Mic too quiet
You hear
People keep asking you to speak up, or your level meter barely moves.
A quiet mic is usually distance, the wrong input device or a low input volume in the system, not a broken mic.
Likely causes, in order
Check them top to bottom. The room and the mic come first because no setting can remove what a closer mic or a closed door would.
| 01 · Layer | 02 · Likely cause | 03 · Fix |
|---|---|---|
| 01 · Mic | The mic is too far from your mouth: in open space, each doubling of distance costs about 6 dB | Move the mic to 5–10 cm from your mouth for a desk mic, or use a headset with a boom closer |
| 02 · Mic | The wrong mic is selected, such as the laptop's built-in mic instead of your headset | Pick your mic by name in the app's audio settings, and set it as the input in your system sound settings right input |
| 03 · System | The input volume in your system is set low | On Windows, raise Input volume in Settings → System → Sound → your mic. On a Mac, drag the slider in System Settings → Sound → Input input volume |
| 04 · App | The app's own input volume is low, or its automatic volume setting is holding you down | Raise the app's input volume. If the slider is locked, turn off the app's automatic mic volume first app input |
By app
- Zoom
- While Automatically adjust microphone volume is on, Zoom's manual Input volume slider is unavailable. Turn the setting off to set the level yourself; Zoom also suggests turning it off if your audio fades in and out.
- Discord
- Discord's error 3002, silent audio input, points to the system input volume being set too low or a mute switch on the mic or headset. The Mic Test in Voice & Video (Let's Check) plays your voice back to you.
- Steam voice chat
- Valve calls input volume the most important Steam voice setting: raise it until friends hear you at a reasonable level. If you are still quiet with it all the way up, raise the mic's own gain or boost, or the Windows recording level.
- PlayStation party chat
- On PS5, press the PS button, select Mic in the control center and adjust the microphone level so your voice sits in the Good range when you speak.
- Microsoft Teams
- Teams has an Automatically adjust mic sensitivity switch under Settings → Devices, which keeps your level steady so everyone hears you at about the same volume.
Check it with the test
Read the sentence in the second step at your normal volume. If Speech reads below −30 dBFS, the test marks it too quiet. Move the mic closer and run it again before you touch a volume slider: halving the distance can raise the reading by up to about 6 dB.
Run the noise test →Questions
Q.01Should I turn on Microphone Boost?
Move closer first. Boost lifts the room and the mic's hiss along with your voice, and RØDE's advice is to move the mic closer rather than lean on gain. On Windows 10, the Microphone and Microphone Boost sliders are on the Levels tab of the mic's properties.
Q.02Why am I quiet in one app but fine in another?
Each app picks its own input device and keeps its own volume. Check that the app uses the mic you tested, and that its automatic volume setting is not holding your level down.
Q.03Does automatic gain make me louder?
It evens you out rather than making you loud. Teams says its setting keeps your level steady for everyone, and Zoom says its setting keeps a consistent level. If your voice fades in and out with it on, Zoom suggests turning it off.
Related problems
Checked against
Vendor help pages and manufacturer guides, last checked :
- support.microsoft.com · Fix Microphone Problems
- support.microsoft.com · How to Set Up and Test Microphones in Windows
- support.apple.com · Change the Sound Input Settings on Mac
- audio-technica.com · Do You Have Any Tips on Placing Microphones to Get the Best Possible Sound?
- help.rode.com · Why Does My Microphone Pick Up Background Noise and Keyboard Clicks?
- help.rode.com · Techniques for Gaining Stage Your Microphone During Recording
- support.google.com · Troubleshoot Video & Audio Quality in a Meeting
- support.zoom.com · Changing Settings in the Zoom Workplace Desktop and Mobile App
- support.discord.com · Discord Audio and Video Error Codes: Troubleshooting Guide
- help.steampowered.com · Voice Chat Connection and Quality Issues
- playstation.com · How to Change Audio Settings on PlayStation 5 Console
- support.microsoft.com · Manage Audio Settings in Microsoft Teams Meetings