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Windows 10 Microphone Too Quiet? Here’s How to Boost and Increase Recording Volume

Microphone volume too low in Windows 10? We show you how to use the mic boost setting to increase microphone volume to your preferences.

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In a bid to save other's eardrums and maintain quality, microphone volume in often starts below full capacity. As a result, those with low-powered audio input devices can find their Windows 10 microphone is too quiet. Realtek microphone drivers and USB microphones are particularly bad for this.

Though you can often get by with a quiet mic for dictation, talking to someone in a noisier environment on Discord, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or other calling software can present issues. Though many of these have their own audio controls, it's far easier to increase or boost your Windows 10 microphone volume globally.

To do so, you don't need any microphone boost software – your system's default drivers and Windows settings should be enough. Tweaking them will increase mic volume on Discord and any other application, but could increase noise and other artifacts. In most cases, that's preferable to someone being unable to hear you, so let's jump into how to do it.

How to Increase Microphone Volume in Windows 10 Settings

Time needed: 2 minutes

The microphone settings menu is a little harder to get to than in older versions of Windows 10. Even so, you can increase microphone volume without the need for any dedicated boost software.

  1. Open sound settings


    Right-click the speaker icon on your taskbar and click “Open Sound settings”.

    Windows 10 - Taskbar - Open sound settings

  2. Switch to the correct microphone


    PC and laptops quite often have multiple microphones, with sources coming from in-built devices and webcams. Make sure you have the correct one selected under the “Input” heading before you begin.

    Windows 10 - Sound Settings

  3. Open device properties


    Somewhat unexpectedly, Windows 10's boost microphone volume is hidden under a separate device properties menu. In the input section of the sound window, click “Device properties”.

    Windows 10 - Settings - System - Sound

  4. Increase your microphone volume


    You'll now see a slider for your microphone, which may be below 100. Increase it to your preferences and click the “Test” button to ensure it's working. If it still isn't loud enough, proceed to the next step.

    Windows 10 - Settings - Sound - Device Properties

  5. Open additional device properties


    Press the “Additional device properties” button and switch to the “Levels” tab.

    Windows 10 - Settings - Sound - Microphone Properties

  6. Increase your Microphone Boost


    Here you can increase Windows 10's volume, but you'll find the microphone boost option. Increase it in increments of 10, up to a total of 30, until you reach an acceptable volume. Press “OK”.

    Windows 10 - Settings - Sound - Microphone Properties - Levels

If your Realtek microphone is still too quiet, you may want to uninstall your current drivers and install generic ones instead. Also make sure you have the ‘seperate all input jacks as independent devices' option ticked.

Last Updated on August 14, 2020 8:40 pm CEST by Markus Kasanmascheff

Ryan Maskell
Ryan Maskellhttps://ryanmaskell.co.uk
Ryan has had a passion for gaming and technology since early childhood. Fusing the skills from his Creative Writing and Publishing degree with profound technical knowledge, he enjoys covering news about Microsoft. As an avid writer, he is also working on his debut novel.