Microphone problems
Fix microphone issues preventing Epilude from hearing your voice — permissions, device selection, and Bluetooth troubleshooting.
Quick checks
Start with the fastest fixes before digging deeper:
- Is your mic muted? Some headsets and external mics have a physical mute switch or button. Check it's off.
- Is input volume up? Open System Settings → Sound → Input and verify the volume slider isn't at zero.
- Does your mic work in other apps? Open Voice Memos or QuickTime and record a short clip. If it doesn't work there either, the issue is system-wide, not Epilude-specific.
Grant microphone permission
Epilude needs microphone access to hear your voice. If it was denied during setup:
- Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone
- Find Epilude in the list
- Toggle it on
- Restart Epilude
If Epilude doesn't appear in the list, launch the app — macOS adds it when the app first requests mic access.
Select the right input device
If you have multiple microphones connected (built-in, headset, USB mic), macOS may be using the wrong one.
- Open System Settings → Sound → Input
- Select the microphone you want to use
- Speak and verify the input level indicator responds
Check after plugging in
macOS sometimes switches input devices when you plug in or disconnect headphones. If dictation suddenly sounds wrong, check your input device.
External microphones
- USB microphones — Should work immediately after plugging in. Select the mic in System Settings → Sound → Input
- Bluetooth microphones — Must be paired first via System Settings → Bluetooth. Once connected, select the Bluetooth device as your input
AirPods and Bluetooth
AirPods and other Bluetooth microphones work with Epilude but may introduce issues:
- Latency — Bluetooth adds a small delay to audio capture, which can affect transcription timing
- Audio quality — Bluetooth mic quality is generally lower than wired alternatives
- Connection drops — Bluetooth can disconnect briefly, causing missed audio
For the most reliable experience, use your Mac's built-in microphone or a wired headset.
Permission reset after macOS update
macOS updates can silently revoke microphone permissions. If Epilude stopped hearing you after an OS update:
- Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone
- Toggle Epilude off, then on again
- If that doesn't work, remove Epilude from the list (click −), quit the app, re-add it, and relaunch
Still not working?
If your microphone works in other apps but not in Epilude, contact support. Include your macOS version, microphone model, and whether the mic works in Voice Memos.