Zoom app not detecting any microphone - but all other apps access the mic okay

[unian]

Hi there,

My zoom app is not detecting microphones - this includes my built-in laptop microphone, and also my headphone microphone when I test with my microphones. I'm using Windows 11. My microphone works perfectly in my Sound Settings, and on Teams calls.

Error message on Zoom "Failed to detect your microphone. Please make sure your microphone is properly connected."

I have tried so many steps online - including:
- rebooting the PC
- re-installing the Zoom app (now have the Zoom Workplace app version 6.1.11 (45504) installed)
- checking for driver updates on device manager
- checking for Windows updates (including optional updates)
- playing with the Audio settings in Zoom - including the Advanced Audio settings
- in Privacy Settings, ensuring the Zoom app has access to the Microphone
- going to the Microphone settings and unchecking 'Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device'
- run the Sound troubleshooter - didn't find any issues
- tried plugging in a headset - still says it cannot detect the microphone. The strange thing is when I click on the little up-arrow next to Audio to see the 'Select a Microphone' options - both the built-in laptop microphone and headset microphone are there as options - but when i select either, the same error appears

This is driving me crazy!