6 Methods to Solve | Audacity Not Recording Sound or Mic

To fix the issues that Audacity does not record the sound effectively, follow this post to find 6 solutions to help with that. Methods include configuring Audacity settings, checking the Windows sound setting, and using the alternative sound recorder.

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Crystal ChenUpdated on Nov 08, 2022|min read

Audacity is an open-sourceaudio recorder for Windowsand other operating systems, which is functional in capturing sound from multiple sources. However, in recent days, some users have complained about Audacity not recording mic or sound. There are some possible reasons behind it. Maybe you haven't downloaded the recent version or something wrong with your computer.

audacity function interface

Here, you find 6 methods to solve the Audacity recording issue correctly.

Workable Solutions Step-by-step Troubleshooting
Fix 1. Adjust Audacity Settings You need to adjust settings forAudacity record computer audioon Windows by ...Full steps
Fix 2. Change Audio Host to MME MME should be enabled when capturing sound...Full steps
Fix 3. Enable Microphone Setting Open Control Panel by pressing Windows logo ...Full steps
Fix 4. Set Proper Audio Sample Rate Choose the suitable sample rates...Full steps
修复5。重新启动或重新install the Program You can restart the software to check if it is the...Full steps
Fix 6. Try Best Alternative to Audacity If the above issues can not solve the problem...Full steps

Why is Audacity not Recording Sound?

Audacity is a dedicated program to record and edit audio files. It can be used by some professional users for mixing sound files. Sometimes it may not capture the sound, and several possible reasons are listed below.

  • Don't enable the option for capturing audio resources
  • Fail in editing audio host like MME from the main interface
  • Cannot enable Windows system setting for microphone
  • Not using a suitable sample rate for audio
  • The operation for capturing is stuck for a while

6 Methods to Fix Audacity not Recording Sound

The part provides with you several methods to solve that Audacity doesn't record sound, including adjusting settings of Audacity, enabling Windows sound options, using theAudacity alternative, etc.

Method 1. Adjust Audacity Settings

For the first method, check the Audacity's properties settings. Sometimes you may ignore essential options, and the recording could be affected. To enable the functional button, click theEditbutton and choosePreferences. Then, findRecordingsand enable the buttons as followed. After that, perform Audacity again to capture sound from sources like a microphone.

audacity not recording preferences setting

Method 2. Change Audio Host to MME

MME should be enabled when capturing the voice. By default, it is automatically adjusted to the right option. But sometimes the audio host is changed, you should alter it to MME. This setting button is on the left side of the main interface, which has three options, including MME, Windows DirectSound, and WASAPI.

audacity not recording settings

Method 3. Enable Windows Microphone Setting

You can apply this method by setting sound from the Windows Control Panel. This is an essential factor no matter what audio recorders you are using. If the operating system doesn't enable the recording tool, the task cannot be successful. To explain this method in detail, below is a guide.

Step 1.首先,你应该打开控制面板由总统sing the Windows logo key and "I" buttons. Then, move to "System" and choose the Sound option.

control panel sound

Step 2.In the Recording window, find the microphone icon and enable it by right clicking. Meanwhile, turn the audio volume to the maximum level. It can provide you with the best effect to record microphone sound.

microphone setting

Step 3.Click "OK" if you have finished the settings. Then, back to Audacity and apply the audio capturing feature again. Also, as mentioned above, remember to set the audio host of Audacity to MME.

Method 4. Set Proper Audio Sample Rate

If Audacity not recording sound, choose the suitable sample rates. Higher sample rates could have more benefits for capturing sound. Most users regard that the best setting for sample rate in Audacity is around 44.1 kHz. Find this option on the bottom left of the main interface. Below is an image for this feature.

audacity sample rate

Method 5. Restart or Reinstall the Program

Another possible reason for Audacity's failure in recording sound could be the installation problem. You can fix it by restarting the software. If it's still not working, download this program again.

Also, make sure your computer has enough storage to install Audacity.

Method 6. Try Best Alternative to Audacity for Recording Sound (Simple Interface)

Believe that you have learned how to fix the issue "Audacity not recording", while you can also try the alternative sound recorder. With a friendly and simple interface,EaseUS RecExpertsallows recording system and external audio separately, or at the same time. Meanwhile, it can adjust the output format, bitrate, etc.

Not only being a powerfulstreaming audio recorder, but it's also the screen capturing software to record the whole or partial screen with sound. You can easily use it to record meetings, YouTube videos, etc.

Now, try the best alternative to Audacity for free! Start recording sound and no registration is required.

Key features of this beneficial sound recorder:

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Capturing system sound is not an easy task, especially when you are using a Mac computer. Choose an audio recorder that is able to capture system and external sound.

FAQs About Audacity Not Recording Sound

Here is a list of issues that people frequently ask about. A series of solutions are also provided.

1. How do you fix no sound on Audacity?

An important factor to capture sound successfully on Audacity is to make sure the audio host is in MME status. This button can be found in the main interface of the tool. It includes other options like WASAPI, but you have to alter it to MME. Other effective solutions are shown in the above part.

2. Why is Audacity not picking up my microphone?

Find the Sound setting in the Control Panel. You can press the Windows logo key and "I". Then, choose the microphone option in the list of audio input devices, and right-click it. After that, click Settings to access the input and output settings of the audio.

Meanwhile, check if the microphone you selected is the same as Audacity's default microphone.

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About the Author

author Crystal Chen

Crystal Chen

Crystal Chen is very interested in technology products. Experiencing many technological applications, She is willing to solve users' problems through writing tech-related articles. Through her words, you can find various solutions to solve one issue.

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