How to Activate a Microphone on Mac

This wikiHow teaches you how to enable an internal or external microphone on your Mac.

Steps

  1. Image titled Use a Microphone on a PC Step 5
    1
    Connect an external microphone. If you'd like to use an external microphone, connect it to your Mac via a USB port, an audio line-in port, or Bluetooth.
    • Most Macs, including all laptops, have a built-in microphone, but an external microphone typically affords better sound quality.
    • Different Macs have different port configurations: Not all Macs have a line-in port, and some models of MacBook have a single audio port that can be used as both audio line-in and line-out. Check the sides and back of your Mac to determine what ports are available.
  2. Image titled Activate a Microphone on Mac Step 2
    2
    Click on the Apple menu. It's in the upper-left corner of the screen.
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  3. Image titled Activate a Microphone on Mac Step 3
    3
    Click on System Preferences. It's near the top of the drop-down menu.
  4. Image titled Activate a Microphone on Mac Step 4
    4
    Click on Sound. It's in the right-center of the window.
  5. Image titled Activate a Microphone on Mac Step 5
    5
    Click on Input. It's a tab at the top of the window.
  6. Image titled Activate a Microphone on Mac Step 6
    6
    Select a microphone. All available microphones and audio input devices will be listed in the menu near the top of the window. Click on the one you'd like to use.
    • If your Mac is equipped with a built-in mic, it will be listed as "Internal microphone".
    • If you don't see your external microphone on the menu, check it's connection.
  7. Image titled Activate a Microphone on Mac Step 7
    7
    Adjust the settings for the selected microphone. Use the controls in the bottom half of the window to do so.
    • Move the slider for "Input volume" to the right to make the microphone more sensitive to sound.
  8. Image titled Activate a Microphone on Mac Step 8
    8
    Test the sound level. Speak into the microphone to see if the sound registers in the meter marked "Input level." If you see blue lights in the input level bar when you speak, your microphone has been activated.
    • The box next to "Mute" in the lower-right corner of the window should be unchecked.
    • If the "Input level" bar doesn't light up when you speak, check your microphone's connection and adjust the input volume.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    If I don't have an external microphone, will this still work?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Most Macs have an internal microphone, and this should be active by default.
  • Question
    My internal mic is detecting my voice, but no one can hear me when I call. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Make sure that whatever application you're using has microphone enabled. For example, if you are running appear.in in Google Chrome, your flash player might not be enabled.
  • Question
    How do I turn on a Macbook Pro when the keyboard and screen are off?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You press and hold the power button on the top-right part on the keyboard until it turns on.
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Things You'll Need

  • Computer's instruction manual
  • Online support
  • USB or other port for microphone
  • External microphone
  • "Sound" preferences
  • iChat preferences
  • Audio software

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References

  1. http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=105404#
  2. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4167
  3. http://www.apple.com/support/contact/

About This Article

wikiHow Staff
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 490,562 times.
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Co-authors: 11
Updated: March 5, 2020
Views: 490,562
Categories: Mac
Article SummaryX

1. Connect an external microphone, if desired.
2. Click on the Apple menu.
3. Click on System Preferences.
4. Click on Sound.
5. Click on Input.
6. Select a microphone.
7. Adjust the input settings.

Did this summary help you?
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