Telegram 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 Telegram settings. Go to Telegram audio settings.
• The bar does not move here — the issue is system-level (permission, device or driver), not Telegram. See System-level fixes.

Step 2: Fix Telegram audio settings

Open phone Settings → Apps → Telegram → Permissions, then:

1. Grant the Microphone permission. Phone: Settings → Apps → Telegram → Permissions → Microphone (iPhone: Settings → Telegram → Microphone).
2. Re-start the call. End and re-place the call so Telegram re-requests the mic.
3. Check you are not muted. Tap the mic icon in the call so it is not crossed out.
4. Telegram Desktop. Allow the mic when prompted and select the right input in your OS Sound settings (see below).

Telegram-specific gotchas worth checking

Telegram requests the Microphone permission separately on each platform, and a Deny on the phone is sticky — re-enable it under Settings → Apps → Telegram → Permissions (Android) or Settings → Telegram → Microphone (iPhone), then re-place the call. The same permission controls voice messages, so if the hold-to-record button shows a permission prompt or does nothing, that is the cause.

Telegram Desktop and the macOS/Windows apps use the OS-level microphone permission; on macOS you must allow Telegram under Privacy & Security → Microphone and relaunch it. Telegram's voice-chat (group calls) has its own mute state shown by a microphone icon at the top — being admin-muted in a voice chat looks identical to a broken mic.

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 Telegram. 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 Telegram.

macOS

1. System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone: enable Telegram (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.

Telegram on phone (iOS / Android)

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

Step 4: Last resorts

• Update Telegram 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 Telegram.
• On a USB headset, try a different port and confirm it is selected as both the microphone and speaker.

FAQ