Full Tutorial: How to Enable Remote Microphone on Remote Desktop

How do I enable microphone on Microsoft Remote Desktop?

How to enable remote microphone on Remote Desktop [Windows/macOS/Android/iOS]

By default in some platforms’ Microsoft Remote Desktop, local microphone access is disabled. In this case, you need to manually turn on the remote microphone access for the remote desktop. Let’s see how to enable remote microphone on Remote Desktop for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

How to enable remote microphone on Remote Desktop for Windows

If you have a Windows system, follow the steps below to learn how to enable remote microphone on Remote Desktop Windows 10, 11, etc.

Step 1. Search for Remote Desktop Connection in the Search box. And then open it.

Step 2. In the Remote Desktop Connection dialog box, click Show Options.

Step 3. Click the Local Resources tab, and then click Settings under Remote Audio.

Step 4. For Remote audio playback, select Play on this computer (for remote audio to play on the local machine). For Remote audio recording, select Record from this computer (for the local mic to be used on the remote machine). Then click OK.

How to enable remote microphone on Remote Desktop for macOS

If you have macOS, follow the steps below to enable remote microphone on Remote Desktop for your Mac.

Step 1. Download the Microsoft Remote Desktop client from the Mac App Store.

Step 2. Now open the Microsoft Remote Desktop application and click on PCs, next click on + New > Add PC. Fill in the computer information, including PC name, IP address, etc.

Step 3. Navigate to the Devices & Audio tab. Check the Microphone option and click on Add/Save.

How to enable remote microphone on Remote Desktop for Android and iOS

If you’re using Microsoft Remote Desktop Android or iOS, you can follow the steps below to enable remote microphone. As the operating steps are pretty much the same, we’ll take Android as an example here.

Step 1. Download Microsoft Remote Desktop from the Android app store.

Step 2. Tap the “+” icon to select desktop, and then wait for the app to search your local network for connected PCs. You must manually add the one you want to connect to if it does not appear automatically.

Step 3. After adding the desktop, click on ••• > Edit.

Step 4. Navigate to the Device & Audio Redirection and check the option Microphone. Click on Save to keep the changes.

Bonus tips: how to fix Remote Desktop remote microphone not working

If the Remote Desktop remote microphone not working even if you have enabled it, you can use the following three solutions to fix it on Windows.

Solution 1. Check Registry setting

Step 1. Press Windows key + R to invoke the Run dialog box and then type in “regedit” and hit OK to open Registry Editor.

Step 2. Navigate here: Computer > HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Terminal Server > WinStations > RDP-Tcp

Step 3. On the right pane, click on fDisableAudioCapture to change its value data. You need to set the value to 0. Then click on OK.

Solution 2. Check Group Policy setting

Step 1. Invoke the Run dialog box. Type in “gpedit.msc” and press OK. This will open up the Local Group Policy Editor window.

Step 2. Navigate here: Computer configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Device and Resource Redirection.

Step 3. On the right pane, double click Allow audio recording redirection and set it to Enable. Then click OK.

Solution 3. Check Services setting

Step 1. Invoke the Run dialog box. Type in “services.msc” and hit OK.

Step 2. In the Services window, double-click Remote Desktop Services User Mode Port Redirector to check its status.

Step 3. Change the Startup type to Automatic.

The bottom line

This post primarily introduces how to enable remote microphone on Remote Desktop for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. If you find remote microphone still not working, you can use the three solutions to fix it.

Before the end, we would like to recommend you a Remote Desktop alternative, the free remote desktop software for Windows AnyViewer. If you’re a Windows user, we highly recommend you to use AnyViewer because of the following three reasons:

AnyViewer is easier to use. Remote Desktop requires an IP address and computer name to achieve remote connections, while AnyViewer doesn’t.

AnyViewer has fewer restrictions. Remote Desktop requires that the two devices be on the same network, while AnyViewer doesn’t.

AnyViewer is more compatible with Windows versions. Remote Desktop can’t be used to connect to Windows Home computers and Standard edition computers, while AnyViewer is fully compatible with both.

If you’re interested, get it right now!