Microphone settings in Ubuntu (Linux)

Learn how to check if your microphone is configured correctly, and how to fix the settings if it isn't.

Follow the steps below to adjust the microphone correctly.

Step 1: Click the speaker icon in the menu bar, and select “Sound Settings” as shown in the image below:

Step 2: Select the “Input” tab

Step 3: Select the applicable device in the “Record sound from” box.

Step 4Make sure the device is not on silent.

Step 5Try speaking into the microphone and check if the orange bars move while you speak (see screenshot).

Step 6: If the orange bars move while you talk, that means your microphone is set up correctly (What to do if my microphone is not working even though it is set up correctly?)

Step 7:If the orange bars do not move when you speak into the microphone continue following the instructions.

Step 8Drag the slider all the way to the right to increase the input volume (see screenshot).

Step 9: Now check again to see if the orange bars move when you speak into the microphone: if they move, your microphone is set up correctly. If it still doesn't work, please continue reading.

Set device to default

Step 10Open a terminal window (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run gstreamer properties

Step 11: Change the settings in “Default Input” to set the correct microphone.

Step 12: Check the orange bars again in “Sound Settings”

What to do if you see the orange bars moving but your microphone still doesn't work in some program?

If that is the case, it means that your microphone is working and is recognized correctly by the operating system. You can verify this by using our microphone test.

The problem is now with the program you are using. You could be listening to the wrong microphone, or perhaps the input volume is too low. Try playing with the program's settings, and if you can't get it to work with the microphone, try contacting the software's support team.