microphone diagnosis

Microphone Permission Denied

Use a focused DeviceOK test first, then follow the evidence from browser/device state before changing drivers, firmware, or hardware.

Reviewed 2026-08-11
What this symptom tells you

camera/microphone access was denied at browser or operating-system level

A permission failure can block perfectly healthy hardware. DeviceOK separates browser permission from whether the device exists and produces a usable signal.

Collect evidence →
Before you change anything

Do not jump to the most invasive fix

Do not reinstall hardware drivers before checking the site/browser and operating-system privacy controls.

What success looks like

Retest the same condition

After permission is granted, rerun the relevant live test and confirm the device produces the expected signal/output.

First 3 checks

Rule out the simple causes

  1. 1

    Open the site permission control and set Microphone to Allow.

  2. 2

    Check Windows/macOS privacy settings if the browser still reports denial.

  3. 3

    Reload the page after changing permission.

Evidence-led sequence

Work through the problem in order

  1. 1

    Run DeviceOK Microphone Test again.

  2. 2

    If permission is granted but no input appears, continue with input selection, mute, cable/Bluetooth, and OS audio settings.

  3. 3

    If the microphone works here but not in another app, check that app's microphone selection.

If it works in DeviceOK

If the matching DeviceOK test succeeds, prioritize the affected app, browser policy, operating-system setting, or configuration before assuming complete hardware failure.

If it also fails here

If the same capability also fails in DeviceOK and another trusted diagnostic path, broaden the investigation to connection, operating-system/device state, official driver or firmware support, and finally hardware.

Made a change?Run the same test again instead of assuming the problem is fixed.
Retest Mic test