Google Meet Microphone Not Working?

1. Check whether the browser receives your voice

Open the Microphone Test, start it and allow access when asked. Select your intended input, speak normally and watch the level. If available, record a short sample and listen back. Stop the test before returning to Meet.

• Access denied: start with permissions below. This result does not establish that the microphone is faulty.
• No input or a silent sample: check the chosen device, physical mute and connection. The general microphone guide covers this branch.
• Your voice is audible: compare that device with the one selected in Meet. Site permissions remain separate, even within the same browser.

For the second branch, follow Microphone Not Working. A moving meter indicates audio activity, which can include background noise; listen to the recording to check for your voice.

2. Choose the input inside Meet

Before joining, use the microphone selector beneath your preview. Alternatively, open the preview options, choose Settings, then Audio. Select the intended microphone and speak while watching Meet's input indicator.

Already in the meeting? Open the arrow beside the microphone control to review the input. A headset, webcam and laptop can each expose a different microphone. Match the device name you just tested instead of assuming the default is correct.

Unmute in Meet and check any mute switch on the headset or cable. Ask someone in the meeting to confirm they hear a short sentence.

3. Check for Companion mode

Companion mode supports an additional screen without sending your microphone audio or playing meeting audio. Being able to see the meeting or share a screen therefore does not mean your laptop microphone is connected to the call.

If you need this device for speaking and listening, leave the Companion session and rejoin with full audio. In a meeting room, keep the room system as the audio source if that is the intended setup. Avoid adding a second active audio connection beside it.

4. Allow access for the Meet site

In Chrome, open Meet and use the site information control beside its address. Allow microphone access for that site. You can also find the saved microphone permission in Chrome's site settings. Reload Meet after changing it.

Permission granted to Device Tests does not grant permission to Meet. If your browser cannot request access, check its microphone settings as well. On a managed work or school browser, an administrator may control these choices.

5. Check Windows or Mac access

Windows 11: open Settings, then Privacy & security, and find Microphone. Enable microphone access and access for the relevant app type. A desktop browser also needs desktop-app microphone access.

Mac: in System Settings, open Privacy & Security, then Microphone. Enable the browser you use for Meet. Follow any restart prompt, then reopen the meeting.

A website permission cannot override an operating-system block. If these settings are locked by your organisation, ask its IT team to check them.

6. Retest in the meeting

After each change, repeat the same short spoken sentence in Meet. Keep the same input selected so the comparison is useful. If the browser recording contains your voice but Meet is still silent, recheck Meet's input and its own permission before changing hardware.

If speech reaches the call but sounds broken or delayed, this is a different symptom from a blocked microphone. The local recording cannot assess the whole connection or another participant's playback. Use the Video Call Test to check your local camera, microphone and speakers, then verify the result in the actual meeting.

Using the Meet app on Android?

Open the phone's app settings for Meet, find its microphone permission and allow access while using the app. Check that Meet is unmuted and your intended Bluetooth headset is connected. Menu wording varies by phone. The browser test and the Meet app have separate permissions.