External microphones are not recognised

upiware · Feb 18, 2023

Hello ElevenForum. I've recently got a new computer which uses Windows 11. It has a combo 3.55mm port for mics and headsets, but it seems to only recognise headphones and headsets.

If I plug in an external mic, it seems to register it as headphones, and the troubleshooter says "This microphone or headset is unplugged". It isn't recognised in any of my software, and when I plug it in, it seems to become the audio output device and I hear no sound from my computer. I'm able to successfully use headsets with built in mics, but not external microphones by themselves.

Is there a solution to this? I've tried two different microphones, and the troubleshooter says it's unplugged for both devices. My drivers are all up to date and the device isn't disabled; even control panel says it's just unplugged.

These devices have worked before on my old computer which ran Win10.

K7MEM · Feb 18, 2023

upiware said:
These devices have worked before on my old computer which ran Win10.

Does the old computer have a separate microphone and headphone connector?

What kind of a connector does the microphone have?

I would suggest getting a mic/headphone splitter. I use a similar one on my laptop (W11), but my old desktop (W10) doesn't need one because it has a separate connector for the microphone.

neves · Feb 18, 2023

Do you have Realtek Audio Control installed:

Realtek Audio Control - Official app in the Microsoft Store

"Realtek Audio Control" provides the best audio experience with the Realtek Audio Codec. You can adjust audio device effects and all the audio device settings in this App.

apps.microsoft.com

Or are you using a custom audio controller made by Lenvo (or its partnership)?

upiware · Feb 18, 2023

K7MEM said:
Does the old computer have a separate microphone and headphone connector?

What kind of a connector does the microphone have?

I would suggest getting a mic/headphone splitter. I use a similar one on my laptop (W11), but my old desktop (W10) doesn't need one because it has a separate connector for the microphone.

The old desktop has a separate microphone and headphone connector, and my new one has a combo jack. I suspect this may be the problem. All my microphones have 3.55mm connectors. I'll try out either a mic/headphone splitter or just a USB mic, thanks for the help

upiware · Feb 18, 2023

neves said:
Do you have Realtek Audio Control installed:

Realtek Audio Control - Official app in the Microsoft Store

"Realtek Audio Control" provides the best audio experience with the Realtek Audio Codec. You can adjust audio device effects and all the audio device settings in this App.

apps.microsoft.com

Or are you using a custom audio controller made by Lenvo (or its partnership)?

Yes, I am using Realtek Audio Control. It doesn't recognise the mics there, either.

neves · Feb 18, 2023

By 3.5 combo - do you mean 2 in 1 (jack + headsets - both connected though one input)? Or do you have 2 x inputs (one for jack + 1 for headsets)? This days - I've seen many OEM Desktops with multiple inputs - both front and back. Yours has only 1 in the back?

stormy13 · Feb 18, 2023

neves said:
By 3.5 combo - do you mean 2 in 1 (jack + headsets - both connected though one input)? Or do you have 2 x inputs (one for jack + 1 for headsets)? This days - I've seen many OEM Desktops with multiple inputs - both front and back. Yours has only 1 in the back?

Single combo jack just like on a smart phone. The is only two solutions. One is to use a splitter, something like this,

which is more an adapter (2 into 1) than a splitter. The other is to use a USB mic.

neves · Feb 18, 2023

stormy13 said:
Single combo jack just like on a smart phone. The is only two solutions. One is to use a splitter, something like this,

View attachment 53149

which is more an adapter (2 into 1) than a splitter. The other is to use a USB mic.

Truly weird/unusual for a OEM Desktop to have a single input combo - when most laptops have them separated.

Tho, if it's single - then it's working as intended (using a single mic - acts as speaker - without a 2 in 1 combo jack). Then indeed - an adapter is the only solution.

Edwin · Feb 18, 2023

neves said:
Truly weird/unusual for a OEM Desktop to have a single input combo - when most laptops have them separated.

My Rog's got a single input combo, so does my Laptop...

stormy13 · Feb 19, 2023

Edwin said:
My Rog's got a single input combo, so does my Laptop...

View attachment 53151

Same as my current case,

neves · Feb 19, 2023

Edwin said:
My Rog's got a single input combo, so does my Laptop...

View attachment 53151

In the back too?!

Edwin · Feb 19, 2023

neves said:
In the back too?!

No, just on the front.

neves · Feb 19, 2023

stormy13 said:
Same as my current case,

View attachment 53173

View attachment 53175

That's only the front panel of the case. In the back connected directly to the mobo (that is - if it's the one in your description: MSI B550 Tomahawk) you should have 5x Audio Ports + SPDIF:

My point was/is.... seemed unusual/weird to have a 2 in 1 combo for a Desktop - while also taking the ports on the mobo into account.

neves · Feb 19, 2023

Edwin said:
No, just on the front.

That's just it - the Mobo itself should have multiple ports. So it seemed weird/unusual "for a Desktop" - to have just the 2 in 1 combo (while also taking the audio ports from the mobo into account).

Edwin · Feb 19, 2023

neves said:
seemed unusual/weird to have a 2 in 1 combo for a Desktop

I think manufacturer's started doing it because everybody started using wired combo earbuds with in-line mics, a few years back...

Edwin · Feb 19, 2023

neves said:
That's just it - the Mobo itself should have multiple ports. So it seemed weird/unusual "for a Desktop" - to have just the 2 in 1 combo (while also taking the audio ports from the mobo into account).

I still have the standard pink/green/blue inputs on the back.

neves · Feb 19, 2023

Edwin said:
I think manufacturer's started doing it because everybody started using wired combo earbuds with in-line mics, a few years back...

View attachment 53181

Case manufacturers (front side) - not motherboard manufactures (back side). Fortunately.

The thing is - if the OP has only the 2 in 1 combo - then he needs an adapter. Tho, i just didn't get - why he didn't use the ports from the back (on the motherboard). Unless even his mobo has the 2 in 1 combo (which to me - seemed really unusual/weird).

Edwin · Feb 19, 2023

neves said:
... why he didn't use the ports from the back...

Maybe the OP's got a headset like this one, a pain to plug and unplug from the back all the time...
... in which case, yes, they would need an adapter.