My microphone does not work in games.

[Electrayz]

My microphone does not work in games. I can use it in another application (whatsapp). It also shows 2% in the sound test, but I can hear the sound very well. Can you help me? WHEN I LOOK AT THE PERMISSIONS, I CANNOT SEE STEAM OR THE GAMES I PLAY (ADDITIONAL INFORMATION). I ALSO LOOKED AT MANY SETTINGS, IF I MISSED ANYTHING, PLEASE INFORM ME 🙂

[Max3Aj]

@Electrayz, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 
Let’s troubleshoot your mic not working in games on your Victus 16-s0000. Since it works in WhatsApp and shows 2% in the sound test, your mic is functional, but the input volume is likely too low, and app permissions (especially for Steam/games) may be misconfigured. Let’s go step-by-step to fix it:

Check Input Volume and Boost

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Go to System > Sound.
3. Under Input, click your microphone.
4. Ensure:
   • Input volume is set to 100%.
   • Scroll down and select More sound settings > Recording tab > Right-click your microphone > Properties.
   • Under Levels, increase both Microphone and Microphone Boost (start with +10dB, try +20dB if still low).
5. Click Apply, then OK.

Privacy & Permissions

1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone.
2. Make sure:
   • Microphone access is ON.
   • Let apps access your microphone is ON.
   • Scroll down and turn on microphone access for Desktop apps. This is crucial for Steam and games!

Note: You won’t always see individual games listed here — most are classified under “desktop apps.”

Set Default Recording Device

1. Go to Sound settings > More sound settings > Recording tab.
2. Make sure your mic is set as the default device (green checkmark).
3. Right-click > Set as Default Device and Set as Default Communication Device.

Steam Settings (if you play via Steam)

1. Open Steam > Settings > Voice.
2. Ensure the correct input device is selected.
3. Adjust the mic volume slider here too.
4. Test it using Steam’s built-in mic test.

Check In-Game Audio Settings

Each game (e.g., Valorant, CS2, Apex) has:

• Its own Voice Chat settings.
• Option to select input/output devices.

Open the game settings and select your microphone device manually. Don’t leave it on "Default" if it’s not working.
 

Update or Reinstall Audio Driver

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
3. Right-click your audio device (e.g., Realtek, AMD, or NVIDIA HD Audio) > Update driver > Search automatically.
4. If it’s still glitchy, download and install the latest driver from HP’s support page for your model.

Check for Conflicts with Other Apps

Some apps like Discord, WhatsApp Desktop, or NVIDIA ShadowPlay can hijack the mic.

• Make sure only one app is actively using the mic.
• Try closing everything else and test in-game. 

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Select "Yes" on the bottom left to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support