Learn how to configure the microphone in Windows. The rise of teleworking has meant that many people have had to improvise a real office in their own home. A laptop may be enough to get by, but when it is your usual way of working you need more than just a computer and an internet connection. We are talking about external devices that facilitate tasks and communication, such as external cameras, speakers, headphones and, of course, the microphone. In this article we tell you how to configure the Windows microphone step by step.
How to configure the Windows 10 microphone
It is clear that when you work remotely, the microphone is a must in your day to day. All those calls you receive through your computer require you to be up to the task, both to understand and to make yourself understood by your interlocutors. You may have been able to get by without knowing much about your computer’s microphone until now, but now it is more necessary than ever that you know how the Windows microphone works and know how to configure it practically with your eyes closed.
Microsoft has endowed its operating system with different features to make using your PC easier. This involves adapting to any external device, including, of course, the microphone. However, the setup process goes a bit further than simply plugging it in with a USB port. Follow our guide and don’t get lost on the way to setting up your device.
Steps to use your microphone in Windows
When you get a new external device for your computer, you want it to be easy to set up. Plug it in, wait for the machine to recognize it and start using it. However, as we have anticipated, there are peripherals that are not so easy to hook up and require configuration.
- The first thing you need to do is find out which microphone is selected by default on your computer. You will find this information in Start > Settings > System. In the Sound section, you will see the available options.
- From this same section you can do a sound test to confirm if the accessory is working properly. In the case that it gives error you can resort to the Windows troubleshooter and let the system locate what is producing the failure.
- It is also recommended that you take a look at the microphone privacy. It is important to ensure proper use of the device as you prevent applications from accessing it and using it to capture sound input. It is best to leave the indicator off by default and turn it on whenever you need it.
- You can increase or decrease the gain of your microphone in two ways. The first is to use an application’s audio software to increase the volume of the captured sound. The second can be in your own hardware as there are microphones that not only have on/off buttons, but also have volume knobs that are used for this same feature.