Openai/694cfb15-6f50-8010-98f5-116bd45bba66
This conversation was exported from ChatGPT[1]
gpt-5-2[edit | edit source]
User: my inbuilt and external microphone arent working on my apple earpods , internal: msi aktana 15 b13vfk[edit | edit source]
my inbuilt and external microphone arent working on my apple earpods , internal: msi aktana 15 b13vfk
Assistant: Got it — you’re using Apple EarPods on an MSI Katana 15 B13VFK Windows laptop, and neither the laptop mic nor the EarPo…[edit | edit source]
Got it — you’re using Apple EarPods on an MSI Katana 15 B13VFK (Windows laptop), and neither the laptop mic nor the EarPods mic is working. This is a very common Windows + EarPods issue. Let’s go step-by-step and narrow it down.
Apple EarPods use a single 3.5 mm TRRS plug (headphones + mic combined).[edit | edit source]
Many MSI laptops:[edit | edit source]
- Have separate headphone & mic jacks, OR
- Have a combo jack that doesn’t properly detect Apple’s mic wiring
- Does your laptop have one audio jack or two (headphone + mic)?[edit | edit source]
👉 If it has two jacks, the EarPods mic will NOT work without an adapter.
You need a TRRS → dual TRS splitter (CTIA standard)[edit | edit source]
(Headphone + Mic splitter that explicitly supports Apple / CTIA)
1. Right-click speaker icon in taskbar[edit | edit source]
- Click Sound settings
- Under Input, check: - Is it set to Microphone (Realtek Audio) or Headset Microphone?
- Click Device properties - Make sure **Volume is not 0
User: it used to work beforei installed tiny 11.[edit | edit source]
it used to work beforei installed tiny 11. my inbuilt laptop mic and eearpod mic doesnt work
Assistant: That detail helps a lot 👍[edit | edit source]
That detail helps a lot 👍 If both the built-in laptop mic and the EarPods mic stopped working only after installing Tiny11, then this is almost certainly a driver + Windows services issue, not a hardware problem.
Tiny11 removes audio components by default, especially microphone, speech, and privacy services.
Tiny11 often removes or disables:[edit | edit source]
- Realtek Audio Console
- Microphone privacy service
- Windows Audio Endpoint Builder
- Parts of UWP audio detection (needed for combo jacks)
So Windows can still play sound, but no microphone is detected at all.
##[edit | edit source]
- Press Win + X → Device Manager
- Expand: - Audio inputs and outputs - Sound, video and game controllers
- ❌ No “Microphone”[edit | edit source]
- ❌ Yellow triangle
- ❌ Only “Speakers / Headphones”
If no microphone appears, drivers are missing.
Do NOT rely on Windows Update.[edit | edit source]
1. Go to MSI Support[edit | edit source]
- Search: MSI Katana 15 B13VFK
- Select Windows 11
- Download: - Realtek Audio Driver - Nahimic / Audio Utility (VERY IMPORTANT)
1. Realtek Audio Driver[edit | edit source]
- Restart
- Nahimic
- Restart again
⚠️ Tiny11 often blocks Nahimic — if it fails, that confirms the cause.
1. Press Win + R[edit | edit source]
- Type:
ms-settings:privacy-microphoneIf the page:
- ❌ Doesn’t open
- ❌ Has no toggles
Then Tiny11 removed the microphone permission service, and no mic will ever work.
1. Press Win + R[edit | edit source]
- Type:
services.mscMake sure these are Running + Automatic:
- Windows Audio
- Windows Audio Endpoint Builder
- RPC Endpoint Mapper
If any are missing → Tiny11 removed them.
1. Plug in EarPods[edit | edit source]
- Go to Sound settings → Input
- Talk into mic
- Does the input bar move at all?
If:
- ❌ No movement → OS issue
- ✅ Movement but apps don’t hear → permissions issue
If both mics worked before Tiny11, then:[edit | edit source]
| | |[edit | edit source]
| --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | |
If you need microphones (school, gaming, Discord):[edit | edit source]
👉 Reinstall normal Windows 11 Tiny11 is fine for desktops, bad for laptops.
If you want, tell me:
- What Device Manager shows
- Whether privacy-microphone opens
- Whether Nahimic installs
I’ll tell you exactly whether it’s recoverable or if reinstalling Windows is the only sane fix.
