Chromebook Microphone Not Working — Fix

What Does This Error Mean?

Chromebook microphone not working is usually caused by a website or app not having microphone permission in Chrome, the wrong audio input device selected in ChromeOS settings, or the microphone being muted at the system level. Check chrome://settings/content/microphone in the Chrome address bar to manage site permissions.

Affected Models

All Chromebook models
ChromeOS Flex on legacy hardware

Common Causes

Website or app blocked from microphone access in Chrome site settings
External USB headset or webcam selected as the input instead of the built-in mic
Microphone muted via keyboard shortcut or system settings
Google Meet or Zoom app has its own microphone permission denied
ChromeOS update changed default audio input device

How to Fix It

Check microphone permission in Chrome.

In the Chrome browser address bar, type chrome://settings/content/microphone and press Enter. Ensure the default is 'Sites can ask to use your microphone'. Check the 'Blocked' list — if the site you are using (Google Meet, Zoom) is blocked, click the trash icon to remove it, then reload the page.
Check the active input device in ChromeOS.

Click the system tray (bottom right) → click the audio settings icon (speaker/headphone) → look at the microphone section. Confirm 'Internal Microphone' (or the correct external mic) is selected as the input. Speak and watch the level indicator.
Check that the microphone is not muted.

The Chromebook's microphone can be muted system-wide. Click the system tray → audio settings → the microphone section shows a slider and mute button. Confirm the mic is not muted and the slider is at a reasonable level.
Restart the Chromebook.

A restart reinitialises the audio hardware. If the microphone stopped working after a Chrome update or after installing a Chrome extension, a restart often restores it.
Test in a different browser or app.

Go to a microphone test page in Chrome (search 'microphone test online'). If the mic works in the test page but not in a specific app (Zoom, Teams), the issue is with that app's permission or settings — not the Chromebook hardware.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I allow Google Meet to use my Chromebook microphone?

When Google Meet asks for microphone permission, click Allow in the browser pop-up. If you previously clicked Block, go to the Chrome address bar, click the lock icon (or the camera/mic icon) to the left of the URL, and change Microphone from Block to Allow. Reload the page.

Does the Chromebook microphone work with the Linux (Crostini) environment?

Yes, but microphone access in Linux apps must be enabled separately. Go to Settings → Advanced → Developers → Linux Development Environment → Manage Settings → enable Microphone. Without this, Linux apps cannot access the microphone.