How To Use Apple Earbuds As Mic On PC? (Step-by-Step Guide)

apple offers quality products that come with a certain exclusivity. But this exclusivity often leads to compatibility issues when you try to use Apple products with non-Apple products.

Surely you have faced this type of problem in the past or you are probably facing one right now.

Reading: How to use apple headphone mic on pc

so how to use apple headset as microphone on pc or laptop?

To use apple headphones, you can use the following settings:

1. open the control panel on your computer
2. click the sound option
3. find the recording option and then locate the external microphone option
4. now select or enable apple earphones as microphone

save these settings and you should now be able to use your apple headphones on the computer.

apple headphones as microphone on pc or laptop

apple proprietary headphones can be used on pc and other non-apple products/applications like microphone and headphones.

Anyone who has used apple headphones understands the exclusivity of this product. People find it difficult to use apple earphones with non-apple products due to proprietary lightning cable and hardware optimized for mac and ios.

Consider the following scenario: You are forced to use your Apple headset as a microphone on your computer for an important Skype, Zoom, or Slack call. compatibility issues with competing devices are more than just an annoyance. It can make you feel like you’re not getting the most out of your apple headphones.

That’s why we’ve created this step-by-step guide to help you not only use your Apple Headset as a microphone on PC, but also as your primary headphone audio source. keep reading to learn more!

can iphone earphones be used as microphone on pc?

Although not intended, apple headphones can effectively function as a microphone on your pc.

However, because most Apple hardware is designed specifically for MacBooks and other Apple products, it’s not surprising that you’ll encounter some compatibility issues when connecting with non-Apple devices.

compared to connecting apple headphones to your macbook or iphone, connecting them to your pc won’t be a simple plug-and-play experience. these headphones just work better on apple devices.

but no need to worry! We will show you how to use apple headset on pc in detail, step by step. Not only will you be able to use them as the main audio source on your PC, but you can also use them as a microphone.

Steps To Use Apple Earbuds As Mic on PC

however, sometimes the solution may not be as easy as the above. There may be different issues you face while trying to use apple earphones on your desktop, laptop or macbook, such as right earphone not working. Let’s explore different scenarios with their solutions.

1. connect apple earbuds with a 3.5mm jack to a computer

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on your computer, you will first need to locate the audio jack. older computers may have two slots: one for a headphone and one for a microphone. and newer systems should only have one slot. if it has a slot, insert the cable into the slot. now follow these steps.

1. open control panel and find the sound or hardware and sound option
2. look for the manage audio devices section. click on it
3. now open the recording tab
4. apple headphones should appear in the list of connected microphones
5. make it the default microphone and apply the changes

In most cases, this setting should work and you should now be able to use your apple headset on your computer. follow the steps mentioned below to configure them.

1. find the sound icon in the bottom right corner of the taskbar
2. click the icon and open settings Sound Options
3. or open the control panel through the start menu and open the sound options
4. once the sound settings window is open head over to the recording tab
5. your microphone should appear here. if not, click configure microphone
6. once the system starts the process of validating your microphone, it should start working
7. click apply then exit setup
8. verify the microphone by recording an audio

2. connect apple headphones with a 3.5mm jack to a pc with two audio slots

Some older computers came with two audio slots: one for a headphone and one for a microphone. such options are also available on newer products.

Now, if your computer has two slots, you may need to use a y-splitter or adapter. here is a detailed guide on how to use a headset microphone on a pc with a jack!

suggested splitter with two connectors

This splitter comes with a 3.5mm input jack and two jacks that plug into your computer’s input and output slots. the gold-plated splitter offers high-quality audio, and the braided cables provide durability and protection from damage.

Once you get them, you can plug your headset’s 3.5mm jack into the jack on the adapter, and then connect the two jacks to your computer.

post this, you’ll need to configure your system settings. Also, sometimes you may run into the problem why one earphone sounds louder than the other.

