Desktop Audio

(I have an all-in-one desktop, it wouldn't let me change from notebook audio in the "board selector" option)

My computer (running Windows 11) was working fine last week.  This Monday with no changes that I have made, my desktop all-in-one can no longer recognize an external microphone. I have a USB webcam with embedded microphone and my computer can find and utilize the camera, but it cannot find/utilize the microphone. I have tried resetting the sound, I have given the apps permission to use the microphone, I have restarted my computer multiple times, and still nothing. I thought it might be that the microphone in the webcam had died, but I have the same problem when I connect my airpods - I can hear sound in the headphones but it will not recognize the microphone that is in the headphones.  The computer for the most part recognizes and utilizes the built in microphone in the computer (it didn't this morning and I had to use a tablet for my work videoconferencing), so I have no idea what is going on.  I've tried different USB ports for my external webcam/microphone and it doesn't help. I've tried uninstalling and re-installing the webcam/airpods and it doesn't help.  I've reset the settings on my web browser and it doesn't work.  I rely on a microphone for my work, so this is becoming quite a problem and preventing me from doing my work.