The internal microphone doesn’t work on my Dell Inspiron 14 7440 running ubuntu, though it is recognized on windows and I remember it working before I reinstalled the ubuntu system. When I open sound settings, the app doesn’t recognize the internal microphone:

I ran alsamixer (newest version) in the terminal and didn’t see the internal microphone, this is what it looked like (this screenshot shows all devices listed in alsamixer):

I also looked at pavucontrol and the app shows the internal microphone as “unplugged”:

How can I get the microphone working?

Update: I tried plugging in a headset and plugging it out. When I plugged it in 2 microphones showed up, one called “headset microphone” and the other just called “microphone”, screenshot:

But when I unplugged the headset both microphones are gone, does it mean that my laptop recognizes its internal microphone when a headset is plugged in? Also when I switch to the one just called “microphone”, speaking to the headset microphone doesn’t make the bar move as much as patting the laptop, so the “microphone” should be the internal microphone.

  • lurch (he/him)
    3·
    6 months ago

    Does it show sonething when you press F4 in alsamixer?

    I would search the kernel messages, but idk what for.

    • first_ad4972OP
      3·
      6 months ago

      This shows up after I press F4: 3 devices in the middle all have the word “mic” in it, what should I do next?

      • lurch (he/him)
        1·
        6 months ago

        I have no idea. This looks normal. I would play around with the settings in your situation. Like setting levels and toggling things.

      • lurch (he/him)
        1·
        6 months ago

        wait, do you have a headset plugged in? in some systems it disables the internal mic whike a headset is plugged in.

        • first_ad4972OP
          1·
          6 months ago

          I don’t have a headset plugged in right now. But I think yesterday I might have a headset plugged in while shutting down my computer. Could that make the computer still think it has a headset plugged in? Though speakers work normally and I’ve restarted quite a few times and this problem still persists.

          • lurch (he/him)
            1·
            6 months ago

            idk the headset thing is often hardware controlled, so it shouldn’t be a problem after reboot, but if you want to be sure plug one in when it’s off and remove it when on. that should trigger the unplug software event, if there is any.

            i’m out if ideas. good luck!

            • first_ad4972OP
              2·
              5 months ago

              I tried plugging in a headset and plugging it out. When I plugged it in 2 microphones showed up, one called “headset microphone” and the other just called “microphone”, screenshot:

              But when I unplugged the headset both microphones are gone, does it mean that my laptop recognizes its internal microphone when a headset is plugged in? Also when I switch to the one just called “microphone”, speaking to the headset microphone doesn’t make the bar move as much as patting the laptop, so the “microphone” should be the internal microphone.

              • lurch (he/him)
                2·
                5 months ago

                wow, that is some progress. maybe check out what your system does when you do that, using kernel log (dmesg?), udev log and systemd log. but i can’t help you past this point it’s too weird.

    • first_ad4972OP
      1·
      6 months ago

      Why would installing a video driver affect the microphone?

        • first_ad4972OP
          1·
          6 months ago

          OK I’ll try that. Edit: I reinstalled xserver-xorg-video-intel, libgl1-mesa-glx, libgl1-mesa-dri, xserver-xorg-core, rebooted, and the microphone still doesn’t show up.