Fix guide · Microphone test
OBS mic not working: test it and fix it
When OBS shows a flat meter or viewers cannot hear you, first check that the microphone itself works. Press the check below. If the level moves here, your hardware and system are fine and the issue is an OBS setting: the device, the audio track or the system permission.
Quick fix checklist
- 1Press Check microphone below. If nothing moves, fix the device first with the Windows 11 or macOS guide before changing OBS.
- 2In OBS open Settings > Audio and set Mic/Auxiliary Audio to your microphone, not Disabled.
- 3In the Audio Mixer, click the speaker icon to make sure the microphone source is not muted, and drag its fader away from the left.
- 4If the source is missing, add an Audio Input Capture source in the Sources panel and choose the microphone.
- 5Right-click the mixer, open Advanced Audio Properties and tick Track 1 for the microphone so recordings and streams include it.
- 6On macOS allow OBS in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone, then restart OBS. On Windows turn off exclusive control in the microphone properties.
The common OBS causes
The device may be set to Default but the real input differs, the source may have been muted by a hotkey, or the track may be unticked, which silences the recording even though the meter moves. A sample rate mismatch between 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz can also cause crackling.
Clean up the sound
Right-click the microphone source, open Filters and add Noise Suppression, a Noise Gate and a Compressor. Use the health check to see your noise floor and level before you set the gate. For other apps see Discord.
FAQ
Common questions
Why does my OBS microphone not show any levels?
The device may be disabled in Settings > Audio, the source muted, or the system may be blocking OBS from the microphone.
Why can viewers not hear me even though the meter moves?
The track may be unticked in Advanced Audio Properties, or the source may be muted in a different scene.
How do I stop crackling in OBS?
Match the sample rate in OBS and Windows (usually 48 kHz) and turn off exclusive control.
Does testing here affect OBS?
No. The check runs in your browser separately from OBS.