Do you want to enable or disable the microphone on your Windows 10/11 PC? In this guide, we will see the three easy ways to turn on or off the microphone in your Windows 10 laptop.
Many users prefer to disable a PC’s camera and microphone when not in use to protect their privacy. Like others, if you also like to disable the microphone, you can do it with ease.
Following are the three easy ways to enable or disable the microphone on a PC running Windows 10/11. None of these methods require you to use third-party software.
Method 1 of 4
Disable microphone via Device Manager in Windows 10/11
Step 1: Open Device Manager. To do so, right-click on the Start button on the taskbar and then click the Device Manager option.
Step 2: In the Device Manager window, expand the Audio inputs and outputs tree.
Step 3: Right-click on the Microphone entry and then click Disable device option.
Click the Yes button when you see the confirmation dialog.
To turn on the microphone again, right-click on the microphone again and then click Enable device option.
Method 2 of 4
Turn on or off the microphone in the Control Panel in Windows 10
Step 1: Right-click on the volume icon in the system tray of the taskbar and then click Sounds to open the same. If you cannot see the volume icon, please refer to our fix to volume icon missing guide.
Step 2: Switch to the Recording tab by clicking on the same.
Step 3: Right-click on the microphone entry and then click Disable to turn it off. That’s it! To enable it, right-click on the microphone and click Enable.
Method 3 of 4
Disable microphones for apps in Windows 10
In addition to the apps mentioned above, you can stop only specific apps or all apps from using the microphone on your Windows 10 PC. Remember that this method cannot stop classic desktop programs from accessing your microphone. Here is how to do that.
Step 1: Navigate to Settings app > Privacy > Microphone.
Step 2: Under Microphone, turn off Let apps use my microphone option to stop all modern apps from using the microphone. If you want to prevent a specific app from accessing the microphone, look for the app name in the Choose apps that can use your microphone list, and turn off the option.
Method 4 of 4
Disable the microphone via the Settings app in Windows 11
Step 1: Go to Windows 11 Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone page.
Step 2: On the right side, turn off the option labeled Microphone access to stop apps from accessing the microphone.
Hope you find this guide helpful.
Jane says
Ultimately, the problem lies with laptop/phone manufacturers deciding for us that we want a camera and microphone and not giving us an easy way to turn them off/remove them at hardware level. The software options in Windows 10 aren’t great, but this is something that belongs at hardware pull-a-cord level, not software.
Mike R says
Windows 10 moves away from classic Control panel, but so far you still can start Sound control screen from Method 2 by running mmsys.cpl or “control mmsys.cpl”. You can also create a little batch file and pin it to the task bar or Start menu.
Berry Johnson says
Is there any other setting to turn my mic ON or OFF?
Jim Fraser says
This suggested fix only works for the apps delivered with the operating system. There is no way shown to enable other apps to have access to the microphone. Suggestion was not helpful!
Cate Cooper says
help, new computer HP, Both facebook messenger and google hangouts calling stopped working. don’t w
RACHAEL PATTON says
couldn’t get my audacity to work but I went to my settings on my option’s screen.
and maybe I will work on some audacity recordings
Ethan says
Thank you so much! Had this problem for years on end and finally got the solution, thank you!
Seb says
I would like to add a Mic ON/OFF button to task bar to simplify this process and see if the mic is ON or OFF easily.
How would this be done?
admin says
Thank you, Sipofka. Fixed!
Sipofka says
Hi,
Good guide, but a small correction is needed.
In the 1st method you should use the device manager, not the disk management console.