Mic doesn't work in any source game but works everywhere else

burningelmo · 2026-01-25T01:17:46+0000

I play on a laptop. My mic used to work on source games, but i don't know what happened. I stopped playing for a while and i just realized now that my mic doesn't work. It works in everything else other than source games. I tried reinstalling gmod. I tried switching between chromium, x64, and default versions. I went to my sound settings in windows and made sure that my mic was the default device.

I have a focusrite now, but it was not working since before i had it. I tried doing the same steps for the default laptop mic and the focusrite. Both dont work. I have no other audio devices enabled when testing, everything is disabled except for the mic that i am trying to get to work. Both mic works in the steam voice options, but NOT in the "in-game" voice options in the steam overlay, as well as it not working in gmod itself. Other source games i tested it with was tf2 and left 4 dead 2. Both don't work, but cs2 works (prob cause it is on source 2 idk).

My other friend who has a focusrite has a working mic on source games. When i asked him to show me his settings, his ingame voice has the mic set to his oculus, but somehow the mic connected to his focusrite is the one working in game.

Another friend has his mic not working though. This friend also has a focusrite, and he is having the same exact problem that i am having.

Clarky · 2026-01-25T01:24:04+0000

you could try download voicemeeter and use your mic through that, there are plenty of videos that can tell you how to do this

burningelmo · 2026-01-25T01:27:12+0000

Clarky said:
you could try download voicemeeter and use your mic through that, there are plenty of videos that can tell you how to do this

I don't think this would work, cause right now source games aren't picking up ANY input source i have. So a VB input would prob not work too.

omega · 2026-01-25T01:45:19+0000

try disabling your steam beta if its on

People were having issues with their mics because of this a bit ago, it can be found in settings under interface

burningelmo · 2026-01-25T01:49:00+0000

omega said:
try disabling your steam beta if its on

View attachment 29804

People were having issues with their mics because of this a bit ago, it can be found in settings under interface

this has been off

Clarky · 2026-01-25T01:56:54+0000

burningelmo said:
I don't think this would work, cause right now source games aren't picking up ANY input source i have. So a VB input would prob not work too.

My apologies I thought you meant just your microphone

Medium · 2026-01-25T04:38:45+0000

What have you tried already?

Is the interface set as the default device in your sound settings?

Ezza · 2026-01-25T04:42:19+0000

What headset? i tried to help someone else with this and concluded its a steam issue, some people said they can reinstall their OS and its fine, but steam has never issued a fix.

You issue may not be the same however.

In-game, what is your mic input device set to? does it show up as your speakers/headphone output?

burningelmo · 2026-01-25T05:12:36+0000

Medium said:
What have you tried already?

Is the interface set as the default device in your sound settings?

from what i remember, it is everything i have listed above. My interface is set as the default device in my sound settings

Medium · 2026-01-25T05:17:24+0000

burningelmo said:
from what i remember, it is everything i have listed above. My interface is set as the default device in my sound settings

Also as the default communication device?

This is quite a peculiar issue, I have never heard of it. Did you get the Focusrite drivers? The latest ones. Maybe try getting older ones if they don't work.
Could you screenshot all your settings both in-game and in Windows settings?

Try to plug it into different USB slots, preferably the latest USB standard one.

burningelmo · 2026-01-25T05:53:58+0000

Ezza said:
What headset? i tried to help someone else with this and concluded its a steam issue, some people said they can reinstall their OS and its fine, but steam has never issued a fix.

You issue may not be the same however.

In-game, what is your mic input device set to? does it show up as your speakers/headphone output?

not a headset, i use an xlr mic with focusrite. But both my laptop mic and my xlr mic doesnt work on source games, and my laptop mic USED to work on source games, so it couldn't be the mic. in game my mic input device is set to default.

Ezza · 2026-01-25T05:55:05+0000

Can you manually select your mic? does that make any change?

burningelmo · 2026-01-25T06:42:02+0000

Medium said:
Also as the default communication device?

This is quite a peculiar issue, I have never heard of it. Did you get the Focusrite drivers? The latest ones. Maybe try getting older ones if they don't work.
Could you screenshot all your settings both in-game and in Windows settings?

Try to plug it into different USB slots, preferably the latest USB standard one.

i have the focusrite drivers. i dont want to revert to older ones, cause i think they would not work with my FL studio. I have tried different usb slots, but it wouldnt matter cause even the laptop mic doesnt work, so it has to be something to do with the input detection.

burningelmo · 2026-01-25T06:47:19+0000

Ezza said:
Can you manually select your mic? does that make any change?

i cant manually select my mic in the in game voice options within the steam overlay

Medium said:
Also as the default communication device?

This is quite a peculiar issue, I have never heard of it. Did you get the Focusrite drivers? The latest ones. Maybe try getting older ones if they don't work.
Could you screenshot all your settings both in-game and in Windows settings?

Try to plug it into different USB slots, preferably the latest USB standard one.

AMD microphone array is the laptop mic, i have it disabled right now because i was trying to see if having only 1 input enabled would fix it. it didnt fix it.

Mic doesn't work in any source game but works everywhere else

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