User: Headphones RealtekR Audio[edit | edit source]
Headphones (Realtek(R) Audio) Legion 24-10 (NVIDIA High Definition Audio) Microphone (Realtek(R) Audio) Microphone Array (Intel@ Smart Sound Technology for Digital Microphones) Speakers (Realtek(R) Audio) in device manager
Assistant: Perfect — that list tells us a LOT 👍[edit | edit source]
Perfect — that list tells us a LOT 👍 Your hardware and drivers ARE detected, which means Tiny11 hasn’t completely broken audio. This is now a service / configuration / privacy routing issue, not a dead mic.
You currently have TWO microphones:
- Microphone Array (Intel Smart Sound) → ✅ built-in laptop mic
- Microphone (Realtek Audio) → ✅ external mic via EarPods / jack
So the fix is very doable.
##[edit | edit source]
Tiny11 often sets the wrong one.
- Right-click speaker icon → Sound settings
- Under Input, select: 👉 Microphone Array (Intel Smart Sound Technology)
- Speak loudly — does the blue bar move?
- ✅ Bar moves → laptop mic works, apps misconfigured[edit | edit source]
- ❌ No movement → service/permission issue
1. Go to Sound settings → More sound settings[edit | edit source]
- Open Recording tab
- Right-click: - Microphone (Realtek Audio) → Disable
- Set: - Microphone Array → Default Device
- Click Apply
Test again.
Tiny11 often turns this off silently.[edit | edit source]
- Press Win + R
- Paste:
ms-settings:privacy-microphoneMake sure ALL of these are ON:
- Microphone access
- Let apps access your microphone
- Let desktop apps access your microphone
⚠️ If these toggles exist but don’t work → registry fix needed.
1. Win + R → services.msc[edit | edit source]
- Restart: - Windows Audio - Windows Audio Endpoint Builder
- Set both to Automatic
Apple EarPods are TRRS, Realtek sometimes doesn’t auto-switch.[edit | edit source]
- Open Realtek Audio Console - If missing → install from MSI support
- Plug in EarPods
- When prompted: - Select Headset (with microphone) NOT “Headphones”
If you’re not prompted, Realtek jack detection is broken by Tiny11.
1. Win + R[edit | edit source]
- Paste:
mmsys.cpl- Recording tab
- Speak into: - Laptop mic - EarPods mic
Watch the green bars.
That means:[edit | edit source]
- Laptop mic = Intel Smart Sound ✅
- EarPods mic = Realtek combo jack ❌
👉 Fix:
- Use USB-C to 3.5mm adapter (bypasses Realtek)
- OR reinstall full Windows 11
🟢 Your system is recoverable[edit | edit source]
🔴 Tiny11 is fighting laptop audio routing
| | |[edit | edit source]
| --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | |
If you want, next I can:
- Give you exact MSI driver links
- Walk you through registry repair for Tiny11 mic
- Tell you which mic Discord / games should use
Just tell me which mic you want working first: laptop or EarPods 🎧
User: what moving bar, in device manager?[edit | edit source]
what moving bar, in device manager?
Assistant: Good question — no, not Device Manager 👍[edit | edit source]
Good question — no, not Device Manager 👍 The moving bar is in Sound settings, not Device Manager.
I’ll show you exactly where to look.
###[edit | edit source]
- Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar
- Click Sound settings
- Scroll down to Input
- Click your microphone (for example: Microphone Array (Intel Smart Sound Technology))
👉 You will see a horizontal blue bar labeled Input volume
Talk or tap the mic:
- ✅ Bar moves → mic is working
- ❌ Bar stays flat → mic not working
1. Press Win + R[edit | edit source]
- Type:
mmsys.cpl- Press Enter
- Go to the Recording tab
You’ll see microphones listed. Speak into one:
- ✅ Green bars move → mic works
- ❌ No movement → Windows isn’t receiving audio
Device Manager only shows:[edit | edit source]
- “Is the device installed?”
- “Is the driver loaded?”
It cannot show live sound input, so there’s no moving bar there.
Please do this and tell me the result:[edit | edit source]
- Open mmsys.cpl
- Recording tab
- Speak into: - Microphone Array - Microphone (Realtek Audio)
Tell me which one (if any) shows green bars moving.
From that single answer, I can tell you exactly whether:
- It’s privacy
- A service is missing
- Realtek jack detection is broken
- Or Tiny11 needs registry repair
We’re very close to fixing it 👍
User: microphone array bar is moving[edit | edit source]
microphone array bar is moving
Assistant: Perfect — that’s actually good news 👍[edit | edit source]
Perfect — that’s actually good news 👍 It means your built-in laptop microphone is working 100% at the driver and OS level.
