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Google Meet Microphone Not Working

Last reviewed · fixmic team

Google Meet runs entirely in your browser — so almost every mic problem comes down to one of three things: a browser permission, the wrong input device, or another tab holding the mic. Here's the fix order that works.

Try this first

Click the site-information icon on the left of the address bar (Chrome and Edge now use a tune/slider icon instead of the old padlock) → set Microphone to Allow → refresh the Meet tab. This one setting accounts for a large share of Meet mic failures.

1. Allow microphone access in your browser

Meet asks for mic permission the first time you join a call. If you clicked Block or dismissed the prompt, the site stays blocked until you reset it manually.

  1. Chrome / Edge: tune icon → Site settings

    Click the tune icon (formerly a padlock — changed in Chrome 117) next to the URL → Site settings → Microphone → Allow. Reload the Meet tab.

  2. Firefox: permissions icon → Microphone

    Click the permissions icon on the left side of the address bar → set Microphone to Allow. Or open menu → Settings → Privacy & Security → Permissions → Microphone 'Settings…' to manage all sites.

  3. Safari: Safari → Settings → Websites → Microphone

    Find meet.google.com in the list and set it to Allow. Safari Private Browsing windows block persistent mic permissions by default — use a regular window.

2. Pick the correct microphone in Meet

Meet has its own device picker that overrides the browser default. If you switched mics recently, Meet may still be pointing at the old one.

  1. Inside the call: gear icon → Audio

    Click the Settings (gear) icon in the bottom bar → Audio. Pick your microphone from the dropdown. Speak — the mic bar should move. (You can also use the faster route: click the arrow next to the mic icon for a quick device picker.)

  2. Before the call: the pre-join screen

    On the pre-join screen, open Settings (gear) → Audio. Pick the right device before clicking Join.

3. Close other tabs and apps using the mic

Browsers and operating systems only let one app use the microphone at a time. A forgotten Zoom call or a recording tab in Chrome can silently hold the mic.

  1. Chrome / Edge: look for the red recording dot

    Any tab actively using your microphone shows a small red dot on its tab. Close those tabs first.

  2. Quit other voice apps

    Fully quit Zoom, Teams, Discord, and any open audio recorders. Then rejoin the Meet call.

4. Restart the browser

Browsers occasionally lose track of audio devices, especially after sleep or after unplugging a USB mic mid-session.

  1. Fully quit the browser

    Closing the window isn't enough — quit the entire browser (Cmd/Ctrl + Q). Reopen, return to meet.google.com, and rejoin.

  2. Try a different browser as a sanity check

    If Chrome fails but Firefox works, the issue is in Chrome's audio stack — not the mic. Clear Chrome's cookies for meet.google.com and try again.

Still silent in Meet?

Two more things to try:

  • Run the live test on the fixmic homepage in the same browser. If the meter moves there, Meet is the problem — not the mic.
  • On Windows, open Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone and confirm 'Let desktop apps access your microphone' is on. Chrome counts as a desktop app — without this toggle, no per-site grant will work.
  • If you joined via Companion mode, mic and speaker are intentionally disabled for that mode. Rejoin as a full participant.

Related guides

Test before your next call

The diagnostic on the homepage uses the same browser audio stack as Meet — so if it works here, Meet will hear you.

Run the microphone test