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If you are new to the world of portable headphones, you may wonder how to fix your earbuds’ mic. Some of the best headphones, after all, are earbuds, and, unfortunately, these devices are prone to maintenance and repair issues that could impact the built-in microphone. So what causes the microphone to go kaput on the best wireless earbuds, and what are the preferred troubleshooting steps? Keep reading to find out.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
If you are struggling to hear your mic through headphones, it might not be you, as the microphone itself could be struggling. Many factors contribute to microphone failure with earbuds, similar to when learning how to fix earbuds that work on one side. Both hardware and software issues could be to blame here, so you will have to learn how to get water out of earbuds along with updating any driver software. As a note, this issue occurs with any pair of earbuds with a dedicated microphone, even if you are wondering about the definition of ANC earbuds.
Insider Tip
Microphones are fairly hearty, and this is rarely an electrical issue, though it does happen.
There is no universal fix here, as it largely depends on the underlying issue. Here are some troubleshooting steps worth considering to get your microphone working again.
Often, the microphone is working just fine, but the apps you are using are not set up to recognize it. This is an issue of app permissions and comes up quite frequently on Windows devices, Macs, smartphones, and tablets. The process to switch up these permissions varies depending on the app and the operating system, but you should be able to get it done by heading to app settings or microphone settings.
This is another “user error” case, but it happens more often than one would think. If you find that others cannot hear you when you are using the earbuds’ dedicated microphone, check on the mute button and volume controls. Remember, the earbuds themselves likely include a mute button, but so does the software you are using.
STAT: There are often times when a set of in-ear headphones will suddenly lose sound in one of the earphones. Most times, this issue is found at the 3.5mm jack. (source)
When all else fails, look for any software updates, otherwise known as drivers. Download and install this software as indicated by the instructions. Beyond that, restore the earbuds to their default factory settings to see if that allows the microphone to function once again.
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