How To Connect a Microphone to a Chromebook

Is your built-in Chromebook microphone malfunctioning, or do you want to record better sound for anything that requires good audio? If so, connecting an external microphone might solve your problem.

To simplify the task for you, we took the time to write a detailed guide o how to connect a microphone to your Chromebook. We’ll also discuss finding suitable USB external microphones for your device for a better recording experience.

Connecting a Microphone to Your Chromebook

If you don’t know how to connect a microphone to your Chromebook, our step-by-step method will help you go through the entire process without difficulty.

Step #1: Buying and Plugging a USB Microphone

First, you must buy an external USB microphone compatible with your Chromebook. After you get your hands on one, plug it into the USB port of the Chromebook. 

If your Chromebook does not have traditional USB ports, such as Google Pixelbook Go, buy a USB C to USB A adapter to plug the external microphone in and wait for the device detection notification to appear. 

Step #2: Selecting the External Microphone

In the next step, you must ensure that the external microphone is set up correctly by adjusting the audio input settings. To do this, click the time icon at the bottom right corner of the screen, and click on the forward pointing arrow right next to the volume slider to open “Audio Settings”.

You will see your external microphone listed under the “Input” section. Now make sure that you see a tick symbol next to the microphone, which means that the installed apps on your Chromebook will start to use it instead of the built-in one. 

If you see a tick symbol next to Chromebook’s internal microphone, the apps are still using it. To resolve this issue, select your external microphone under the “Input” section, and the tick will be displayed next to it. 

Step #3: Adjusting Audio Settings 

Now that your Chromebook detects your external microphone and the apps are using it for various tasks, you can adjust its volume for better sound quality.

Open an app you want to use with your external microphone on the Chromebook and click the time icon at the bottom right corner of the screen. Next, click the forward point arrow next to the volume slider to open “Audio Settings” and see your external microphone under the “Input” section.

Now, move the slider back and forth while testing with the app until you find the correct level, and you’re done! 

Finding the Right External Microphone for Your Chromebook

Selecting an external microphone for your Chromebook can take some work. Although USB microphones can connect with a Chrome device, their drivers are often compatible with only Windows and macOS platforms.

So, it is best to buy a plug-and-play external microphone that does not require any driver to install and use afterward.

You can also buy headphones with built-in microphones connected via a 3.5mm headphone jack on the Chromebook. However, a USB microphone improves audio quality for your recording sessions compared with integrated or headphone microphones.

Why? Because USB mics are manufactured with balanced electret condenser capsules to transform analog sound waves into analog audio signals and have built-in amplifiers to boost the sound quality.

Therefore, when you shop for a USB external microphone, try to find the one with a label stating “Works with Chromebook”, and you’ll know it is a safe purchase.

Summary

In this guide, we’ve discussed how to connect a microphone to your Chromebook. We’ve also discussed plug-and-play external microphones that are best suited to work with a Chromebook.

Hopefully, your issue is solved by reading this article, and you can now improve the recording quality for different audio tasks.