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Explorer
Oct 7, 2021 4:10 PM UTC
Question

Microphone keeps switching

Hello

 

I've never had this problem before but my computer seems to have 2 or 3 audio options that I don't fully understand.

1. Nvidia

2. Realtek

 

I think that one is for the inbuilt speaker in the screen while another one is when I plug in a mic and speaker probably.

 

The third option while in Zoom is system.

 

Anyway, in my Zoom session a couple of minutes ago, a screen kept appearing that the audio output had been changed and the sound kept switching from the speaker in the screen to the headphones every few seconds


I tried forcing Zoom to stay with one system  by making a choice in audio options, but this got overridden and the problem started again

 

After a few minutes, only the speakers in the screen worked and the headphones were dead which was hard as I had to take the headphones off and then could not easily use the microphone attached to the headphones

 

But why did I get this problem today? I have a really important Zoom meeting on 14Oct and I need to fix it before then

 

Thanks for any help in advance

 

 

    78 replies

    Newcomer
    Aug 3, 2023 11:00 AM UTC

    For me the answer seems to be in fron8861's post - turning off "allow 

    To do this:

    <windows-R> Control Panel

    Sound

    Double click on your preferred audio device

    Click Advanced tab

    Uncheck "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device"

     

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    Newcomer
    Feb 15, 2025 7:28 PM UTC

    Hey did this resolve it long term?

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    Newcomer
    Aug 10, 2023 5:21 AM UTC
    This post has been deleted.

    Oh PLEASE! You've got every OS on Every Computer with Every possible workaround and thats the best you can come up with Drivers? Which of course shifts the blame back to us doesn't it?

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    SafeTexAuthor
    Explorer
    Mar 4, 2024 7:00 AM UTC

    Hello everyone

    After maybe two years with this problem, it seems to have disappeared completely at the moment but I can't say why. Until they find the cause and a solution, Zoom remains "high risk" for me.

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    storyhub
    Community Super Champion | Customer
    Community Super Champion | Customer
    Mar 4, 2024 7:29 AM UTC

    I am an audio engineer specialized in broadcast, live, and motion picture sound. This is typically caused by an unstable and improperly configured audio system in the computer. My computer has 9 different sound cards running on Windows 11 and is perfectly stable for Zoom. However, Windows has a number of audio bugs which often require workarounds or resets under certain unusual conditions.

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    Newcomer
    Nov 7, 2024 9:57 PM UTC

    I solved this problem in my PC by enabling the Mono Audio option on my wireless headphones. I am using Windows 11 and the latest version of Zoom as of November 7, 2024.

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    Explorer
    Jun 17, 2025 9:44 AM UTC

    I startet this issue in October 2021, nothing happed since then until 2025.
    Meanwhile, we've cancelled Zoom and switched to MS Teams.

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