Skype is only useful if you can hear the person you are calling. Here's how to
fix Skype audio problems on Windows.
Like other desktop applications, Skype is also prone to interference. Some of
the common issues include audio calls failing to work, your calls dropping
randomly, communication delays via audio calls, or incoming calls becoming
unreachable.
Similarly, you may notice the Skype audio is completely muted. As a result,
you won't be able to hear anything on Skype. This issue often stems from an
operating system issue, but there are times when the app itself or audio
peripherals may also be to blame.
If Skype audio isn't working or you're facing issues with it, we'll cover some
fixes that will restore Skype audio.
Make Sure The Problem Is Not On Backend
Before applying any fix, it is very important to make sure that the problem is
not coming from the Skype backend. To confirm this, go to the Skype status
page and check the status of all Skype functions.
If any of the audio-related features are abnormal, there may be a problem with
the backend. In this case, the only thing you can do is wait until Microsoft
solves the problem.
Additionally, to view real-time issues or outages reported by other users, go
to the official Down Detector website and sign in to Skype. If the down
detector website doesn't show any outages and everything normally works, the
problem lies elsewhere.
Make Sure The Audio Device Is Selected Correctly
After verifying that Skype is working normally, you should make sure that the
audio device you are using in Windows is selected correctly.
You may be using one audio input or output device while several other devices
are selected in Windows as the default. It is very important to rule out this
possibility.
Follow these steps to do it:
- Open the Windows Settings app .
- Navigate to System settings .
- In the left sidebar, select Sound .
- Ensure that the correct input and output sound devices are selected.
There's nothing wrong with running the troubleshooter (located under
each device type) to diagnose the problem. When the troubleshooter raises your
hand, make sure your microphone is accessible to the app.
Make Sure Skype App Has Access to Your Microphone
If you're having trouble using Skype's microphone, make sure the app's
permissions aren't restricted in Windows settings.
To do so, open the Windows Settings app and go to Privacy settings . In
the left sidebar, select Microphone under App Permissions . To make sure Skype
can access your microphone, make sure the switch for Skype is turned on.
After selecting the correct audio device in the settings, it is necessary to
rule out hardware problems.
Get Rid of Hardware Problems
Make sure your audio hardware is fine before troubleshooting other software
problems.
When troubleshooting hardware problems, do the following first:
- Reconnect the audio hardware.
- Check for possible physical damage.
- Make sure the cables and hardware ports are intact.
- Connect your device to a different port on your computer.
- Try another pair of headphones and play audio through them.
After completing the basic check, play audio in another app through the same
hardware to make sure the problem is not system level, not Skype
specific.
If the problem is hardware related, troubleshoot the microphone and get
another pair of headphones to verify.
In cases where the same audio hardware plays audio for other apps and
browsers, this ensures the problem lies exclusively with Skype. If so, you
will next need to adjust the Skype audio settings.
Tweak Skype Audio Settings
To change Skype audio settings, follow these steps:
- Open skype .
- Right next to your profile avatar , click on the three horizontal dots .
- Go to Settings .
- Navigate to Audio and Video settings in the left sidebar.
Make sure you select the same input and output devices as in your system
settings in Skype settings. Then, test both devices if nothing goes wrong
there.
To do so, try saying anything into your microphone and see if the blue dot
moves. Also, click the Test audio button under the Speakers option to
see if you can hear anything.
Chances are, the problem lies somewhere deep within the operating system if
one of these devices isn't working as expected, confirming that Skype can't
access it properly. Proceed with the remaining fixes in that case.
Run the Audio Troubleshooter
Run the built-in troubleshooter in Windows first to rule out audio issues
coming from the operating system.
The troubleshooter can diagnose and fix the problem on its own, which provides
a good opportunity to fix Skype audio issues.
Follow these steps to run the audio troubleshooter:
- Open the Windows Settings app.
- Go to Update and Security .
- In the left sidebar, click Troubleshoot .
- Click on Additional troubleshooters in the right pane.
- Find Playing Audio , click on it, and hit Run the Troubleshooter .
- Find Recording Audio , click on it, and hit Run the troubleshooter .
If both troubleshooters don't solve your problem, you should update your
device's sound driver.
Update Sound Driver
Follow these steps to update your device's sound driver:
- Left click on This PC and go to Manage .
- Open Device Manager in the left sidebar.
- Expand the category for Sound, video, and game controllers .
- Right-click on the sound driver and select Update driver .
If you are experiencing this problem after a recent Windows update that may
have updated the sound drivers, it is very important to restore it. Here's how
to do it:
- Follow the steps from one to three as described above.
- Right-click the sound driver and select Properties .
- Click the Roll Back Driver button under the Driver tab .
It's best to reinstall the app if not updating or downgrading the drivers
makes a difference.
Reinstall Skype
If none of the above fixes work, we recommend reinstalling Skype. However,
make sure you uninstall it properly before doing so.
After that, take a fresh copy and reinstall it on your computer. Chances are a
fresh install will solve the problem.
If the problem with the app persists, try using the Skype web client
temporarily and report the problem to Skype support.
Report Problem to Skype
You can report problems to Skype from the app settings. Here's how:
- Open skype.
- Click on the three horizontal dots right next to your profile avatar.
- Go to Settings .
- Click Help & Feedback in the left sidebar.
- Under Feedback , click Report a problem.
- Select the relevant category, add a description, add the relevant screenshot, and select the appropriate reporting option.
If you are facing the same problem with your video, check out our article on
how to fix Skype video not working.
Skype Audio Still Not Working
The fix in the list should allow Skype audio to work again. If all else
fails, run an SFC scan to verify that no corrupt files are causing the
problem, run a malware scan to make sure that it's not interfering with your
desktop applications, and, if possible, reset your Windows settings.
Don't forget to report the problem to Skype while you're at it. In the
meantime, you can use Skype alternatives for a while, like Google Hangouts,
Line, Tox, etc.