A built-in microphone is a standard equipment feature that comes on Apple MacBooks, as well as most desktop Macs. Bluetooth, 3.5mm audio jack, or USB can also be used to connect headsets and other microphones. You will find here a guide on how to fix a MacBook Air microphone that’s not working.

Figure Out Which Microphone Is On Your MacBook Air

The best way to troubleshoot most microphone problems on MacBook Air is to know which microphone your computer uses.

One of the following will be used by your MacBook Air:

• Any MacBook or iMac comes with an internal microphone.

• The external USB microphone can be connected directly to a USB port and is self-powered.

• The external 3.5mm microphone attaches to the microphone input on your computer or to an audio interface, which may require additional power.

• Connect your MacBook Air wirelessly with AirPods or a similar Bluetooth headset.

If you are interested in using the internal microphone on your MacBook Air, proceed to the next step. When using a USB microphone on your MacBook Air, make sure it’s connected directly (without the use of a hub).

You should use a wired microphone that has a stereo 3.5mm jack and does not require an external power source.

Lastly, select Bluetooth in System Preferences > Bluetooth and pair your AirPods. In the “Devices” list, click the “X” next to your Bluetooth headset if it does not work. Try pairing it again after that.

If you’ve connected your chosen microphone and powered it on, you’re ready to adjust the audio settings.

Invalid Sound Input Settings Can Also Cause Microphone Problem On MacBook Air

A misconfigured sound input is a common cause of microphone problems on Macbook Air. To access the input tab, go to System Preferences > Sound. There should be a list of devices you can use as sound sources, including your microphone.

The “Internal Microphone” device can be used by clicking it. There should be a filling up of the bars when you speak next to “Input Level”.

You can try speaking again after increasing the “Input Volume” slider if you don’t see anything. A too-low slider will prevent your MacBook Air from detecting any sound.

You can use your AirPods as a microphone by selecting the “AirPods” option from the list if you want to do so. Choose your audio interface from the list if you are using one.

The list will also include options for additional apps that you have added in addition to “Soundflower” and “Aggregate Device”.

The “Input Level” indicator should move if things are working properly, but more troubleshooting might be needed.

Check Microphone Permissions on MacBook Air

Apple’s expanded permissions system is another reason for microphone problems on Macbook Air. Apps on MacBook Air cannot access the microphone unless you explicitly allow them. A notification should appear when apps request access to the microphone, asking you to approve or deny it.

Your computer’s microphone won’t be able to be accessed if you deny the request. If you’re not sure an app needs your hardware, you should deny access until you’re sure it needs it.

Select “Microphone” from the Security and Privacy section of System Preferences. Your microphone access request list should appear here. It is possible to see which ones you have approved and which ones you have denied.

Authentication can also be accomplished using Touch ID or the Apple Watch prompt (click on the Padlock icon in the bottom left corner). The boxes next to apps can be checked or unchecked to grant or deny permission.

Problematic apps should be deleted

You should be able to use your microphone on MacBook Air once you have selected the right source and granted any required permissions. It might be the app that’s causing the problem if you test things out with Siri.

If the app has separate input devices settings, you can check them in the preferences. You can specify a different input device under “System Preferences” under Adobe Audition and Audacity.

The app can be removed and reinstalled if all seems to be working well. If the problems were caused by incompatibility, look for an updated version. Some outdated apps may not work on macOS due to Apple’s changes to the permissions system.

Perhaps you should replace the app with one that works if you can’t get it to work.

You must reset the NVRAM/PRAM on the device

In the MacBook Air, settings like the time, date, and volume are stored in non-volatile RAM (NVRAM). Your MacBook Air’s settings remain even when it is turned off. Sometimes, NVRAM/PRAM needs to be reset in order to resolve a problem.

Due to its specific focus on volume and sound settings, this memory is especially relevant to microphone problems. Depending on your MacBook Air model, you can find instructions here on how to reset it.

It might be a good idea to enable dictation on your device

There are reports that enabling macOS Dictation can help resolve some microphone issues on MacBook Air, especially those relating to the internal microphone. Although it’s unclear how this helps, if you’ve gotten this far and your microphone on MacBook Air still doesn’t work, give it a try.

The “Dictation” tab can be found under the System Preferences > Keyboard section. Wait for any downloads to complete after clicking the “On” radio button. Your MacBook Air’s microphone should be selected from the drop-down menu. You should be able to see the levels moving correctly if everything is configured correctly.

Don’t miss out on the chance to try out the Dictation feature on your MacBook Air if you haven’t done so before. When you double-press the Function (Fn) key, you will trigger it by default. Apple’s extensive accessibility features also allow you to control the rest of your MacBook Air with your voice.

Ensure that the levels on your external microphone are correct

You can usually adjust levels directly on external microphones, while others have a mute switch. Make sure the gain on your microphone is turned up enough and you haven’t accidentally muted it.

If your audio interface has a gain setting, you might need to adjust it.

Perform A Restart On MacBook Air To Fix Microphone Issue

It may be necessary to turn it off and back on again to resolve any issues. In System Preferences, click Software Update to install any pending macOS updates. If you haven’t already, you might want to upgrade to the latest macOS version.

These are some of the ways that you can fix the issue of the microphone not working on MacBook Air. In the event that these suggestions did not help you, please use an external microphone for the time being and ask Apple Support for further assistance if necessary.

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