• You can easily turn on your microphone on a Google Hangout if you haven’t given the software permission.
  • Turning on the microphone is a simple process, and you will usually see a prompt to enable it when you jump on a Hangouts call.
  • If you’re using Google Hangouts on a mobile device, you will need to give Google Hangouts permission to use your microphone before you can start a call.
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For the most part, Google Hangouts should ask you for permission to use your microphone when you’re using the platform for video or phone calls.

However, if you’re having trouble getting it to work, you’ll have to manually give it permission, and specify which microphone to access, if necessary.

Here’s how to do that via the desktop or mobile version of Google Hangouts.

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How to turn on microphone on Google Hangouts on a computer

This works whether you’re using the platform to make phone or video calls:

1. Join the Hangouts call by either initiating it or accepting an invite from another user.

2. Click the gear icon to open the call settings.

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Foto: Click on the gear icon. Source: Devon Delfino/Business Insider

3. Select the dropdown under the "Microphone" option and select the appropriate microphone.

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Foto: Select the microphone you want to use. Source: Devon Delfino/Business Insider

4. Click "Done."

How to turn on microphone on Google Hangouts on a mobile device

You have to hit "Allow" when Hangouts asks for permission to use your microphone to record audio (or video) in order to use the app for video and phone calls.

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Foto: You have to select "Allow" before you join a Hangout. Source: Devon Delfino/Business Insider

If your microphone is on mute (in either the desktop or mobile version of the platform), simply tap the microphone icon in to turn the mute function on or off.

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Foto: You can simply mute or unmute your microphone as well. Source: Devon Delfino/Business Insider

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