Google’s video conferencing web app has been by far one of the best that we’ve seen in recent times. The implementation is simple and it works amazingly well.
However, it does have a few bugs and glitches here and there. In this article, we’re taking a look at how to fix microphone issues in Google Meet.
Also read: What is HIPAA? Are Zoom and Google Duo HIPAA compliant?
Unmute yourself?
You’ll be shocked to know how many times people just start talking in a video conference without realising the fact that they’ve muted themselves. So if you’re getting complaints that no one can hear you, the first thing you should do is check if you’re unmuted.
Click the big red mic button right before the end call button to unmute yourself and try again.
Try using Google Meet on Chrome
While Meet works just fine on every browser, Google does have an affinity for its own browser and as such, almost all Google apps perform better on Chrome.
If you’re using any other browser, try switching to Chrome and using Meet there to see if it resolves your issue.
Also read: How to host a Zoom meeting, schedule it and invite people?
Restart your browser
One of the most common solutions to a host of problems is to simply restart whatever application you’re facing issues with, in this case, the browser.
Try restarting your browser and joining the meeting again to see if it fixes your issue.
Restart your PC
If restarting your browser doesn’t cut it for you, try taking it a step ahead and restart your PC. It can solve a bunch of seemingly random issues with just about every bit of hardware or software on your machine.
Also read: Gmail not receiving emails? Here are 7 fixes
Make sure Google Meet has mic access
Most major web browsers will ask you for permission before granting webcam, mic or just about any sort of hardware access.
So if you’re having mic issues, it’s a good idea to check whether or not your browser actually has allowed Google Meet to access the mic itself. On most browsers, simply tap on the padlock icon before the URL and check whether or not Meet has the required permissions.
Pick the right mic
If you’ve got multiple audio inputs or outputs connected to your PC, Meet can get confused and pick the wrong ones as preferred devices for audio input.
Here’s how you check if Meet is using the right mic.
Step 1: Click on the three vertical dots at the bottom-left followed by Settings.
Step 2: Under the Audio tab, make sure the correct mic is selected.
Also read: How to fix ‘YouTube Comments Not Loading’ in Chrome?
Check mic input levels
If the mic input level on your PC or Mac is too low, other people won’t be able to hear you. Follow these steps to check if you’ve got the right levels in place.
On PC
Step 1: Press the Windows key and search for Sound. Click on the settings options from the search results.
Step 2: Click on Sound Control Panel option on the right.
Step 3: Under the Recording tab, double-click your active mic.
Step 4: Under Levels, make sure the input level is set high enough.
On Mac
Step 1: Head over to the Apple menu and click on System Preferences.
Step 2: Click on Sound and switch to the Input tab.
Step 3: Select your preferred mic and set the audio levels accordingly.
Provide mic access to the browser
Just like your browser can stop several sites from accessing the mic, your OS can stop browsers from accessing the mic as well. Here’s how you can check if your browser has mic access.
On PC
Step 1; Press the Windows key and search for Microphone privacy settings. Click on the corresponding search result.
Step 2: Make sure your mic is accessible to other app and especially your browser.
On Mac
Step 1: Head over to System Preferences followed by Security and Privacy.
Step 2: Select the Microphone tab and make sure that your browser has the required permissions.
Also read: Top 7 Meeting Scheduler apps for Android.
Troubleshoot the mic
Windows 10 has a host of extremely helpful troubleshooters built-in that can help resolve a bunch of issues with your PC. Here’s how.
Step 1; Press the Windows key and search for Troubleshooters. Click on the corresponding setting that appears.
Step 2; Click on Additional Troubleshooters.
Step 3: Scroll down to find the Recording Audio troubleshooter and run it to resolve your issues.
Release the mic (macOS)
On the Mac, if your mic is being used by other apps or browser extensions, Google Meet won’t be able to use it effectively. In order to release your mic from any apps that might be using them. close all open applications and type the following command in the terminal.
sudo killall coreaudiodNow try restarting Meet and joining your meeting again. The mic should work just fine.
Also read: How to change your name in Google Meet?
