Microphone Not Working on Mac

Test it here first

Press START above and speak. If the level bar moves, macOS can hear the microphone and only one app is affected. If it stays flat, or this page says no microphone was found, follow the steps below.

1. Choose the right input

1. Open System Settings › Sound and click Input.
2. Select your microphone. Macs list the built-in microphone, AirPods, a display's microphone, an iPhone (Continuity) and any USB microphone separately, and apps use the one selected here unless they have their own setting.
3. Speak and watch the Input level meter. Drag Input volume to the right if the meter barely moves.

2. Microphone privacy

1. Open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone and turn on the app or browser you use.
2. Quit the app with Cmd+Q and open it again. Many apps only read the permission when they start.
3. If an app never appears in the list or the permission seems stuck, open Terminal and run tccutil reset Microphone. Every app will ask again the next time it needs the microphone.
4. For websites in Safari, check Safari › Settings › Websites › Microphone.

3. Built-in microphone and closed lid

• MacBooks switch off the built-in microphone in hardware when the lid is closed. With an external display and the lid closed, use a headset, AirPods or a USB microphone.
• The MacBook microphones sit near the keyboard and speaker holes. Do not cover them with a keyboard cover or stickers, and blow dust away gently.
• iMac microphones are at the top edge; the Mac mini and Mac Studio have no built-in microphone at all.

4. Mic Mode in calls

During a call or recording, open Control Center and click Mic Mode. Voice Isolation strongly filters sound and can make you inaudible when you speak softly or far from the Mac. Standard is the safest choice when testing.

5. Restart the audio system

1. Open Terminal and run sudo killall coreaudiod, then enter your password. macOS restarts its audio service in a few seconds.
2. Open Applications › Utilities › Audio MIDI Setup and check the microphone's input volume and format. A very low channel volume here makes the microphone quiet in every app.
3. Install the latest macOS update and restart.