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How to Boost Microphone Volume on PC or Mac

Method 1 Method 1 of 2: Using Windows
  1. 1 Find and right-click the speaker icon on your taskbar. This button is located next to the date and time information in the lower-right corner of your desktop. A menu will pop up.
  2. 2 Click Recording devices on the menu. This will open a new window, and show a list of all the audio input hardware connected to your computer.
  3. 3 Select your microphone on the Recording list. Find the microphone you're using on the list here, and click on it.
  4. 4 Click the Properties button. This button is in the lower-right corner of the Sound window. It will open your microphone's settings in a new window.
  5. 5 Click the Levels tab. This button is between Listen and Advanced at the top of the window.
  6. 6 Drag the Microphone Boost slider to the right. This will boost your microphone's input volume to a higher decibel level.
    • You can see the amount of boost you're adding in decibels (dB) to the right of the slider here.
  7. 7 Click the OK button. This will save your new microphone settings, and close the microphone window.
  8. 8 Click the OK button in the Sound window. This will save your new audio settings, and close the Sound window.
Method 2 Method 2 of 2: Using Mac
  1. 1 Click the Apple icon on your menu bar. This button looks like a black Apple icon in the upper-left corner of your screen. It will open a drop-down menu.
  2. 2 Click System Preferences on the menu. This will open your System Preferences in a new window.
  3. 3 Click Sound in System Preferences. This option looks like a speaker icon on the System Preferences menu. It will open your computer's audio settings.
  4. 4 Click the Input tab. This button is located next to Sound Effects and Output at the top of the Sound window.
  5. 5 Select your microphone on the Input menu. You'll see a list of all the audio input devices connected to your computer here. Find the microphone you're using, and click on its name.
  6. 6 Slide the Input volume slider to the right. This will boost the selected microphone's audio input to a higher level of volume.
    • You can now speak to your microphone, and check the Input level indicator here in order to see if your microphone's input is boosted.