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

Step 2: Fix WhatsApp audio settings

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

1. Grant the Microphone permission. On the phone open Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Permissions → Microphone and allow it (iPhone: Settings → WhatsApp → Microphone).
2. Re-place the call. End and start the call again so WhatsApp re-requests the mic after you grant permission.
3. Check you are not muted. Tap the screen during the call and confirm the mic icon is not crossed out.
4. WhatsApp Desktop. On the desktop app, allow the mic when prompted and select the right device in your OS Sound settings (see below).

WhatsApp-specific gotchas worth checking

WhatsApp is permission-driven, not device-driven: on the phone it only asks for the Microphone permission the first time you place a call, and if you tapped Deny it never asks again. Re-enable it under Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Permissions → Microphone (Android) or Settings → WhatsApp → Microphone (iPhone), then start a fresh call so it re-requests.

WhatsApp Desktop and WhatsApp Web are separate: the desktop app uses your OS microphone permission (on macOS you must allow WhatsApp under Privacy & Security → Microphone and relaunch it), while WhatsApp Web uses the browser site permission for web.whatsapp.com. Voice notes use the same permission — if the record button does nothing, the mic permission is the cause.

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 WhatsApp. 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 WhatsApp.

macOS

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

WhatsApp on phone (iOS / Android)

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

Step 4: Last resorts

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

FAQ