How to Set the Default Microphone on Windows 10 and 11?

If you just bought a new microphone or are trying to fix a problem with your existing one, you might be wondering how you set it up as the default mic on your Windows 10 or 11 system.

Luckily, the process is very simple, and anyone with little to no knowledge/experience can get it done by accessing the settings of the computer or laptop.

In this article, we will teach you how to set the default microphone on Windows 10 and 11. We presented different methods so you can choose the one that best suits your use case. Let’s get started!

How to Set the Default Microphone on Windows 10 and 11?

The easiest and most straightforward way to set the default microphone on Windows 10 and 11 is by accessing the control panel of your computer or laptop. Here is how it’s done:

1. Open the Start Menu and type “Control Panel” in the search bar.
2. Find and click “Hardware and Sound” on the Control Panel.
3. Click “Manage audio devices” under the “Sound” tab.
4. A window will pop up. Click on the “Recording” tab.
5. There, you will find a list of all the microphones and inputs connected to your computer.
6. Find the one you want as your default microphone, right-click it and select “Set as Default Device“.
7. Click on Apply and OK.

 

This method will work both for Windows 10 and 11; however, you might need an alternative method or adjust some extra settings depending on your system and your particular microphone model, such as adjusting the gain and sensitivity of your new mic.

In the same “Recording” tab we mentioned, you will find a few useful sections to tailor your sound even further. We encourage you to adjust the sensitivity of your microphone and test it to see if everything is working as expected.

If you want to go even further on customizing your experience, please check the alternative methods we will describe in the section below, as getting to know them may come in handy in the future. We divided these methods into two separate sections, both for Windows 10 and 11. Let’s check them out.

Different Ways to Set up Default Microphone on Windows 10

1. Use the Sound Settings to Set up your Default Microphone

The Sound Settings can be easily accessed on Windows 10. There, you can easily set up different things, including your sound and your default microphone. Here is how you do it:

1. Open the Start Menu on your Windows system.
2. Find and select the option “Settings“. It is also identifiable by a gear icon on the left of it.
3. On the new window you just opened, click “System“.
4. On the “System” page, select the tab “Sound“.
5. Find the “Input” section.
6. Under the “Input” section, you will see a dropdown menu. There, you can check all of the microphones that are connected and select which one you want to use as your default mic.

   

2. Use the Advanced Sound Options to Set up your Default Microphone

Advanced Sound Options is a section that can be found in your computer settings. It allows you to change a few useful things related to your microphone, including which device is the default one. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Start Menu, search for and select “Settings“.
2. Under the navigation pane on the left of your screen, you will find “Sound“. Select it.
3. Select “Advanced Sound Options“.
4. Select “App Volume and Device Preferences“.
5. Click on the dropdown menu under “Input“.
6. You will see a list of every capturing device that is connected to your computer. Select the one you want to be your default microphone.
7. Take this opportunity to set the volume and gain of your microphone as well.

Check our article on Best Bluetooth Speakers With Microphone

 

Different Ways to Set up Default Microphone on Windows 11

1. Use the Settings App to Set up your Default Microphone

The Settings app on Windows 11 is slightly different from the one you will find on Windows 10 but it can be found just as easily. Here are the steps on how to use it to set up your default microphone:

1. Press Windows + I to open your computer settings.
2. Click on “Sound“.
3. Open the dropdown menu under “Input“. There, you will see all microphones connected to your computer.
4. Click on the one you want to set as your default input device.
5. Under the “General” tab, find “Set as default sound device“.
6. Click on the dropdown menu to its right and select “Use as default for audio” or “Use as default for communications“.

   

2. Use the Volume Mixer to Set up your Default Microphone

You can access the volume mixer through the system tray, and it is a very fast and easy way to set up your default microphone on Windows 11. Use the following steps:

1. On your system tray, right-click the volume icon.
2. Select “Open volume mixer“.
3. On the Volume Mixer, find “Input Device“.
4. Click on the dropdown menu to its right.
5. Select which microphone from the list you want to use as your default one.

The volume mixer also has a helpful section that allows you to set the default microphone for different apps. You just need to scroll down the page and find the “Apps” section. Use the dropdown menu to the right of each app to select its default input device.

FAQs

Conclusion

As you can see, setting the default microphone on Windows 10 and 11 is a simple task that can be done by anyone in no time.

If you’re having any problems, we encourage you to try all of the methods listed in our article, from the simplest to the most complex ones, as chances are you will be able to set your default microphone using one of them. You can also refer to the official Microsoft website for any topic that isn’t covered here.

We also advise you to take the opportunity to check other configurations, such as volume and gain, while setting up your default microphone in your Windows system. Remember to test your mic input as well.

We hope this article was helpful. Make sure to check our related guides for Windows users, share this page with a friend, and feel free to contact us if you have any questions!