The Razer Blackshark V2 is up there among the best options for any gamer looking for a quality sound experience. The TriForce 50mm Driver, Hyper Clear Cardioid Mic, and Advanced Passive Noise Cancellation are just some of the features that make it an ideal choice for AAA game players – whether professionals or otherwise.
Despite this being a great product from Razer, a lot of users still somehow struggle to utilize the mic on the headset. Even though most of the problem lies with the device they’re trying to use it with, we can’t help but also consider it a flaw on Razer’s part as their headset isn’t entirely plug-and-play. Luckily, we will be giving solutions to the mic issue in this article – if you’re facing a similar issue, you’ll want to continue reading.
Razer Blackshark V2 Mic Not Working: Possible Causes
Before we get into some solutions, let’s first explore some possible causes, just in case you happen to have the same issue with another type of gaming headset.
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Mic Attached Incorrectly
The Razer Shark V2 comes with a removable mic, if you don’t plug in the 3.5mm mic jack properly, you may only be able to send distorted sounds or won’t be able to send sound at all. Ideally, before even considering any solution that’ll involve your PC’s software, you want to ensure that the mic is attached properly.
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Mic Has Been Muted
Shocking as it may seem, it’s possible that you’ve muted your mic without knowing; the mute button on Razer headsets is quite small and can easily be pressed. To confirm this is not the case, see if a button is lit red on the left ear cup of the headset. If there’s a red light you want to press again to unmute/turn the light off.
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Outdated Audio Driver
Sometimes, especially in the case of a Windows PC, the issue may reside with your PC’s driver – either the current version is incompatible with the headset, or it’s outdated. Ln both cases, you’ll need to perform a driver update; Driver Easy is the easiest method especially if you’re not tech-savvy.
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Your Particular App or Game Doesn’t Have Access to PC’s Microphone
Windows can block software from using the system’s microphone by default. If your choice app isn’t among the approved list, you won’t be able to use the headset’s mic with it even if you set it as the system’s default microphone device.
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Damaged Headset Part
Although this is a lot less likely, it’s not a possibility that you want to rule out. Parts like the mic’s cord (even though it’s quite hard) 3.5mm jack, USB cable, and audio cable, can easily become defective if handled improperly. In most cases, you’ll get a hint that the particular part of the hardware is about to go bad then consider a complete replacement, or how to have it fixed.
Razer Blackshark V2 Mic Not Working: How to Fix
Admittedly, the Razer Blackshark V2 is a really durable product, as such, it’s less likely your problem is with a damaged headset part, especially if you’re just getting the headset. Most of your problems will often be software-related, or an incorrectly configured setting.
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Make Sure that Microphone Access is Allowed
If you happen to have microphone access turned off, you won’t be able to use your headset’s mic on your PC. You’ll want to navigate through to Start >> Settings>> Privacy >> Microphone, and make sure that “Allow access to the microphone on this device” and “Allow apps to access your microphone” are both turned on. Also, you want to make sure that your specific app (if listed below) isn’t turned off as well.
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Check Your Audio Drivers
First, you want to make sure that you have the correct audio drivers installed – can be confirmed if you’ve been able to use the system’s speakers or microphone before. First, you want to navigate through Start >> Control Panel and search for device manager. Open it, and check the properties of the audio drivers to confirm if they’re working properly. Next, you also want to install any driver update that may be pending. To do this simply download and run Driver Easy then click the “Updates” button to show up any outdated driver; if an audio driver is on the list, you need to get it updated.
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Delete Apps Installed by Razer
On connecting your device for the first time, Razer will automatically make an installation to allow for easy accessibility. However, most users have found this software actually clashes with their original mic settings, thus causing the headset’s mic to stop working. You want to navigate through Start >> Control Panel, and search for “Uninstall programs.” Then find any software from Razer to have it uninstalled.
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Make Sure Mic isn’t Being Used By Another Program
Always make sure you don’t have a software using mic in the background as this may be what’s blocking your choice app from gaining access to the headset’s mic. Check the taskbar to confirm that nothing’s running in the background – if it’s not a communication app like Discord or Zoom, it might just be a browser.
To really confirm if your PC is what’s making the mic fail, you’ll want to test the headset on another PC that has its audio properties working smoothly and has used a headset with a mic on it before.
