You will face microphone issues while joining a call or a meeting. There is a built-in microphone in Apple MacBook. However, we also use external microphone devices. This article shows you how to test your microphone in your MacBook. You will find solutions to some relevant issues you will face while using the microphone in the MacBook.
You can also read: Your Guide To Singing Microphones
Setting Microphone Input
Before testing the microphone, check out if the mic input is on or not. You have to adjust the input to check whether it is picking up your voice or not.
You will find the apple sign on the top left of your screen. Click on that and find ‘System Preferences’.
- Go to System Preferences – Sound – Input
- Find out ‘Input volume’. Adjust the input volume as you prefer by moving the toggle to right or left. Moving to the right will increase the voice input level.
Check out the volume level of the built-in and other microphones also. Adjust those input volumes as you like.
If you are using Air Pods, find out the ‘Air Pod’ option. Adjust the input volume for that if you are having trouble. Do the same way for any external microphones.
While you are in that ‘Input’ screen, turn on the ‘Ambient Noise Reduction’ option. It blocks noise and inputs clear voice only.
Using Dictation
We will test the microphone using Dictation in a TextEdit. Let’s turn on Dictation.
- Go to System Preferences – search for ‘Dictation’
Or, go to System Preference – Keyboard – Dictation
- Turn on the Dictation.
Check out whether the voice control is on or not.
Enable voice control: Go to the ‘Accessibility’ in System Preferences. Find out ‘Voice Control’ and enable it.
Now you have turned on Dictation and enabled the Voice Control. It will allow you to run the TextEdit with your Voice Command.
Enabling Dictation will show you a floating button on the screen. It says ‘Wake up’. As long as it shows ‘Wake up’, the MacBook is not taking note of your speech. Clicking it again will enable voice listening. Then it will show ‘Sleep’.
Now open TextEdit. Turn on the voice control saying ‘Wake up’ or click the button manually. If the ‘Sleep’ option is visible, you can speak. TextEdit will take the input as soon as you start speaking.
If you can see the text here in the TextEdit according to your words, that means your microphone works! That is how you can test the microphone of your Mac.
You can easily use your voice command to type documents very fast. Here is a tip: Besides using the voice command, use your hands as well to control the keyboard manually. It helps you cover the mistakes.
If this way does not work, try turning off the Bluetooth. Go to ‘System Preferences’ and find out Bluetooth. Click the ‘Turn Bluetooth off’ option.
Some ancient tricks work every time.
Sometimes restarting the MacBook enables all the changes that you made. So, try restarting your MacBook. Keep your device in a tidy place. Make sure to clean it well regularly.
Issues While Using an External Mic
MacBooks don’t have a jack for an external microphone in them. However, they do have a headphone jack installed. Before working with an external microphone, you should test the built-in microphone first.
Get a headphone jack extension with both headphones and a mic option in it. Use the microphone jack for connecting the mic. Make sure to connect the headphone cable also. Without connecting the headphone to the jack extension, this way may not work.
If you cannot find any icon of the external mic in the ‘Input’ section you should take a look at the jacks of your extension.
Keep in mind that the port of the mic has to comply with the MacBook’s jack. Here is what you should look at.
- Get the male part of the jack extension as TRRS.
- If the mic jack is TRS, make sure the female part of the jack extension is also TRS.
If your Microphone is Not Recognized
- Go to the ‘Security & Privacy’ tab in System Preferences
- Go to the Privacy tab
- Look for ‘Microphone’
Make sure the ‘Audacity’ option is checked on. It helps you to use basic voice editing and recording smoothly. Also, allow access of microphone to other applications where you are going to use, like your internet browser.
Resetting the PRAM/NVRAM
They take up a small amount of memory for the setting preferences. Resetting it brings the system changes to default. It doesn’t delete any application or doesn’t harm any data in your MacBook.
Resetting NVRAM or PRAM is very easy. It helps you troubleshoot microphones, Audio level, time zone, other default settings, and some external connections.
- Shut down your Mac.
- While it is shutting down hold down the following keys at once: Option + Command + P + R
- Hold down the keys till you hear two apple chimes in a short period.
- Let go of the keys after the second chime.
The resetting of the NVRAM PRAM is done!
We wouldn’t recommend resetting the SMC for your microphone problem. Because the SMC, System Management Controller has nothing to do with your audio system or microphone.
Final Words
MacBooks are quite expensive than traditional computers. While some users say that these are overpriced, most of the users love MacBooks for their ease of use and premium features.
Having issues with the microphone of the MacBook is pretty normal, especially with the amount of time we are investing in online sessions. If you went through the tricks in our list, the problem may be gone. If not, there may be a hardware issue there. You may want to hire a specialist for that.
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