macOS
Fix Microphone Not Working on macOS
Allow microphone access, pick the right input, and confirm with the DevicePrep Mic Test on your Mac.
See a live input meter in the browser to confirm the mic works before changing macOS settings.
If your Mac mic works in one app but stays silent in another, permissions or the selected input device is usually the cause. Run the DevicePrep Mic Test first to confirm your browser can hear you, then align macOS privacy, sound settings, and your meeting app so the input meter moves everywhere.
What this guide covers
- Your Mac microphone input level stays flat in apps and browsers
- Zoom, Teams, or your browser can't access the mic on macOS (privacy block)
- The mic works sometimes, then stops after an update or a new app install
Quick wins (2 minutes)
- Open the DevicePrep Mic Test and click Allow when prompted for microphone access.
- System Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Microphone -> enable your browser and meeting app.
- System Settings -> Sound -> Input -> select the mic you want and set input level so the meter moves.
- Disconnect and reconnect USB mics and hubs; connect the mic directly to the Mac during testing.
- Quit and reopen Zoom, Teams, or Chrome after granting permission; the app must reload the grant.
- If Bluetooth audio acts up, forget the headset and pair it again before your next call.
Step-by-step fix
- Run the DevicePrep Mic Test; if the meter moves, the hardware works and you can focus on app settings.
- System Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Microphone -> allow the browser (Safari/Chrome/Edge) and the app you use.
- System Settings -> Sound -> Input -> pick the correct microphone and raise input volume until the input meter responds.
- Safari: Settings -> Websites -> Microphone -> set the site to Allow; Chrome/Edge: click the padlock icon and allow Microphone.
- In Zoom/Teams/Meet, pick the same microphone by name and disable auto gain while you troubleshoot.
- If the mic stays silent in every app, restart macOS audio with
sudo killall coreaudiod, then rerun the Mic Test. - Restart the Mac if permissions and audio services still do not restore the mic.
Deep fixes
Confirm the mic works before changing settings
Open the DevicePrep Mic Test in the same browser you plan to use for calls and click Allow when macOS prompts. Speak at a normal volume and watch the meter. A moving meter means the mic and browser can talk; any silence in Zoom or Teams is almost always a permission or device selection mismatch inside the app.
Allow microphone access in macOS
Go to System Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Microphone and enable access for the exact app you are using. If you join meetings in the browser, allow the browser itself; if you use the desktop client, allow Zoom or Teams. After you toggle permissions, quit the app fully and reopen it so it reloads the new grant.
Select the right input and set a usable level
In System Settings -> Sound -> Input, choose the microphone you want and talk while you watch the input level meter. Raise Input volume until the meter hits the middle when you speak. If you use an external USB mic, connect it directly to the Mac during testing and avoid unpowered hubs, which can cause dropouts.
Fix site permissions for Safari and Chrome
Even when macOS allows the app, the browser can still block the site. In Safari, open Settings -> Websites -> Microphone and set the site to Allow, then reload. In Chrome or Edge, click the padlock icon in the address bar, set Microphone to Allow, and pick the correct device from the permission popup if one appears.
Reset audio and Bluetooth when the mic disappears
If the microphone does not show up anywhere, restart the audio service with sudo killall
coreaudiod in Terminal, then retry the Mic Test. For Bluetooth headsets that keep switching
devices, forget the headset in Bluetooth settings and pair it again. When a mic fails across every
app after these resets, restart the Mac to clear stuck audio routes.
Quick checklist
- DevicePrep Mic Test meter moves
- Browser and meeting app allowed in Microphone privacy settings
- Correct input selected in Sound -> Input
- Site microphone permission set to Allow
- Same mic selected inside the calling app
- Bluetooth or USB connections stable
FAQs
Why does the mic work in one app but not another?
Each app needs its own microphone permission. Allow the specific browser or meeting app in macOS Microphone settings, then reopen it.
Is `sudo killall coreaudiod` safe?
Yes. It restarts the macOS audio service and does not delete files. Your audio returns in a few seconds.
Safari asks every time. Can I save the permission?
Set the site to Allow under Safari Settings -> Websites -> Microphone so the prompt does not repeat on every visit.
Do I need driver software for a USB mic?
Most USB mics are plug-and-play on macOS. Install vendor software only if you need special controls or the mic does not appear in Sound -> Input.
Sources
Documentation referenced while maintaining this guide.
Wrap up
After every change, rerun the DevicePrep Mic Test so you know what fixed it. When the meter looks healthy, run the Pre-Call Checklist to confirm camera and speakers before you join.