Why Is My Mac Microphone Not Functioning? How Do I Resolve Microphone Issues on My Mac? If you're searching for answers to these questions, you've landed on the right page. MiniTool will provide you with the reasons for this problem and some effective ways to resolve it.

Mac Microphone Malfunction

A microphone is an essential component of a Mac, and you need it to capture or record sound in many applications or on certain websites, such as making audio calls, using FaceTime for chats, invoking Siri, etc. Your MacBook has an integrated microphone. If it stops functioning, it can be quite troublesome.

Why does your MacBook microphone cease to work? The primary causes could include incorrect microphone settings, Apple's extended permissions system, system clutter, cache settings, and more. However, fortunately, this issue can be resolved, and the guide below will walk you through several useful methods.

Note: A microphone might also stop working on your Windows PC. If this happens, find solutions in MiniTool's previous article – Five Methods to Fix Microphone Not Working on Windows 10.

How to Fix Microphone Issues on a Mac

Adjust Microphone Settings

This is the most common approach to resolving microphone problems. First, you should verify the input level of your microphone on your Mac. Remember, if the input level is too low, the sound won't be detected, and your MacBook will appear muted.

Let's see how to adjust the settings properly:

1. Click the Apple icon on your Mac and select System Preferences.
2. Click Sound and navigate to the Input section.
3. You'll see all the recording devices listed. Simply choose the built-in mic like Internal microphone.
4. Speak loudly near your Mac and observe if the Input level bars rise. If they don't, move the slider of Input volume to the right to make the microphone sound louder. Then, check again.

Enable Dictation

Your MacBook features a tool called Dictation. Reports suggest that enabling this feature might help fix some microphone issues. While this method may not work for everyone, it's worth a try.

1. Go to the Apple icon and click System Preferences.
2. Select Keyboard and go to Dictation, then check the box for On. This will prompt your Mac to download the necessary language packs automatically.

Afterward, test your microphone to see if the issue is resolved. If the problem persists, proceed to another solution.

Grant Microphone Permissions

To use the microphone of a specific application, you must enable microphone permissions. This is related to Apple's extended permissions system. The steps to do this are straightforward:

1. Navigate to System Preferences > Security & Privacy.
2. Under the Privacy tab, click Microphone and check the box next to the application to permit its use of the microphone.

Reset Your PRAM

The PRAM (parameter random-access memory) in Apple macOS devices stores certain settings, including volume, screen resolution, some microphone configurations, etc. When encountering issues with your MacBook microphone, resetting the PRAM can help resolve it.

1. Go to the Apple menu and select Shut Down.
2. Upon restarting the device, press and hold the Cmd Alt P R keys.
3. Continue holding these keys for approximately 20 seconds before releasing them.

Create a New User Account

Sometimes, a microphone malfunction occurs due to a glitch in your account. You can check if it works correctly in another account.

1. Visit the System Preferences menu and choose User & Groups.

   Tip: If the lock at the bottom left is locked, unlock it to make changes.

2. Click the Add button to create a new account.

3. Afterward, log into the new account and see if the microphone functions. If it does, transfer all your data to the account and delete the old one.

Final Thoughts

Is your Mac microphone not working? Now, you should be able to resolve this issue easily by trying the five methods mentioned above. If it still doesn't work, perhaps there is a hardware problem with your MacBook. Visit an Apple repair center for assistance.

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