Mute Microphone in Windows 10

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

On my W10 computer, when I have a microphone plugged it plays back through the speakers.

Apparently this was a 'feature' on W7 which allowed you to play back various devices using a simple 3.5mm jack lead.

To stop the problem, you could 'mute' the microphone, but the instructions for doing this in W7 don't bear any resemblance to how W10 works.

I've looked up dozens of 'solutions' and all of them seem to use dialogues I can't access.

Can anyone help?

Thanks,

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

[Ed DuffnerParticipant @edduffner79357]

Here's one way to disable the mic, albeit a bit long-winded.

– Click on the start button,

– Type in 'Settings'.

– Select 'System', 'Sound'.

– Scroll down and click on 'Manage Devices'.

– Scroll down to 'Input devices'.

– Click on your Mic, it will expand and you should have the option to Disable/Enable.

I have a mute button my keyboard Neil, does yours have a function key combination for Mute?

Ed.

[Gerald HowarthParticipant @geraldhowarth53631]

Does this do what you want:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/micmute/

gerry

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Ed Duffner on 26/03/2020 14:15:34:

Here's one way to disable the mic, albeit a bit long-winded.

– Click on the start button,

– Type in 'Settings'.

– Select 'System', 'Sound'.

– Scroll down and click on 'Manage Devices'.

– Scroll down to 'Input devices'.

– Click on your Mic, it will expand and you should have the option to Disable/Enable.

I have a mute button my keyboard Neil, does yours have a function key combination for Mute?

Ed.

That works… but when I switched on audi recorder it started up again.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Gerald Howarth on 26/03/2020 14:16:24:

Does this do what you want:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/micmute/

gerry

No… it appears to do nothing, sadly.

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

I have a volume icon on he lower right corner of the screen. If I right click on this it pulls up the menu with sound settings on it. After that it is as Ed said. It also gives access to the sound volume mixer that may allow selective muting of inputs to the speakers.

Martin C

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

My laptop has a sound mute icon button…F1- with a speaker & X… press control & this button- sound is muted.

George.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 26/03/2020 14:29:09:

That works… but when I switched on audi recorder it started up again.

.

That’s a clever bit of product placement by VAG

… does it also do that with the other brands ?

MichaelG.

.

Seriously, though … This offers several options:

https://www.maketecheasier.com/deactivate-microphone-windows10/

 

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 26/03/2020 15:22:38

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 26/03/2020 15:16:32:

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 26/03/2020 14:29:09:

That works… but when I switched on audi recorder it started up again.

.

That’s a clever bit of product placement by VAG

… does it also do that with the other brands ?

MichaelG.

It's probably part of the sat nav blocker system

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

erratum…

Press Fn button & F1

George.

[Noel MurphyParticipant @noelmurphy40921]

Right click on the speaker icon in the tool tray
Select 'Open sound settings'
Select 'Sound Control Panel'
Select 'Recording' tab
Select the particular microphone and press 'Properties'
Select 'Listen' tab
Clear the 'Listen to this device' checkbox
Click 'Apply'

Now, can anyone tell me how to get an external microphone to work with Win 10? I'm trying to use a headset to work from home, but the external mic won't work.  The mic works perfectly with Win 7.  I've been through all the audio options with no luck, but I did find that the 'Listen to this device' checkbox causes feedback from the built-in mic.

Noel

Edited By Noel Murphy on 26/03/2020 15:58:16

Edited By Noel Murphy on 26/03/2020 15:59:24

[Ed DuffnerParticipant @edduffner79357]

A lot of the newer PC audio stuff is controlled by Realtek software which usually has a seperate speaker icon (I think) on the windows taskbar to acess its settings. My icon has disappeared.

If you type Realtek in the run command field via the start button it may show up as Realtek Audio Console or Realtek HD Audio Manager and more settings can be configured there, if you have Realtek hardware/software that is.

Ed.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

In my experience with win10 it is an audio disaster area. Problem is that it is very inconsistent between applications, some work, some don't, some are intermittent.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Yes it's Realtek.

http://www.windowscentral.com/setting-your-headset-windows-10

Unfortunately despite finding the dialogue about plugging in an external device and the setting 'which might cause microphone feedback' it was already disabled.

BUT

By getting deep down and dirty (well dusty) I was able to plug into the rear jack instead and the settings for that jack do work and I was able to stop it playing back through the speakers while still recording.

So thanks for all the suggestions… that bad news is that I might try and record a podcast or something. I have a powerpoint I did for my astro club and will try recording a narration and turning it into a video.

Neil

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

Noel, I have a USB headset that works with all flavours of operating systems.

Martin C

[Noel MurphyParticipant @noelmurphy40921]

Yes, mine's Realtek as well. I tried updating the Windows drivers and the 'jack mic' appeared as an option, but was always disabled. An online search suggested loading the Realtek audio drivers to fix that, but the driver didn't complete the install and the 'jack mic' option has disappeared now.

However, I've just taken a call from a colleague and the quality from the built-in mic is much better now, so I'm quitting while I'm ahead.

Martin – Work is going to supply USB headsets when they are in stock again, but I'm trying to work with what I've got at the moment.

Noel

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