Laptop wont recognize my microphone

My headphones work great on everything but my laptop. When I plug them in, my PC only detects the output capabilities, and won't detect the microphone. When I go to my sound settings the headphones appear under output but nothing new appears in the "input" section.

This happens with every headphone & earbud set that I plug in. I've checked my Device Manager, The recording tab in Sound Control Panel. Both do not display my microphone, while at the same time displaying that I indeed have headphones plugged in. I've tried updating both my audio and recording driver. I've turned on all my microphone permissions.

every guide says to go Settings > Sound > Scroll to Input, and select my microphone. but there is no new microphone

My laptop is an Acer Aspire A515-45 Model No. N18Q13
Its got a 64-bit OP & x64-based processor, if that's important

please please please don't tell me to go Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone > Trun on the microphone. This is the first thing I did, everything is on.

Thanks so much

Does laptop have a built-in mic?
Under System,Sound have you tried the troubleshooter for input devices?

You probably have, but you need to say so.

If your laptop has separate input for the headphones and separate output for the microphone, connecting a headset with a combined 3.5mm jack won't work for both. You need an adapter to separate the combined jack to two different jacks and plug these two in the laptop. Be careful to buy a separator adapter, not a splitter that splits a single stereo jack to two stereo jacks. Make sure it works as separator before buying.

spapakons said:

If your laptop has separate input for the headphones and separate output for the microphone, connecting a headset with a combined 3.5mm jack won't work for both. You need an adapter to separate the combined jack to two different jacks and plug these two in the laptop. Be careful to buy a separator adapter, not a splitter that splits a single stereo jack to two stereo jacks. Make sure it works as separator before buying.

Click to expand...

I have a headphone/microphone that came with a Y adapter so it could be used for either setup.

So if your laptop has separate audio ports for the headphones and microphone you must use this Y adapter to separate the combined audio jack into two jacks, headphones output and microphone input. Then connect both jacks at the respective ports (in some models marked green for the headphones and pink or red for the microphone). Try it and post your results.

kelper said:

Does laptop have a built-in mic?
Under System,Sound have you tried the troubleshooter for input devices?

You probably have, but you need to say so.

Click to expand...

It does have a built in mic. I tried the trouble shooter of course, sorry for not including.
When I open the trouble shooter it loads and then asks "which of these devices do you want to troubleshoot"
Under are 2 options,
1.microphone array - Realtek(R) audio (current default)
[I think this is my PC mic]
2. Stereo Mix - Realtek(R) Audio
[not sure what this is, I assume it's a stereo option of my built in mic, switching to it doesn't help the situation]

Under both these options it says "No Jack information available."
It says this regardless of if I have headphones with mic capability plugged in or not

Thanks :)

Winuser said:

I have a headphone/microphone that came with a Y adapter so it could be used for either setup.

Click to expand...

Unfortunately, my laptop has a combined jack. I don't see another port for the microphone and I did a bit of digging into the laptop. Since it's modern, I believe a 2019 model, it's likely to have a combined jack. The last time I remember seeing a green and pink jack for input and output was in 2011 or so :')
Thanks though :)

If it has a combined jack you should be able to use a headset with combined jack. If your headset has two separate jacks, a green for the headphones and a pink for the microphone, there is the opposite adapter that combines the two into a single combined jack. Regarding your input devices, the Realtek mic in refers to the microphone input and you must connect an external microphone to use it. It looks like your laptop doesn't have a build in microphone, only an input to connect an external microphone. The Stereo mix refers to all the sounds produced by the sound card. In the good old Creative SoundBlaster days it was labelled as "What U hear". We use it to record sound from websites, games, etc when streaming our screen or recording a gameplay. Try a few combined headsets. If none works the jack may be damaged and needs service.

tasu said:

Unfortunately, my laptop has a combined jack. I don't see another port for the microphone and I did a bit of digging into the laptop. Since it's modern, I believe a 2019 model, it's likely to have a combined jack. The last time I remember seeing a green and pink jack for input and output was in 2011 or so :')
Thanks though :)

Click to expand...

I wonder if the audio connecter on the laptop is bad. It might be a bad solder joint or broken wire.

If it is under Warranty go check it. If it isn't tell the Service to tell you the cost before proceeding.

