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How to Fix An Xbox One Mic That Isn't Working

Get chatting with your friends again with these troubleshooting tips

By Brad Stephenson Brad Stephenson Freelance Contributor Western Sydney University Brad Stephenson is a freelance tech and geek culture writer with 12+ years' experience. He writes about Windows 10, Xbox One, and cryptocurrency. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 28, 2022 Reviewed by Jessica Kormos Reviewed by Jessica Kormos Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Jessica Kormos is a writer and editor with 15 years' experience writing articles, copy, and UX content for Tecca.com, Rosenfeld Media, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Consoles & PCs Xbox Buyer's Guide Voice chat is one of the Xbox One console's most-used features, as it allows gamers to talk with friends and teammates using the Kinect built-in microphone or a microphone within a headset or pair of earphones. If your Xbox One mic is not working correctly, there are several fixes you can try. The 10 Best Gaming Headsets of 2022 Instructions in this article apply to all Xbox One models, including the Xbox One S and Xbox One X.

How Xbox One Mic Problems Appear

An Xbox One mic problem can present as distorted audio, muted audio, or limited audio that select teammates can only hear. A microphone bug can prevent the game from registering phrases and functioning when playing an Xbox One game that relies on voice commands. You also may not be able to use Cortana commands with your Xbox One.

Causes of Mic Not Working on Xbox One

Physical damage to the microphone or an app software glitch can cause an Xbox mic not to work as intended. It could also result from choosing the incorrect options within your Xbox network account, specific game settings, or the Xbox One system settings. A slow internet connection is another common cause of delayed and distorted audio.

How to Fix Xbox One Mic Issues

Try these steps to get your Xbox One mic working again: Reconnect the Xbox mic. Sometimes disconnecting the mic or its associated headset and reconnecting it can fix audio problems that you experience. Xbox One consoles do not support USB headsets. Only devices with Bluetooth capabilities can connect to the Xbox One. Make sure the microphone isn't muted. Most gaming headsets have a mute button. If the LED light on the mute button is activated, this means your audio is muted. Press the button to unmute the mic. Make sure your team members haven't muted you. Voice chatting with strangers in games like Fortnite for Xbox One can be exhausting, so many players choose to mute audio from others. Your friends may need to turn audio back on in-game to hear you. Turn down the TV volume. If you hear an echo, it's likely the mic picking up the TV audio and playing it back to you. Similarly, the people you chat with may have their TV volume set too high. Increase the mic volume. If you use a Kinect, go to the Xbox One controller settings and manually adjust the controller's audio volume. Test the mic on other devices. Test the mic with your laptop or smartphone by using an app such as Skype or Telegram. If it works properly, the issue is likely with the Xbox One console. Otherwise, you may need to replace or repair the headset. Assign the controller to your profile. If you change controllers a lot, the console may be looking for audio input from another controller. Be sure to assign the Xbox One controller to your Microsoft Account. Update the Xbox controller. The Xbox One controllers use firmware that requires occasional updates. You can update your Xbox One controller in the console's device settings. Check your privacy settings. If your Xbox mic isn't working, voice chat may be disabled. To turn it back on, go to Settings > Account > Privacy & online safety > View details & customize > Communicate with voice and text. Check the Xbox Kinect sensor. If the Kinect Xbox logo light is off, that means the sensor is no longer detecting audio. Microsoft has a web page dedicated to troubleshooting Xbox One Kinect issues. Do an Xbox One power cycle. Press the power button on the front of the console for about 10 seconds until the system powers down. Wait for about a minute, then tap the button to power it back on again. If done correctly, you should see an Xbox One loading screen for a few seconds before being taken to your usual Home screen. Change parental settings. Voice chat can be enabled or disabled in the Xbox One parental controls. If your Xbox network account is managed by someone else, they may have disabled your ability to chat with other players online. Check the Xbox network status. Voice chat for many video games is powered by the Microsoft Xbox network online service. You can check if the Xbox network is down at any time on the Xbox support website. Check your internet speed. Test your internet speed to make sure you have a quality connection. If your internet is slow and you can't speed it up, use the Xbox app on your smartphone. That way, you can communicate with other players using your cellular plan. You can also use the Xbox app to voice chat with your Apple AirPods on Xbox One. This method isn't recommended for people with data caps. Ditch the surge protector. Xbox One consoles have built-in surge protection. Using an additional surge protector with an Xbox One can prevent the console from working correctly. Get the Right Surge Protector for Your Electronics Plugging the Xbox One console into a power socket can sometimes resolve performance issues.
Ready to Upgrade? Check Out Our Xbox Series X Review FAQ How do I test the mic on an Xbox One? To test your Xbox One microphone, log in to your Xbox Live account on the console and press the Menu button on the controller. Access the Party menu option and select Start a Party. Speak into the mic; if it's working, you'll see your profile pic glow. How do I use Apple headphones as a mic on an Xbox One? Apple headphones aren't your best option to use with an Xbox One because of interference and noise. However, to get around the problem, plug them into the controller (must have a 3.5 mm jack), press the controller's Xbox button, and go to System > Audio. Turn the Mic Monitoring slider to zero. What is mic monitoring on an Xbox One? Mic monitoring is an Xbox One sound feature that feeds your mic input to your headphones so you can hear yourself accurately. This feature is particularly useful for gamers dealing with chaotic noise. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Fix It When an Xbox One Controller Won't Recognize the Headset How to Connect an Xbox One to a TV How to Fix It When an Xbox One Controller Headphone Jack Isn't Working How to Clear the Cache on Xbox One Consoles How to Fix It When Your Xbox Series X or S Mic Isn't Working How to Fix It When a Laptop Microphone is Not Working How to Fix It When Your Xbox One Headset Is Not Working How to Fix It When a Zoom Microphone Is Not Working How to Fix It When a Lenovo's Mic Is Not Working How to Fix It When Your iPhone Microphone Isn't Working Xbox One Won't Turn On? How to Fix It How to Stream Xbox One to Your PC How to Set up and Use a Nintendo Switch Microphone How to Fix an Xbox That Won't Connect to Wi-Fi How to Fix an Xbox One Controller That Won't Turn On How to Fix It When Xbox Series X or S Controller Won't Recognize the Headset Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies