How to Disable the Internal Microphone on a Mac

PDF download Download Article
A step-by-step guide to turning off your Mac's built-in microphone
PDF download Download Article

This wikiHow teaches you how set the volume on your Mac's internal microphone to 0, eliminating any chance that sound will be picked up by it. [1]

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/04\/Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/04\/Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-1.jpg\/aid8346652-v4-728px-Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's the Apple logo at the top left corner of the main menu bar on your Mac.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/99\/Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/99\/Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-2.jpg\/aid8346652-v4-728px-Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7a\/Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7a\/Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-3.jpg\/aid8346652-v4-728px-Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It looks like a speaker.
    • If you can't see the main menu, click the three rows of dots at the top left corner of the window, which displays as Show All in earlier versions of Mac OS X.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/70\/Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/70\/Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-4.jpg\/aid8346652-v4-728px-Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's one of three options along the top of the Sound window.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/85\/Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/85\/Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-5.jpg\/aid8346652-v4-728px-Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/09\/Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/09\/Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-6.jpg\/aid8346652-v4-728px-Disable-the-Internal-Microphone-on-a-Mac-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Doing so reduces the input volume to 0%, and "disables" the internal microphone from picking up sound.
    • Alternatively, you can click on another sound input device from the device menu to use it as your main input device.
    • You can test your input volume by monitoring the "Input Level" bar. Drag the "Input volume" slider above 0%, then clap your hands. You will see the input level bars turn grey as the internal mic picks up sound. Drag the slider back to 0%, and do the same test. You will not see any sound being picked up on the input level bars.
    7. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    I'm trying to use a headset on my Mac, but when calls come in, sound is only coming through my speaker, not through my headset. Please help.
    Community Answer
    In your top bar, go to the very right and click on the speaker icon. You should be able to change the volume, and right under is the option for output devices. Select "headphones."
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 0
  • Question
    After turning down the volume on my Mac, the mic is still picking up everything. Any advice?
    Fancyghost
    Community Answer
    This is how a microphone works. Turning down the volume only changes what you hear, not what the microphone hears. Try some different troubleshooting steps.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 18 Helpful 4
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Force Shut Down or Restart a Frozen Mac
      How to
      Automatically Shut Down Your Computer at a Specified Time
      How to
      Tell if Your Mac Is Too Old to Update
      How to
      Create a TXT File on Mac
      How to
      Install MacOS on a Virtual Machine Using VirtualBox
      Can You Change Your Apple ID Without Losing Everything? Learn How to Keep What You Need
      How to
      Write in Another Language on Your Mac Computer
      How to
      Create Folders in Mac
      How to
      Print Double Sided on a Mac
      4 Ways to Change Screen Resolution on a Mac
      5 Ways to Turn On a Mac Computer - wikiHow
      Your Guide to Apple’s True Tone Display Technology & How to Use It
      3 Easy Ways to View Your Web Browsing History on Mac
      How to
      Set the Sleep Time on a Mac
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ http://osxdaily.com/2010/06/25/disable-the-internal-microphone-on-your-mac/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open your System Preferences.
      2. Click Sound.
      3. Click Input.
      4. Drag the Input Volume level to 0%.

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 52,761 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement