7 Fixes to Windows Voice Recorder Not Working

Author: Rocabella
Publish date
Mar 14th, 2024
Windows Voice Recorder Alternative

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Why Is Voice Recorder Not Working in Windows 10/11?
7 Fixes to Windows Voice Recorder Not Working
Fix 1. Check the Microphone Settings
Fix 2. Run the Audio Troubleshooter
Fix 3. Reset/Uninstall the Voice Recorder App
Fix 4. Check the Windows Updates
Fix 5. Disable Audio Enhancements
Fix 6. Clean Boot Your Computer
Fix 7. Try a Handy Alternative
The Bottom Line
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“I can’t use the Voice Recorder App -- my microphone is correctly set up and permits the Voice Recorder to use it, but whenever I press the round record button, it greys out and does nothing: no option to stop, save etc... Any ideas how to resolve this? Thanks in advance!”
– from Microsoft Community

Voice Recorder (named Sound Recorder in Windows 11) is a free audio recording app that comes preinstalled with most Windows operating systems. With it, you can conveniently capture whatever audio you need. However, some people may come across the Windows voice recorder not working issues such as recording no audio or not responding.

Why is your Windows 10 Voice Recorder not working? And how to fix it? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with all the possible reasons and troubleshooting tips in this article. Please continue reading to find the answers now!

Why Is Voice Recorder Not Working in Windows 10/11?

The reasons can be various. We outlined some of the most common causes of this issue:

  • The permission for the microphone isn’t enabled
  • The microphone level isn’t adjusted correctly
  • There isn’t enough storage space on your PC
  • The audio driver is outdated
  • There are some conflicting settings
  • The content is copyrighted
  • ……

Given these reasons, you can refer to the following solutions to fix the Voice Record not working in Windows 11/10.

7 Fixes to Windows Voice Recorder Not Working

Fix 1. Check the Microphone Settings

A disabled or muted microphone could lead to the Voice Recorder not recording audio issues on your Windows PC. This is easy to fix. You just need to:

Make sure the microphone access is on:

  • Head to Start > Settings > Privacy > Microphone.
  • On the right, make sure the option “Allow apps to access your microphone” is turned on.
  • Scroll down and find the Voice Recorder app to permit to access the microphone as well.
  • Then, restart the app to see if it works now. If not, proceed to the next one.
Enable the Microphone
Enable the Microphone

Adjust microphone levels:

  • Go to Start > Settings > System > Sound.
  • Select the right Input and Output devices.
  • Open Device Properties and move the volume slider to the right to level it up.

If the audio not recording error happens to a specific app only, you can click the App volume and device preferences under the Advanced sound options tab. Then scroll down to find the glitched app and check its volume and audio devices.

Adjust the Microphone Levels
Adjust the Microphone Levels

Fix 2. Run the Audio Troubleshooter

Often, running the Windows preinstalled audio recording troubleshooter can effectively solve many problems. The following are the steps to use the troubleshooter.

  • Open Settings and select Update & Security.
  • Click Troubleshoot followed by Additional troubleshooters.
  • Locate Recording Audio under Find and fix other problems.
  • Then click the Run the troubleshooter button to fix the Windows voice recording not working issue.
  • Re-open the recorder and try again.
Run the Audio Recording Troubleshooter
Run the Audio Recording Troubleshooter

Fix 3. Reset/Uninstall the Voice Recorder App

The next solution is to reset or reinstall the app. When it comes to continuous software crashing or not responding, this method works well because it can help revamp all the processes associated with it. Follow the steps below:

  • Open Settings and go to Apps.
  • Select Apps & feature. On the right screen, select Voice Recorder and click Advanced options.
  • Then in the new window, you can see the app’s version you’re using and decide whether to update. If you have an outdated version, you can choose to Uninstall it and then update it to the latest version from the Microsoft App Store.
  • If you’re running the newest version, then try the Reset feature to solve the Windows 10 voice recorder not working issue.
Uninstall the Voice Recorder
Uninstall the Voice Recorder

Fix 4. Check the Windows Updates

I know there are many reasons why most people are reluctant to check for Windows updates. The pop-ups are annoying and the updating process can be lengthy. However, if you ignore the Windows updates, you may also miss out on some issue patches and performance improvements. Then you may encounter various stability and compatibility issues just like the Voice Recorder not working. To check for the Windows updates, follow these steps:

  • Navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Updates.
  • Click Check for Updates. Then Windows will download and install all available updates.
Check the Windows Updates
Check the Windows Updates

Fix 5. Disable Audio Enhancements

Audio Enhancements aims to improve audio performance on Windows, but it sometimes causes problems with the sound and audio. Therefore, disabling Audio Enhancements becomes a common fix to solve the audio or sound-related issues. Here is how:

  • Open Settings and go to System > Sound.
  • Under the input device, click Device properties > Additional device properties.
  • Find the Enhancement tab and check the box Disable all sound effects (or Disable all enhancements on some computer), then select OK.
  • After that, check if your Voice Recorder works now.
Disable Audio Enhancements
Disable Audio Enhancements

Fix 6. Clean Boot Your Computer

Another method that you can use to find the cause of the Windows voice recorder not working is by running a clean boot on your PC. Follow these instructions:

  • Press Windows + R on your keyboard to bring up the Run dialog box.
  • Type in “msconfig” to open the System Configuration window.
  • Switch to the Services tab, then check the “Hide all Microsoft services” box and click the “Disable all” button at the bottom.
  • Enter Startup and click “Open Task Manager”. Select all suspicious programs and disable them. Close the Task Manager window.
  • Restart your computer and record with Voice Recorder again. If it still doesn’t work, try the ultimate solution.
Clean Boot Your Computer
Clean Boot Your Computer

Fix 7. Try a Handy Alternative – WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro

WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro is an all-in-one multimedia application on Windows. It comes equipped with a robust recorder that enables you to record microphone audio and system sounds separately or simultaneously. The tool supports multiple popular audio formats. Apart from audio recording, it also allows you to capture high-quality screens and games.

Download Download this powerful Voice Recorder alternative and follow the steps to record whatever you want now:

Step 1. Run the program and open “Recorder”.

Step 2. Click the speaker icon to activate the Audio-only recording mode.

Step 3. Set a desired audio recording format (MP3, AAC, AC3, and WAV).

Step 4. Check the needed audio source box– Desktop (for system sound), Microphone (for mic voice), or both.

Step 5. Set an output folder and click REC to start the audio recording after a five-second countdown.

Record with Voice Recorder Alternative
Record with Voice Recorder Alternative

The Bottom Line

With the above list of 7 solutions, we sincerely hope you can now use the Voice Recorder app without worrying about any unexpected bug. Among these fixes, it is highly recommended to use a 3rd-party recorder to get rid of all issues.

WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro is not only a powerful audio and video recorder but also comes with many other practical features such as format conversion, compression, downloading, editing, and more! Get this one-stop software to give it a shot now!

Free download Download for Free
Free download Download for Free
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