f8 key nolonger mutes my microphone

[Eyo_Eyo]

Up until about 2 to 3 weeks ago I've always been able to mute my microphone by pressing f8. that no longer works. When I press it, it just shows the microphone icon without a line through it. The light doesn't even come on anymore. Someone please help 🙂

[Nal_NR]

Hi @Eyo_Eyo,

Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

I'd be glad to help you! 

Here’s a troubleshooting guide for fixing the microphone mute issue on your HP ENVY x360 15.6 inch 2-in-1 Laptop PC 15m-eu0000:

1. Test the F8 Key (Touch & Visual)

• Press the F8 key firmly to make sure it’s not physically stuck or unresponsive. You should feel a tactile response when pressing it.
• Look for the microphone mute LED (if your model has one). If it’s not lighting up, the F8 key might not be working as intended. Check if other function keys (like volume or brightness) respond correctly.

2. Check Microphone Settings (Visual)

• Go to Settings > System > Sound > Input and check if the microphone is recognized.
• Try manually muting and unmuting the microphone through the settings to see if the software is controlling it properly.
• Open Device Manager (press Windows + X, then select Device Manager), expand Audio inputs and outputs, and check if the microphone is listed without any warning symbols.

3. Update or Roll Back Drivers (Visual & Auditory)

• Right-click on the microphone in Device Manager and select Update driver. Let Windows search for the latest version.
• If the problem started after a Windows update, try rolling back the driver (Right-click > Properties > Driver tab > Roll Back Driver).
• Listen for any changes in sound or microphone behavior after updates or rollbacks.

4. HP Hotkey Support Software (Visual)

• The F8 key functionality might be tied to the HP Hotkey Support Software.
• Go to HP’s support page, download the latest version of the Hotkey driver or HP System Event Utility, and install it. This utility controls the function keys, and reinstalling or updating it may restore the F8 key's behavior.

5. BIOS Settings (Visual)

• Restart your laptop and press F10 to enter the BIOS settings.
• Navigate to System Configuration and check if there’s an option for Function Key Behavior. Ensure it’s set to Action Keys Mode, so pressing F8 without the Fn key controls the microphone.

If none of these steps work, it could indicate a deeper software conflict or hardware issue.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance

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