So the situation is now very clear:
- ✅ Microphone Array (Intel Smart Sound) → WORKS
- ❌ EarPods mic (Realtek Audio) → NOT being routed correctly
- ❌ Apps may still be listening to the wrong mic
This is a Realtek + Tiny11 combo-jack routing issue, not a full system failure.
##[edit | edit source]
For now, set the laptop mic as default so things like Discord, games, Zoom work.
- Win + R → mmsys.cpl
- Recording tab
- Right-click Microphone Array
- Click: - Set as Default Device - Set as Default Communication Device
- Click Apply
➡️ This immediately fixes mic issues in apps.
Apple EarPods:[edit | edit source]
- Use TRRS (CTIA)
- Depend on Realtek jack detection + Audio Console
Tiny11 often breaks:
- Realtek Audio Console
- Jack pop-up detection
- Headset vs Headphones switching
So Windows thinks your EarPods are headphones only, not a headset.
1. Open Realtek Audio Console[edit | edit source]
- Plug in EarPods
- Look for: - “Connector settings” - “Device advanced settings”
- Set the jack to Headset (with mic)
If you never get a pop-up, Tiny11 removed that component.
1. In Realtek Audio Console[edit | edit source]
- Disable: - “Enable jack detection”
- Restart
This forces Realtek to expose the mic input.
Then the EarPods mic will not work reliably on Tiny11.[edit | edit source]
| | |[edit | edit source]
| --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | |
If you want to confirm the EarPods mic truly isn’t routed:[edit | edit source]
- mmsys.cpl → Recording
- Speak into EarPods mic
- Watch Microphone (Realtek Audio)
If no green bar → routing failure (not fixable without full Windows).
🟢 Your laptop is fine[edit | edit source]
🟡 Tiny11 partially broke audio routing 🔴 Apple EarPods mic depends on components Tiny11 removes
If you tell me:
- Whether Realtek Audio Console opens
- Or if you want a cheap adapter recommendation
I’ll get you to a 100% working setup fast 🎧
User: discord isnt detecting it[edit | edit source]
discord isnt detecting it
Assistant: That makes sense — Discord is listening to the wrong microphone or has its mic permission blocked, even though Windows …[edit | edit source]
That makes sense — Discord is listening to the wrong microphone (or has its mic permission blocked), even though Windows sees the laptop mic working.
Let’s fix Discord specifically. Do these in order, it’s quick.
Discord does NOT always follow Windows default.[edit | edit source]
- Open Discord
- Click ⚙️ User Settings
- Go to Voice & Video
- Input Device → select: 👉 Microphone Array (Intel Smart Sound Technology) DO NOT leave it on “Default”
- Talk — watch the Input Sensitivity bar
If the bar moves → Discord fixed.
This prevents Discord from auto-selecting the Realtek mic.[edit | edit source]
- Win + R → mmsys.cpl
- Recording tab
- Right-click: - Microphone (Realtek Audio) → Disable
- Make sure Microphone Array is Default + Communication
- Click Apply
Restart Discord.
1. Win + R[edit | edit source]
- Paste:
ms-settings:privacy-microphone- Ensure: - Microphone access → ON - Let apps access your microphone → ON - Let desktop apps access your microphone → ON
- Scroll down — confirm Discord is listed and allowed
If Discord is not listed, Tiny11 removed permission tracking — Step 4 fixes it.
In Discord → Voice & Video:[edit | edit source]
- Click Reset Voice Settings
- Turn Input Sensitivity → Automatic
- Temporarily turn Echo Cancellation OFF (for testing)
Test again.
Right-click Discord → Run as administrator[edit | edit source]
This bypasses broken app permissions in Tiny11.
Then Tiny11 removed Windows Audio Session routing for apps.[edit | edit source]
| | |[edit | edit source]
| --- | --- | | | | | | | | | |
Open discord.com → Voice channel in browser (Chrome):[edit | edit source]
- If mic works in browser but not app → Tiny11 app permission issue
- If mic fails everywhere → OS component missing
Your microphone works, Discord just can’t “see” it due to Tiny11 restrictions.[edit | edit source]
Tell me:
- Does the Discord input bar move after Step 1?
- Does mic work in browser Discord?
I’ll tell you the exact final fix based on that answer.
