HP Victus 15 internal mic not working. Mic Array (Intel Smart Sound Technology for Digital Mic)

[Nate12321]

I'm experiencing an issue similar to the one described here: HP Support Forum – Intel Smart Sound Technology for Digital Microphones

Here's a summary of the problem:

• The internal microphone on my laptop is not working properly.

• However, when I plug in external earphones with a mic, the microphone works fine.

• I've confirmed that the microphone volume is set to maximum.

• I’ve attached some images comparing the settings for the internal and external microphones.

Some additional context:

About two weeks ago, my SSD (which was around 2.5 years old) failed. I replaced it with a new SSD and installed a clean copy of Windows. After the installation, the internal microphone was working normally. However, today the issue returned - the mic has stopped working again and is behaving just like it did before with the old SSD. To clarify, I had this mic problem even with the old ssd.

I even reinstalled Windows cleanly once more on the new SSD, but the internal mic issue still persists.

https://ibb.co/BKn3vJ74 External mic

https://ibb.co/LDDvGkQL Internal mic, as seen even without any input the output from mic is at max volume

https://ibb.co/Mkx6P8Dz Same observation as above here

[SmithaP]

@Nate12321 

Thank you for reaching out! 

Thanks for the detailed background, that’s really helpful. It sounds like your internal microphone issue is recurring despite a full reinstall and SSD replacement, and that it behaves abnormally (showing constant max input levels even without sound), while external mics work fine. That narrows it down quite a bit.

Before we dive into possible hardware vs. driver causes, could you please clarify a few points to better isolate the root cause:

1. Audio Drivers:
   • Are you currently using HP’s official Realtek/Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST) drivers from HP Support Assistant or the HP website?
   • Or did Windows automatically install generic drivers during setup?
2. Device Manager:
   • Under “Sound, video and game controllers” and “Audio inputs and outputs,” do you see entries for Intel Smart Sound Technology for Digital Microphones and Realtek Audio?
   • Any yellow warning icons or “Unknown Device” entries?
3. Recording Devices Behavior:
   • When you go to Control Panel → Sound → Recording tab, does the internal microphone’s input meter stay at full volume even in a quiet room (as your screenshots suggest)?
   • If you disable all enhancements and noise suppression under Microphone Properties → Enhancements / Advanced, does the meter still show max input?
4. BIOS and Firmware:
   • Have you updated your BIOS and audio firmware to the latest versions from HP’s support site for your exact model (15-fa0000)?
5. Environment:
   • Are you dual-booting (e.g., Linux or another OS), or is it strictly Windows 10/11?
   • Did you install any third-party audio software (like Nahimic, DTS, or Waves MaxxAudio) before the issue reappeared?
6. Physical side:
   • Just to confirm — there’s no visible damage or obstruction to the mic holes above the display bezel, right?

 Kindly let me know if this resolves your issue, or if you need any further assistance. We’re always here to help.

[Nate12321]

@SmithaP 

Sure! Will answer everything below.

1. Yes, I am currently using HP’s official Realtek/Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST) drivers from HP Support Assistant and the HP website. No generic drivers from Windows.

2. Under “Sound, video and game controllers” I could find:

               i. Intel Smart Sound Technology for Digital Microphones

              ii.  Intel Smart Sound Technology for Bluetooth Audio 

             iii. NVIDIA High Definition Audio

            iv. NVIDIA Virtual Audio Device (WDM) 

           v. Realtek (R) Audio

Under “Audio inputs and outputs,” I could find:

               i. Microphone Array (Intel Smart Sound Technology for Digital Microphones)

               ii. Speaker (Realtek (R) Audio)

  So yes, I could see entries for those and no yellow warning icons or “Unknown Device” entries.

3. When I go to Control Panel → Sound → Recording tab, the internal microphone’s input meter stays at full volume even in a quiet room. I had shared a screenshot as well above in the post. https://ibb.co/Mkx6P8Dz

Yes, even if I disable all enhancements and noise suppression under Microphone Properties → Enhancements / Advanced, the meter still shows max input.

4. Yes, I have updated my BIOS and audio firmware to the latest versions from HP’s support site for my exact model.

5.  No dual booting and it's strictly only Windows 11.

No, I didn'install any third-party audio software (like Nahimic, DTS, or Waves MaxxAudio) before the issue reappeared.

6. Yes, I could confirm that there’s no visible damage or obstruction to the mic holes above the display bezel.

To confirm, I had never used my internal mic before so can't confirm from when the issue started but I can thing I could assure is that the mic had only worked for that 1 week after installing Windows clean through a new ssd. I did try reinstalling the Windows again but it didn't work this time. From what I have searched on internet, I have seen lots of complaints regarding Intel SST for Digital Microphones for various reasons.

Hoping I have clarified everything. 

[SmithaP]

@Nate12321 

Perfect — thanks for the detailed and structured clarification!

Let’s try running a hardware test to rule out any potential hardware issues with the unit. Please access this link, which will guide you through the steps to run the hardware diagnostics.

[Nate12321]

@SmithaP 

I have run PC hardware diagnostics and uefi hardware diagnostics. The mic passed the test in both of them. But in the test it showed that the voice was really low. Something similar happened while taking a proctored Online Assessment test through platforms like Hirepro, while checking for the mic the sound level goes from the max to around 10% in an instant and it remains there regardless of the input sound. The test platform asks to speak louder. This is how I got to know that there's a problem with the mic. I highly doubt it's a hardware problem since the webcam works perfectly. Through sound recorder app, the output sound waveform remains a straight line regardless of the input sound. Hoping that helps.

[pr1m3_sam]

I am also having the same issue and I also did the diagnosis and it is passed. There is no physical damage to the microphone as it was working before.

[Nate12321]

Hey. May I know, is the volume level showing a max in your system as well like how it's there in these pics. 

https://ibb.co/BKn3vJ74
https://ibb.co/LDDvGkQL

https://ibb.co/Mkx6P8Dz

Since you said, it was working before, do you recall doing any updates or anything of that sort which broke it? When you use Sound Recorder, does it just produce a straight line? I don't exactly know how mine broke so trying to gather as much info possible. 

When you go to System->Sound->Input->Microphone Array->Properties. What do you see as Provider, Driver date and Driver version?

[pr1m3_sam]

Okay. So basically my built in microphone was working few days ago. But suddenly it stops working properly and buzzing sound is heard if I switch to Listen to the device. It is microphone array (Intel Smart Sound Technology) [Microsoft Audio Endpoint] and this device is found under audio input and output section and also in sound, video and game controllers section I have the following drivers :
1. Intel Smart Sound Technology for Bluetooth Audio 10.29.0.12181

2. Intel Smart Sound Technology for Digital Microphone 10.29.0.12181

3. Nvidia High Definition Audio 1.4.4.7

4. Nvidia Virtual Audio Device (Wave Extensible) (WDM) 4.65.0.3

5. Realtek(R) Audio 6.0.9815.1

and also in system device I have:
1. Intel Smart Sound Technology BUS 10.29.0.12181

2. Intel Smart Sound Technology OED 10.29.0.12181

3. Intel Smart Sound Technology Detection Verification  1.0.3897.0

The microphone is not working. I changed driver, updated it and tried all available troubleshooting. It keep recording a buzzing sound.

[pr1m3_sam]

I have same drivers as you have listed, in a quite room the indicator indicates sound actually a buzzing sound and also I tried to update to latest driver but it did not work.

[Nate12321]

What happens when you tap on the mic from the bezel. If it works that should create output waves. You meant to say in Sound Recorder, there's an output wave created only in a quiet room? And it sounds like a buzz sound only if you record input from a quiet room