My microphone isn't working and how do I switch the microphone input on a Windows computer, in Microsoft Teams and Zoom?

Troubleshooting and switching the audio input to a headset, external or computer microphone

Windows Computer

1. Ensure the microphone is not on mute - it might have a hard button or slide to switch the microphone off and one.
2. If an external microphone is not recognised, try unplugging and re-plugging the USB cable into a different USB port on your computer. Also try rebooting your computer.
3. Right-click on the volume icon in the taskbar, located on the bottom right corner of the screen.
4. Select "Sounds" from the pop-up menu.
5. Click on the "Recording" tab.
6. Select the desired microphone from the list of available devices.  If you don't see the device you want to use, make sure it is properly connected to your computer or try using another USB port.
7. Click on "Set Default" to set the selected microphone as the default recording device.
8. Click "OK" to save the changes.

Microsoft Teams

1. Ensure you are not on mute in the meeting or your microphone's mute button isn't enabled if there is one.
2. Click on the three-dot icon, located on the top right corner of the screen.
3. Select "Settings" from the drop-down menu.
4. Click on "Devices" from the left-hand side menu.
5. Under the "Microphone" section, select the desired input device from the drop-down menu. You can choose from your computer's built-in microphone or an external microphone.
6. Test the audio input by clicking on "Make a test call" or speaking into the microphone.

Zoom

1. Ensure you are not on mute in the meeting or your microphone's mute button isn't enabled if there is one.
2. Click on your profile picture or initials, located on the top right corner of the screen.
3. Select "Settings" from the drop-down menu.
4. Click on the "Audio" tab from the left-hand side menu.
5. Under the "Microphone" section, select the desired input device from the drop-down menu. You can choose from your computer's built-in microphone or an external microphone.
6. Test the audio input by speaking into the microphone or joining a Zoom meeting and checking if others can hear you.

Note: Make sure that the selected microphone is properly connected to your computer and that its volume levels are adjusted properly to ensure clear audio input.