FaceTime Mic Test & “Microphone Not Working” Fix

Step 1: Does your mic work at all?

Click Test my microphone above and speak:

• The bar moves here — your mic and drivers are fine; the problem is in your FaceTime settings. Go to FaceTime audio settings.
• The bar does not move here — the issue is system-level (permission, device or driver), not FaceTime. See System-level fixes.

Step 2: Fix FaceTime audio settings

Open Settings → FaceTime / System Settings → Privacy, then:

1. Check the mic is not muted. Tap the screen and make sure the crossed-out mic button is off.
2. iPhone/iPad permission. FaceTime uses the built-in mic; if silent, restart the device and confirm no case or debris covers the bottom mic.
3. On a Mac. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone and make sure FaceTime is allowed, then quit and reopen FaceTime.
4. Pick the right input on Mac. In System Settings → Sound → Input choose the device that worked above.

FaceTime-specific gotchas worth checking

FaceTime has no in-app microphone picker — it always uses the system input, so the fix lives in System Settings → Sound → Input (Mac) or the physical mic on iPhone/iPad. On iPhone the bottom mic sits next to the Lightning/USB-C port and is easily blocked by a thick case or pocket lint, which reads as a dead mic only on calls.

On a Mac, FaceTime needs the Microphone permission under Privacy & Security, and macOS only applies a newly granted permission after you quit (Cmd+Q) and reopen FaceTime. If you use Continuity with an iPhone as the input, FaceTime may switch to the phone's mic mid-call — pick the Mac's mic explicitly in Sound → Input.

Step 3: System-level fixes (if the test above also failed)

If the volume bar did not move in the test, the problem is your device or OS, not FaceTime. Fix it here, then retest.

Windows 10 / 11

1. Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone: enable Microphone access and allow desktop apps (and your browser).
2. Settings → System → Sound → Input: select the correct device and confirm the meter moves.
3. Right-click the speaker icon → Sound settings → Recording: set your mic as the Default device and enable it.
4. Close other apps holding the mic (Zoom, Teams, Discord, OBS) and restart FaceTime.

macOS

1. System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone: enable FaceTime (or your browser), then quit (Cmd+Q) and reopen — macOS only applies the permission after a restart.
2. System Settings → Sound → Input: choose the right device and check the level.

FaceTime on phone (iOS / Android)

Open your phone Settings and enable the Microphone permission for FaceTime, then reopen the app and rejoin. In the call, tap the screen and confirm you are not muted.

Step 4: Last resorts

• Update FaceTime to the latest version (older builds have audio device bugs).
• Update or reinstall your audio/headset driver and reboot.
• Sign out and back in, or do a clean reinstall of FaceTime.
• On a USB headset, try a different port and confirm it is selected as both the microphone and speaker.

FAQ