Free1. Check the simple things
- Make sure the microphone is plugged in fully, or try another USB port or adapter.
- Check for a mute switch on your headset or its cable.
- Don't cover the built-in microphone holes, which sit near the top of the keyboard or along the edge of MacBooks.
2. Choose the right input
- Open the Apple menu › System Settings › Sound.
- Select the Input tab and pick your microphone. AirPods, webcams and displays each add their own input.
- Drag Input volume up, then speak and watch the Input level lights move.
3. Allow the app in Privacy & Security
macOS asks once whether each app may use the microphone. If you clicked Don't Allow, the app is silently blocked from then on.
- Open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone.
- Turn on the switch next to your browser or app.
- Quit the app completely (⌘ Q) and open it again; the change only applies after a restart of the app.
4. Allow the microphone in your browser
- Safari: open Safari › Settings › Websites › Microphone and set the site to Allow.
- Chrome, Edge and Firefox: click the icon to the left of the web address, set Microphone to Allow, then reload the page.
5. Find apps already using the microphone
An orange dot in the menu bar means an app is using the microphone right now. Open Control Centre to see which one, then quit any call or recording apps you're not using.
6. Fix AirPods and Bluetooth headsets
- Check the AirPods or headset are chosen as the input in step 2, not just the output.
- Turn Bluetooth off and on in Control Centre, or remove the headset under System Settings › Bluetooth and pair it again.
7. Restart your Mac
A restart resets the Mac's sound system and fixes many stubborn problems, especially after an update or after unplugging a device while it was in use.
Still not working?
Try the microphone on another device. If it fails there too, the microphone or cable is faulty. If only the built-in microphone fails on every app, contact Apple Support or an authorised repair provider.
Frequently asked questions
My browser isn't listed under Microphone in Privacy & Security.
It only appears after it has asked for the microphone once. Open the mic test, press start, and choose Allow when macOS asks. Then it will appear in the list.
I sound muffled on calls with AirPods.
When AirPods use their microphone, Bluetooth switches to a lower-quality mode. For better quality, choose the Mac's built-in microphone as the input and keep the AirPods for listening.
The input level moves, but apps still hear nothing.
That points to the app's permission in step 3 or its own input setting. Check the app's audio preferences for a microphone choice.