3. connecting apple headphones with lightning connector to a pc

If you have the new apple earbudsthen you know they don’t have a 3.5mm jack that connects to a computer. so for these to work you will need an adapter. there are two types of adapters that may work depending on the ports provided on your computer

• usb-a
• usb-c

usb-a ports, which are much larger than usb-c ports, are what most computers will have. this is the port you use to connect your hard drives, flash players, charging cables, etc. apple devices also use usb-c ports and some other brands have also started using it.

but surprisingly lightning earphones are also not compatible with these. finding a usb-a adapter will be a big challenge as they are not mass produced.

You will have to do extensive research online and offline to find one. However, if your computer has a USB-C port, you can purchase it and use your headset. for sound settings, you can follow the steps we listed above.

lightning to usb-c adapter tip – anker

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This anker lightning to usb-c adapter is an apple mfi certified product and works seamlessly with your lightning headphones. anker is committed to delivering lossless audio that retains its original high-quality output and is made from the highest quality materials.

Once you get the adapter, all you need to do is plug the apple headset lightning cable into the lightning slot of this adapter, and then insert the usb-c connector into the usb-c port on your computer.

If you are using an apple macbook, then you need to follow the steps below to configure the microphone. before that make sure the headphone is connected to the macbook via adapter, refer to this guide

1. click the apple logo in the upper left corner to see system preferences
2. or you can click search highlight and type system preferences
3. click system preferences to open the window
4. click sound and then select the input tab
5. here you need to select the correct input device you plan to use

apply the settings and then test the microphone to see if it works or not. If you’re on a windows computer, you’ll need to follow these steps.

1. from your start menu, open control panel
2. search for sound or hardware & sound option
3. open the sound settings and click on the recording tab
4. you should see the headphones on the list
5. select them and make them default for the microphone

now apply the settings and test your microphone. If you’re using the anker adapter we listed above, note that it only works for systems running windows 8 and above.

If you’re using an older version of Windows, you may not need a USB-C connector, or if you do, find a compatible adapter.

4. Adjusting mic volume on a Windows computer

Now that you have the apple headset working as a microphone on your computer, you need to adjust its volume and sensitivity. follow these steps

1. click the start menu then control panel to enter system settings
2. locate and click the hardware and sound option
3. in case your folder view is set to small/large icons, you need to scroll through the options and find the sound option
4. if you were in the hardware and sound window, you need to click the sound option
5. in the sound window, you will see a recording tab. click on it
6. all your configured microphones should show up here. make sure the headset is connected to your computer
7. right click on your microphone and then select properties
8. under the microphone properties, there should be four tabs: general, listen, levels, and advanced
9. click the levels tab
10. dial the sound level should be at maximum (100). if not, drag the slider towards 100
11. if you tend to speak loudly, then you could lower it a bit
12. once you’ve made your changes, click ok to apply

Changing the volume level should fix the microphone sensitivity issues you are facing. to check if it worked, record audio with your microphone and then see what the output sounds like.

5. adjust microphone volume on a mac

To adjust the microphone volume on an apple macbook, do the following

1. open system preferences and locate the sound icon
2. click it. you will now see a tab for output. click on it
3. make sure your headset is connected to the system and it will appear in the list of devices
4. select the right option and then you will see the input volume slider below
5. you can increase or decrease it to adjust the microphone volume. sensitivity is displayed at input level

apply these settings and voila!

alternate video: how to use your headset as a computer microphone?

conclusion on using apple headset as microphone on pc

All over the world, people buy apple products due to their exclusivity, unmatched quality and high performance. they would be great within the apple ecosystem, but if you decide to leave that ecosystem, you will face compatibility issues.

When using expensive apple earphones on non-apple devices, you will always encounter connectivity related issues. and it can be very frustrating to find the right solutions.

These problems are mostly solved by the use of splitters and adapters, but some of them can be hard to find. The solutions listed above will help you solve your problems to a great extent and our product suggestions will be very helpful to you.

Hopefully, through this article, you will now know how to use apple headset as microphone on computer! before you go check out this guide on how to connect altec lansing speakers

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frequently asked questions about apple headphones as a microphone