Microphone Not Working

ClearFluency or another Learning App does not detect microphone input, users report “no sound,” or speech is not being registered.

This article covers the most common solutions.

Step 1: Check that the microphone is not muted

• Navigate to:
  • Windows -> Settings → System → Sound → Input.
  • macOS -> System Settings → Sound → Input.
• Ensure that the microphone is not muted, and that the volume is set to 100:
  • This is incorrect - The volume is at 0 and the microphone is muted
  • This is incorrect - The microphone is muted:
  • This is correct - The microphone is not muted, and the volume is at 100:

Step 2: Check that the microphone is registering sound

• Select the intended microphone.
• Speak into the input device (such as a headset).
• Look for movement in the volume bar as you speak into the microphone:
  • If the meter moves normally, go to step 3 of this article (Browser / App issue)
  • If the meter does not move, go to step 4 of this article (Physical / OS issue)

Step 3: Browser / App microphone permissions

• Apps like ClearFluency run in a browser which has its own set of permissions.
• To fix this:
  1. Open the app in Chrome
  2. Click the lock icon (🔒) next to the URL.
  3. Set Microphone to Allow.
  4. Refresh the page.
• If you never see a prompt:
  1. Open browser Settings → Privacy & Security → Site Settings → Microphone.
  2. Confirm the correct microphone is selected.
  3. Ensure the ClearFluency site/domain is not blocked.

Step 4: Physical input device / OS issue

1. You may have the wrong input device selected: 
   • Try the other input devices.
   • If a different input device works, this indicates that the problem may be the physical input device malfunctioning.
2. Your device may have a physical mute button: 
   • Look around to see if you can find one of these mute buttons:
     • Headset inline mute switch/button
     • Physical mute on the device
     • Keyboard microphone-mute key (often with an LED)
3. Microphone Privacy Permissions can block input:
   • Windows-> Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.
     • Turn on Microphone access
     • Turn on Let apps access your microphone
     • Turn on Let desktop apps access your microphone
   • macOS -> System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.
     • Enable access for the browser or the App.
     • If it is missing from the list: quit the app fully, reopen it, and retry to trigger the permission prompt.
4. Headset / Bluetooth Routing Issues:
   • Bluetooth and headsets can create multiple input options and the system can switch inputs unexpectedly.
   • Disconnect and reconnect the headset/Bluetooth device.
   • Re-select the microphone in both:
     • OS sound input settings
     • ClearFluency microphone settings