How to Fix An Xbox One Mic That Isn’t Working

Voice chat is a popular feature of the Xbox One console. It allows gamers to communicate with their friends and colleagues using either the Winect microphone, a headset microphone, or a pair of headphones. There are many fixes for your Xbox One microphone not working properly.

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This article applies to all Xbox One models except the Xbox One S.

How Xbox One Mic Issues Arise

A microphone problem on Xbox One can cause distorted or muted sound, or even audio that is only limited enough to be heard by a few teammates. An Xbox One game that uses voice commands can have a microphone bug, which may prevent it from correctly registering words and working properly. Your Xbox One may not allow you to use Cortana commands.

Xbox One Mic Problems

An app glitch or physical damage can cause the Xbox microphone to stop working properly. This could be caused by incorrect settings in your Xbox One system settings or Xbox Network account settings. Another common reason for distorted and delayed audio is a slow internet link.

How to fix Xbox One Mic Problems

These steps will help you get your Xbox One microphone working again.

1. Connect the Xbox microphone. Sometimes, audio problems can be fixed by disconnecting the headset or mic and reconnecting it.
   
   Xbox One consoles do not support USB headsets. Only devices that have Bluetooth capability can connect to the Xbox One. 
2. You should ensure that the microphone is not muted. Many gaming headsets include a mute switch. The LED indicator on the mute button will indicate that your audio is muted. To unmute your mic, press the button. 
3. You should make sure that your teammates have not muted you. Voice chat with strangers in games such as Fortnite for Xbox One can become exhausting. Many players opt to mut audio from other players. You may need to ask your friends to turn the audio back on so they can hear you.
   
   
4. Reduce the volume of your TV. The mic may be picking up your TV audio and playing it back. If you hear an echo, this is likely to be the microphone. The TV volume may be too loud for the people you are talking to. 
5. You can increase the mic volume. You can adjust the volume manually if you are using a Kinect. 
6. You can test the microphone on other devices. Use an app like Skype or Telegram to test the microphone with your smartphone or laptop. If the microphone works, it is most likely that the Xbox One console has the problem. You may have to replace the headset or repair it. 
7. Assign the controller as a profile. You may find that the console is looking for audio input from another controller if you frequently change controllers. Make sure you assign the Xbox One controller your Microsoft Account.
   
   
8. Update your Xbox controller. The firmware used by the Xbox One controllers requires periodic updates. The console’s settings can be used to update the Xbox One controller. 
9. Make sure you are checking your privacy settings. Voice chat may not be working if your Xbox microphone isn’t connected. Go to Settings > Account > Privacy and online safety > View details and customize > Communicate by voice or text 
10. Check out the Xbox Kinect sensor. The sensor may not be detecting audio if the Kinect Xbox logo light turns off. Microsoft offers a website dedicated to solving Xbox One Kinect problems.
    
    
11. Perform an Xbox One power cycle. Hold down the power button for approximately 10 seconds, until the system turns off. After waiting for approximately a minute, tap the button again to turn it on. You should see the Xbox One loading screen for about a minute before you are taken to your normal Home screen. 
12. Change parental settings. You can enable or disable voice chat in the Xbox One parental control. You may be unable to chat with other players online if your Xbox network account has been managed by another person. 
13. View the Xbox network status. The Microsoft Xbox online service allows voice chat to be used for many video games. The Xbox support site can be used to check if the Xbox network has been down at any given time. 
14. Check your internet speed. To ensure you have a reliable internet connection, test your internet speed. Use the Xbox app on your phone if your internet connection is slow. You can then communicate with other players via your cellular plan. You can also use the Xbox App to voicechat with your Apple AirPods from Xbox One. This is not recommended for those with data caps.
     
15. You can get rid of the surge protector. The surge protection is built into Xbox One consoles. An additional surge protector can be used with the Xbox One to prevent it from not working properly.
    
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    Sometimes, performance problems can be fixed by plugging the Xbox One console into an outlet.
    
    

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FAQ

• How can I test the microphone on my Xbox One?
  

  
  Log in to your Xbox Live account and hit the Menu button. Select Start a Party from the Party menu. Talk into the microphone; if it is working, your profile pic will glow

• How can I use Apple headphones to control my Xbox One’s microphone?
  

  
  Because of noise and interference, Apple headphones may not be the best choice for Xbox One. To get around this problem, you can plug your headphones into your controller (must have an 3.5 mm Jack), and then press the Xbox button. The Mic Monitoring slider should be turned to zero. 

• What is mic monitoring?
  

  
  Mic monitoring is an Xbox One sound feature. It feeds your microphone input to your headphones, so that you can hear your voice clearly. This feature is especially useful for gamers who deal with chaotic nois