead, or restart the app after choosing the system default.
Close other audio apps. Quit meeting, recording, and voice chat apps, then test again. An app may keep control of an input or leave the browser with a stale connection. You can also find more detail in what to check when mic volume changes as another app starts a call.
Restart the device. If the microphone remains missing or silent after reconnecting it, restart the computer or phone to make the operating system detect the input again.

On an iPhone, check Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone for the affected app. On Android, check the app's microphone permission and the system's microphone access control under Settings › Security & privacy › Privacy; exact menu names vary by device and Android version.

When it's the hardware

Test the microphone on another computer or phone, and try a different USB port or compatible cable if available. If it is silent on more than one device, or the connection drops when the cable moves, the microphone, cable, or adapter may be faulty. Return a new device under warranty or replace a damaged cable. If a built-in laptop microphone fails on every app after system settings and permissions are checked, contact the computer maker or a repair shop.

Why switching can interrupt a microphone

A browser or app opens a live connection to an input device. When you unplug that device or switch to another one, the old connection can end. Some apps reconnect automatically; others keep listening to the old input until you select the new one or restart the app. Bluetooth headsets can also change audio modes when their microphone is activated, which may briefly interrupt sound or alter playback quality.

The Microphone Test checks sound in your browser, not the settings inside every calling app. Your voice and any test recording stay on your device.