WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps, allowing users to chat, call, and video chat with contacts. When using WhatsApp Web to access chats through a computer browser, users expect to have full functionality mirroring the mobile app experience. However, one common issue arises when the microphone stops working properly on WhatsApp Web.
There are a few potential reasons why the WhatsApp microphone may not be picking up audio when trying to send voice messages or make calls on a PC. The good news is there are also troubleshooting steps you can try to get the microphone working again.
Check Microphone Settings
The first thing to check is whether your microphone is set up correctly on your computer. Here are some things to verify:
- Make sure the microphone is not disabled. Go to your computer’s sound settings and check that the microphone is enabled and the volume is turned up.
- Confirm the correct microphone device is selected as the default input device for sound settings.
- Test if the microphone works outside of WhatsApp. Try recording audio in a program like Voice Recorder to see if the mic picks up your voice.
- Ensure microphone privacy or app permissions are not blocking WhatsApp from accessing the mic input.
If the microphone does not work in other apps as well, then there may be a system-wide issue with the microphone setup on your computer.
Allow WhatsApp Microphone Access
Even if your microphone is operational, WhatsApp may not have permission to access it. Here are some tips for ensuring WhatsApp can use your mic:
- On Windows, check the privacy settings and make sure WhatsApp has microphone access allowed.
- On Mac, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy and verify WhatsApp has permission to use the microphone.
- For Chromebook, check that WhatsApp is allowed to access the microphone under Settings > Privacy > Microphone.
- On WhatsApp Web, a browser permission popup may appear requesting mic access, be sure to click “Allow.”
Granting microphone access permissions for WhatsApp should resolve problems using voice input features.
Check Your Browser
Since WhatsApp Web runs in a desktop web browser, browser settings and extensions could interfere with the microphone:
- Try disabling any browser extensions temporarily to see if that fixes the issue.
- Clear the browser cache and cookies to eliminate any problematic cached data.
- Test the microphone in a different web browser. If it works in one browser but not another, there may be a browser-specific setting blocking access.
- Make sure you have the latest browser version installed for maximum compatibility.
Troubleshooting your browser and browser extensions has helped many users get the WhatsApp Web microphone working again.
Restart Devices
One simple fix to try is restarting your computer and mobile device:
- Shut down your computer completely and restart it.
- Force quit and relaunch the desktop browser.
- Close WhatsApp completely on your mobile device and restart the app.
Restarting can clear out any erroneous settings and get WhatsApp connecting to devices properly again in some cases.
Check Internet Connection
It’s possible connection issues between devices could prevent the WhatsApp microphone from functioning:
- Make sure your computer and mobile device are on the same WiFi network or have a good mobile data connection.
- Disable VPNs, proxies, ad blockers, or firewalls temporarily to test if they are interfering.
- Unplug and reconnect internet cables and routers to refresh the connection.
Having a stable internet pathway between your phone and computer is key for WhatsApp desktop mic to work right.
Update WhatsApp
An outdated version of WhatsApp could be the culprit behind a non-functional mic:
- On your mobile device, check for any WhatsApp updates in the App Store or Play Store.
- On desktop, make sure to refresh WhatsApp Web to use the latest web version.
Updating to the newest WhatsApp release may provide a bug fix for microphone problems you’re encountering.
Log Out and Back In
If other troubleshooting hasn’t helped, try logging out of WhatsApp completely:
- Force quit the WhatsApp mobile app.
- Close the desktop browser tab with WhatsApp Web.
- Log out of WhatsApp on your phone from Settings > Account.
- Log back into mobile WhatsApp and reconnect on desktop.
Logging out and back in forces WhatsApp to reconnect from scratch which could reset any microphone issues.
Contact WhatsApp Support
If you still can’t get the WhatsApp microphone working after trying all troubleshooting tips, get in touch with WhatsApp support:
- On Twitter, you can tweet @WhatsAppSupport to report issues.
- Email WhatsApp at [email protected] with details and screenshots.
- Fill out the form on the WhatsApp Help Center website under Contact Us.
WhatsApp technicians may be able to provide specialized help getting the microphone functioning again on your specific setup.
Conclusion
With microphone access issues, the first things to check are the computer’s microphone settings, privacy permissions, browser extensions, app versions, and internet connectivity. Reinstalling WhatsApp, logging out and back in, and restarting devices can also get the mic working again in many cases. For continued problems, customer support can help troubleshoot further. With the right fixes, you can get back to seamlessly using the WhatsApp desktop microphone for voice messages and calls.