How to change the default microphone on Windows 10
Windows 10 allows users to connect different types of audio devices to a system. These devices can be connected via an audio jack, a USB port, or Bluetooth. In some cases, an HDMI cable can also be used to send audio from the system to a TV.
The audio devices that a user can connect to a Windows 10 system aren’t limited to output devices. Input devices i.e., microphones can also be connected. In fact, users can connect multiple microphones to a system if they use it for recording.
Default microphone Windows 10
Windows 10 allows users to connect multiple hardware devices of the same type i.e., multiple webcams, multiple hard drives, multiple mics, but it will still always default to one device when an app needs to use it.
This is to be expected since not every app has an option to select a device from those that are connected. Apps normally use the default device that’s set and if you want to change the device, you have to change the default device in Windows 10.
Change default microphone Windows 10
If you’ve connected more than one microphone to your Windows 10 system, you can use the following steps to change which is set as the default microphone on Windows 10.
- Connect the microphone that you want to use as the default microphone on Windows 10.
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to Hardware and Sound.
- Click Sound.
- Go to the Recording tab.
- Make sure all microphones connected to the system are listed. If they aren’t, they haven’t been configured correctly.
- Right-click the microphone you want to use as the default microphone.
- Select ‘Set as default device’. Windows 10 will now use this device for all non-call related apps e.g., recording apps.
- Right-click the device again and select ‘Set as default communication device’ and Windows 10 will use it as the default device for all calling apps (Skype, Discord, Microsoft Teams) as well.
- Click Apply.
Conclusion
Changing the default microphone on Windows 10 isn’t hard as long as you’ve set it up correctly. If a mic that you’ve connected and set as the default device is disconnected, Windows 10 will automatically switch to using the next available device as the default. When you connect the mic again, you will have to change the default.
You may have to restart an app for it to detect the new default mic. If an app allows you to select a mic from a list of connected devices, you can select the mic from the app’s settings and you won’t need to change the default microphone on Windows 10.
