How to listen to Microphone through a Playback Device on Windows 11

Windows 11/10 allows PC users to listen to a portable music player or other device connected to the microphone jack through a selected playback device such as your computer speakers or headphones. In this post, we will show you how to listen to microphone through a Playback Device on Windows 11/10.

Listen to Microphone through a Playback Device in Windows 11/10

PC users who have set up a microphone on their Windows 11/10 device can listen to it with available audio playback devices. This is particularly useful in a number of situations, e.g., when you need to test your microphone or its input jack or when you have connected some other devices to your computer’s microphone input.

Another example is, if you were recording a training tutorial for your employees, you might want to hear your words as you say them to gauge quality, which might require you to boost the microphone volume. However, this method works considerably better if you connect a pair of headphones to your speaker’s headphone jack to prevent the sounds from feeding back into the microphone, especially if they are set to a loud volume level.

To listen to the microphone through a Playback Device via Control Panel on Windows 11/10, do the following:

• Press Windows key + R to invoke the Run dialog.
• In the Run dialog box, copy and paste the command below and hit Enter to open Sound settings.

rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL mmsys.cpl,,0

• Click the Playback tab.
• Double-click on your default microphone device.

To turn on, do the following:

• Click on the Listen tab.
• Check the Listen to this device box.
• Under Playback through this device, click to select the playback device you want to listen through from the drop-down list.
• Click Apply > OK.
• Click OK again to exit Sound settings panel.

To turn off, do the following:

• Click on the Listen tab.
• Uncheck the Listen to this device box.
• Click Apply > OK.
• Click OK again to exit Sound settings panel.

That’s it!

Related post: How to disable, turn off or mute the Microphone.

How to test microphone playback in Windows 11?

To test microphone playback in Windows 11, go to “Settings” > “System” > “Sound.” Under the “Input” section, select your microphone and click “Test your microphone.” Speak into the mic, and Windows will display the audio input levels, allowing you to confirm playback functionality.

How do I use an external microphone on Windows 11?

To use an external microphone on Windows 11, first connect it to your PC. Open Settings, go to System > Sound. Under “Input,” select your microphone from the list. Test it by clicking “Start test.” Adjust the volume if necessary to ensure it’s properly configured for use.