With more and more online meetings taking place, your Windows 10 laptop has become even more important. The same goes for certain aspects of using a computer that are often taken for granted. These days, you must ensure that certain things are in order before an online meeting begins.

Video conferences and other online meetings rely on a stable Internet connection. A good webcam that can output videos of reasonable quality is also important. And so is your laptop’s microphone.

If the mic level is too high or too low or your mic’s sensitivity does not suit your preferences, it can spoil the experience. For instance, many Windows users complain that the mic sensitivity on their PCs is too low.

You can adjust the signal input level on Windows 10 using various methods. This article will show you how to make your mic volume louder or lower and tweak other sound settings.

How to Raise the Mic Volume in Windows 10

Keep reading if you want to know how to boost the microphone levels in Windows 10.

Clean the microphone

Are you using the inbuilt microphone of your laptop when teleconferencing? The problem with your mic might be related to the microphone hardware rather than being a software issue. Therefore, make sure that everything about the hardware part of your mic is fine before you attempt to mess with the related software.

It is possible that the internal microphone has run into issues due to a vent blockage. This can be caused by dust particles that have accumulated around the vent. Check carefully for lint, dust and dirt particles; they can lower the microphone’s volume by up to half.

Whether your laptop has a single mic or multiple speakers, it is important that they aren’t impeded in any way so that they can work as advertised. Imagine if the other people in a Zoom meeting have trouble following your speech because of accumulated dust particles. So, check thoroughly and use a damp cloth to clean off any dirt or stains.

If your microphone is already spotless and neat, then use the following methods to adjust your mic’s sound settings through the OS.

Adjust the mic volume from Windows Settings

The Settings app on Windows 10 is a one-stop shop that allows you to make changes to various system components. If your microphone is behaving erratically, you can adjust the sound input volume and sensitivity through the Windows Settings app.

First things first. You need to open the Settings window. Press the Windows logo key and then click the gear icon on the left to launch the app. Another way is to simply type “settings” into the Search box after pressing Win + S. Alternatively, execute the Windows key and X keyboard combination and select Settings from the menu.

Open Settings.

In the Settings window, select System to open a menu that will enable you to change different display, sound, notification, and power settings.

In the Settings window, select System.

In the System menu, go to the Sound tab to access sound options.

In the System menu, go to the Sound tab.

Next, click the “Device properties” link under the Input section.

Click the "Device properties" link.

Before you do this, make sure that the problematic sound device has been selected under “Choose your input device”.

On the Device Properties page, you can see your current mic level under Volume. Move the corresponding slider left or right to decrease or increase the input level of the microphone.

At this point, it is important to note that the loudest input level doesn’t always offer the best sound quality. At some loud volumes, your voice can become distorted. Your objective here should be to find the happy medium between sound volume and sound quality.

To do so, click the “Start test” button and talk into the microphone. To get the best results, don’t try to compensate for the current volume level with your voice. Speak at your normal pitch. The test will report your highest volume level. You can then increase or decrease the input level as required.

You can always return to Settings > System > Sound to make further changes if needed. For the current modification, close the Settings app when you’re done, and your sound issue should be fixed.

Adjust the mic volume through the Control Panel

While the Settings app provides basic options for casual needs, the traditional Control Panel applet remains available for those who wish to go deeper into Windows 10 settings and access hidden options.

If you’re not satisfied by the results you got from adjusting the sound volume through the Settings app, the sound options in the classic Control Panel can help.

To use this tool, right-click the speaker icon at the right of your taskbar.

Right-click the speaker icon.

Select Sounds from the context menu.

Click Sounds.

When the Sound dialog opens, move to the Recording tab by clicking Recording from the group of tabs. You should find your recording-capable hardware listed there.

Navigate to the Recording tab.

Right-click the problematic sound device and select Properties. You can also double-click it for the same result.

Select Properties.

When the Properties dialog opens, switch to the Levels tab and use the microphone slider to increase or decrease the mic volume.

Use the microphone slider to increase or decrease the mic volume.

Remember that the higher the level, the higher the sound input. However, if the sound level is too high, the sound can become distorted. On the other hand, if the sound level is too low, your voice will barely be perceptible to others. Therefore, try to find the perfect level that works for everyone.

When you’re satisfied with your microphone input level, click OK and click OK again. Your changes have been saved now, and you can go ahead and use the microphone as normal.

Use your audio manager to change the mic volume

By and large, the sound settings in Windows 10 are sufficient for your normal audio needs. You can use either the Settings app or Control Panel to modify the sound settings to your satisfaction. Though a sound enthusiast may find the various options insufficient for their taste, most of us aren’t one.

Where the sound options in Windows start lacking is when it comes to maximizing the sound hardware input through granular controls. That is why hardware manufacturers create and update tools to modify the sound settings on Windows 10.

These tools usually require high-level access and can override the audio settings chosen by the system. They offer lots of customization options, and you can do a lot more with them.

The specific audio manager on your PC (or the one you can download) depends entirely on your sound hardware. Most integrated and dedicated sound card manufacturers have their sound modification software. Realtek Audio Manager is perhaps the most popular one around because a lot of laptops use sound cards from Realtek.

The options in the audio manager won’t be too much different from the normal Windows sound settings. They may offer deeper customizations and larger gradations of sound levels. While some audio managers come pre-installed on the PC, others are available for download from the manufacturer’s website. However, all of them rely on having the proper sound drivers installed.

If you aren’t quite sure what your driver version is or if an update is available, Auslogics Driver Updater will help you.

Run Auslogics Driver Updater.

This tool will check your PC for missing and obsolete drivers and give you the option to instantly update everything. It saves your current driver before performing an update so that you can easily reverse things in the event of a glitch.

The Realtek High Definition Audio driver is frequently updated by Realtek, and other sound card manufacturers do the same for their products. Running Auslogics Driver Updater at regular intervals will help you quickly grab and install available updates, thereby enhancing your sound experience.

Adjust the supporting sound settings in Windows 10

The methods above will help you to adjust the mic volume to the right level if something is wrong with the current settings. However, sometimes, the issue isn’t with the volume; instead, what you want is the reduction of background noise, the elimination of hissing sounds and the likes.

You can correct these anomalies by tweaking the right sound enhancement options. The bad news is that your sound card may not support this feature. Even if it does, you may need to update your sound card driver before you can tweak the sound effects.

Here’s how to proceed if your sound card supports sound enhancements:

  1. Hold down the Windows logo key and press R on the keyboard to launch the Run box.Launch the Run box.

 

  • Type “mmsys.cpl” (without the quotes) and press Enter on your keyboard.Type "mmsys.cpl" (without the quotes) and press Enter on your keyboard.

 

 

  • The new window takes you to the Sound section in the Control Panel. Go to the Recording tab.Go to the Recording tab.

 

 

  • Right-click the microphone and select Properties.Right-click the microphone and select Properties.

 

 

  • In the Properties dialog, go to the Enhancements tab.
  • In the Enhancements tab, tick the sound effects you want to enable and untick those you want to turn off.
  • When you’re done with your modifications, click OK.
  • Click OK again to save all the changes and exit the Sound window.

 

If the Enhancements tab doesn’t exist when you open the microphone’s Properties dialog, it means your sound card doesn’t support the feature.

Conclusion

Windows is no stranger to unexpected bugs, and this can affect audio input as well. Learning how to amplify a microphone on Windows will prevent avoidable sound issues.

This guide has taught you how to change the microphone volume in Windows 10. After applying the suggested methods on your PC, you should be able to look forward to the next video conference or online voice chat session, knowing that your hardware won’t embarrass you.