I never see the headset in audio settings when plugged into the audio jack on either my Windows 10 or 11 laptops. It works is all that matters. However, I do see the microphone in the C-Media Audio Control Panel app that came with my laptop.



Note, I do see the headset when I connect it wirelessly with Bluetooth. You can see the difference in microphone input when it is switched from internal microphone to the one in the headset.

spapakons said:

If it has a combined jack you should be able to use a headset with combined jack. If your headset has two separate jacks, a green for the headphones and a pink for the microphone, there is the opposite adapter that combines the two into a single combined jack. Regarding your input devices, the Realtek mic in refers to the microphone input and you must connect an external microphone to use it. It looks like your laptop doesn't have a build in microphone, only an input to connect an external microphone. The Stereo mix refers to all the sounds produced by the sound card. In the good old Creative SoundBlaster days it was labelled as "What U hear". We use it to record sound from websites, games, etc when streaming our screen or recording a gameplay. Try a few combined headsets. If none works the jack may be damaged and needs service.

Click to expand...

Both my laptop and headphones have a combined jack. Haven't seen one with green and pink since 2011.
That's so so weird that you say it has no internal microphone because SOMETHING is recording my voice when I hit record. With or without the headphones plugged in. It's certainly not my headphone mic since tapping on the mic doesn't change what the mic picks up (very high tech test ik)
So.. Realtek is the input to connect an external mic, and under it it says "no jack information available" even when plugged in, this means it likely needs to be serviced since it's an issue with the jack.
I'm thinking it may be cheaper to buy a USB microphone bc no I don't have a warranty lol

Thanks so much you've been very helpful

MisterEd said:

I never see the headset in audio settings when plugged into the audio jack on either my Windows 10 or 11 laptops. It works is all that matters. However, I do see the microphone in the C-Media Audio Control Panel app that came with my laptop.

View attachment 45674

Note, I do see the headset when I connect it wirelessly with Bluetooth. You can see the difference in microphone input when it is switched from internal microphone to the one in the headset.

View attachment 45675

Click to expand...

Interesting.. mine never outright says it has a built in mic, but it must, because the headphone mic won't work but something is still picking up my voice, with the same quality with or without headphones plugged in

Winuser said:

I wonder if the audio connecter on the laptop is bad. It might be a bad solder joint or broken wire.

Click to expand...

That's so annoying. Honestly, I do my best to be very careful with my laptop.
I wonder if it needs to be cleaned. I might try some isopropyl and cotton swabs unless that's not recommended.

A cold connection means that the metal port is not properly soldered to the motherboard pins. It works when cold but not when hot (or the other way around). A Technician could solder it properly or replace it as needed but I don't know how much money he will ask for. That's why I told you to agree on the price before proceeding. If he charges for looking at it, even if you don't proceed, it may be cheaper to just buy a USB audio card or a USB microphone.

tasu said:

That's so annoying. Honestly, I do my best to be very careful with my laptop.
I wonder if it needs to be cleaned. I might try some isopropyl and cotton swabs unless that's not recommended.

Click to expand...

I think a cotton swab would be too big and if not, the cotton might come off inside the jack. You could try inserting the plug a few times and see if that helps make a better connection. Have any microphones ever worked on your laptop?

Even though Audio settings doesn't show when the headset is plugged in you can still use it to test the microphone. Note when you plug in the headset any internal microphone is automatically disconnected.

1. In Input click to the far right of Microphone.



2a. For Input volume you can set the maximum. In the example it is 75%.
2b. To start testing the microphone click on Start test.



3a. Start speaking into the microphone. You can see the changing input in the volume indicator.
3b. When done click on Stop test.



4. The maximum input volume relative to the total maximum is indicated.

Winuser said:

I think a cotton swab would be too big and if not, the cotton might come off inside the jack. You could try inserting the plug a few times and see if that helps make a better connection. Have any microphones ever worked on your laptop?

Click to expand...

I haven't really tired to use a mic with my laptop till now so I haven't noticed unfortunately.

tasu said:

I haven't really tired to use a mic with my laptop till now so I haven't noticed unfortunately.

Click to expand...

I think your idea about buying an inexpensive USB microphone may be your best option. I know it will be cheaper than taking your laptop to a repair shop.

Here's another option that cost less than 10 bucks. I bought one because I wanted a backup sound card. It works great. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IRVQ0F8?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details