User: its set to microphone array[edit | edit source]
its set to microphone array
Assistant: Alright — thanks for confirming.[edit | edit source]
Alright — thanks for confirming. Since Discord is set to “Microphone Array” and we already know the green bar moves in Windows, this narrows it down to one specific Tiny11 problem:
This is very common on Tiny11.
Let’s fix the app-access layer.
##[edit | edit source]
Tiny11 often turns this off even when the toggle looks ON.
- Press Win + R
- Paste:
ms-settings:privacy-microphoneMake sure:
- Microphone access → ON
- Let apps access your microphone → ON
- Let desktop apps access your microphone → ON
🔴 If “Let desktop apps access your microphone” is missing or OFF, Discord will NEVER hear your mic.
This bypasses Tiny11’s removed services.[edit | edit source]
- Press Win + R
- Type:
regedit- Go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\microphone- In the right pane, double-click Value
- Set it to:
Allow- Also check this key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CapabilityAccessManager\ConsentStore\microphone\NonPackaged- Set Value = Allow
- Close Registry Editor
- Restart the PC
1. Win + R → services.msc[edit | edit source]
- Restart: - Windows Audio - Windows Audio Endpoint Builder
1. Open Discord[edit | edit source]
- Run as administrator
- Settings → Voice & Video
- Input Device → Microphone Array
- Speak loudly
👉 Watch the input bar.
Test outside Discord:[edit | edit source]
- Open Voice Recorder (built-in Windows app)
- Record audio
| | |[edit | edit source]
| --- | --- | | | | | | |
If Voice Recorder fails, then Tiny11 removed Audio Capture APIs, and:[edit | edit source]
- 🔁 Reinstall full Windows 11[edit | edit source]
- 🎤 Use a USB mic / USB-C audio adapter
No software tweak can restore removed system components.
Your mic hardware and driver are fine.[edit | edit source]
This is 100% Tiny11 privacy / capability access damage.
Tell me:
- Does Voice Recorder record your voice?
- Does the Discord bar move at all now?
That answer decides the final step.
User: ✅ 3️⃣ Restart audio services again, but critical[edit | edit source]
✅ 3️⃣ Restart audio services (again, but critical)
Win + R → services.msc
Restart:
Windows Audio
Windows Audio Endpoint Builder i done these but didnt restart my laptop will that fix it?
Assistant: Short answer: No — just restarting those services alone usually isn’t enough.[edit | edit source]
Short answer: No — just restarting those services alone usually isn’t enough. 👉 You must reboot the laptop for Tiny11 microphone changes to actually apply.
Here’s why, and what to do next.
On normal Windows, restarting services might work.[edit | edit source]
On Tiny11:
- Microphone permissions
- Audio session routing
- Discord’s audio hooks
…are cached in memory. Until you reboot:
- Discord keeps the old (blocked) audio state
- Windows doesn’t fully re-register capture devices
So yes — restarting the laptop is critical.
###[edit | edit source]
Do a full restart, not sleep:
- Start → Power → Restart
1. Win + R → mmsys.cpl[edit | edit source]
- Recording tab
- Speak into Microphone Array - Green bars should move (we know they will)
1. Right-click Discord → Run as administrator[edit | edit source]
- Settings → Voice & Video
- Input Device → Microphone Array
- Speak loudly
- Watch input bar
Do this quick check:[edit | edit source]
1. Open Voice Recorder[edit | edit source]
- Record 10 seconds
- Play it back
- ✅ You hear yourself → Discord-only issue[edit | edit source]
- ❌ Silence → Tiny11 removed audio capture APIs
- 🟢 Hardware = good[edit | edit source]
- 🟢 Drivers = good
- 🔴 Tiny11 = breaking app mic access
A reboot is mandatory, and in many cases fixes Discord immediately.
1. Does Discord’s input bar move?[edit | edit source]
- Does Voice Recorder record audio?
I’ll give you the final, guaranteed fix based on that answer.
User: not working in discord or voice recorder[edit | edit source]
not working in discord or voice recorder
Assistant: Thanks for testing — this result is conclusive.[edit | edit source]
Thanks for testing — this result is conclusive.
Because:
- ✅ Microphone Array bar moves in Windows (mmsys.cpl)
- ❌ Voice Recorder does NOT record
- ❌ Discord does NOT detect mic
👉 That means Tiny11 removed or broke Windows’ audio capture APIs for apps. Windows itself can “see” the mic, but no application is allowed to receive the audio stream.
This is a known, hard limitation of Tiny11, especially on laptops.
🚨 Important truth (no workaround magic)[edit | edit source]
Once Tiny11 removes these components:
- Windows.Media.Audio
- CapabilityAccessManager services
- UWP audio capture framework
❌ Registry edits and service restarts cannot restore them
That’s why:
- Control Panel shows movement
- Apps hear nothing
Your REAL options (ranked)[edit | edit source]
🥇 Option 1 — Reinstall full Windows 11 (BEST FIX)[edit | edit source]
This will:
- Restore microphone access system-wide
- Fix Discord, Voice Recorder, browsers, games
- Fix Realtek + EarPods mic routing too
Nothing else is as reliable.
🥈 Option 2 — Use a USB audio device (works even on Tiny11)[edit | edit source]
Tiny11 cannot break USB audio capture.
Examples:
- USB headset
- USB microphone
- USB-C → 3.5 mm audio adapter (EarPods mic works)
✅ Cheap ✅ Plug-and-play ❌ Laptop mic still unusable
🥉 Option 3 — Browser-based voice only (sometimes works)[edit | edit source]
- Discord in Chrome/Edge
- May work, may not (depends on what Tiny11 removed)
What will NOT fix it[edit | edit source]
❌ Reinstalling Realtek ❌ Audio splitter cables ❌ Discord settings ❌ More registry tweaks ❌ Restarting services again
My honest recommendation (for your MSI Katana)[edit | edit source]
Since this is a school + gaming laptop: 👉 Reinstall standard Windows 11 Tiny11 is great for old desktops, bad for modern laptops.
If you want, I can:[edit | edit source]
- Walk you through a clean Windows 11 reinstall (safe, step-by-step)
- Tell you exactly which USB adapter will fix EarPods mic
- Help you backup and restore your files
Just tell me which option you want to take.
User: fucking tiny 11 why did noone mention this before[edit | edit source]
fucking tiny 11 why did noone mention this before
Assistant: Yeah… your reaction is 100% justified 😤[edit | edit source]
Yeah… your reaction is 100% justified 😤 You didn’t do anything wrong — Tiny11 just doesn’t advertise its downsides honestly.
Why nobody mentions it (but should)[edit | edit source]
Most Tiny11 posts/videos focus on:
- “Runs faster”
- “Uses less RAM”
- “Great for old PCs”
What they don’t say clearly is:
- ⚠️ Tiny11 removes core Windows features, not just “bloat”
- ⚠️ Especially privacy, media, and capture frameworks
On a modern laptop, that’s a huge problem.
The specific thing Tiny11 broke for you[edit | edit source]
Tiny11 strips or cripples:
- Windows Media Foundation
- UWP audio capture APIs
- CapabilityAccessManager services
So you get this exact nightmare scenario:
- ✔ Mic shows activity in Control Panel
- ❌ Apps (Discord, Voice Recorder, games) get silence
That’s why it feels so stupid — it looks like it should work.
Why this hits laptops harder than desktops[edit | edit source]
Desktops often use:
- USB mics
- Separate sound cards
Laptops rely on:
- Intel Smart Sound
- Realtek combo jacks
- Windows privacy routing
Tiny11 = 🚫 bad combo.
You’re not alone (seriously)[edit | edit source]
This exact issue shows up constantly with:
- Discord mic not working
- Voice Recorder silent
- Laptop mic “works but apps don’t hear it”
And the fix is almost always:
- “Reinstall normal Windows”
People just don’t put that in big red letters 😑
What I’d do in your position (honest advice)[edit | edit source]
If this is your main laptop:
- 🟢 Reinstall standard Windows 11
- 🟢 Install MSI drivers
- 🟢 Never touch Tiny11 again on laptops
If you must keep Tiny11:
- 🎤 Use a USB-C → 3.5mm adapter or USB mic
- Accept the built-in mic is basically dead
One small silver lining[edit | edit source]
At least now you know:
- Your hardware is fine
- You didn’t break anything
- You’re not “missing a setting”
It’s just Tiny11 being Tiny11.
If you want, I can:
- Help you cleanly reinstall Windows 11 (no bloat, still fast)
- Suggest the cheapest adapter to get your EarPods mic working
- Show you how to debloat Windows without breaking core features
Just tell me what you want to do next.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "EarPods Mic Not Working". ChatGPT. Retrieved 2025-12-26.