[7 Quick Fixes] Audacity Not Recording Sound

Audacity is a solid audio editor, but like any program, it has bugs from time to time. If Audacity is not recording sound for you, here are 7 quick fixes.

There are several factors that can influence Audacity not recording computer sound, regardless of your OS – Windows 10, Windows 11, macOS, etc. So don’t get discouraged if one troubleshooting fix doesn’t work.

It could be something as simple as giving Audacity permission to access your microphone. The software prompts you to make a choice when you first install the program, and many users click No in haste to get moving on a project. 

Your microphone and sound settings can also block computer audio from coming through to the program. And Audacity sometimes displays an "Error opening recording device" message, which typically shows an improper input or enabled sound device. 

And here are a few more reasons Audacity won't record from your computer:

• Audio host feature settings – MME
• Incorrect sample rate selection  
• Outdated software version
• Plugins – bad ones or good ones with improper settings

If Audacity is not recording desktop audio or your device, it’s best to check you didn’t overlook something simple. Sometimes one setting in Audacity is off that causes the program to block your computer or mic. 

1. Click Edit and then Preferences – Audacity and then Preferences on a Mac – to access the menu.
2. Once in the menu, click Recording on the left menu.
3. Ensure that Play other tracks while recording (overdub) and Detect Dropouts are enabled.
4. After you enable your settings, close and open Audacity and see if it will record your track.

If Audacity is not recording a microphone, try this fix. Based on your device, you may need to adjust your recording to a different sample rate to ensure recording. Higher sample rates will enhance your capture, but if you can’t record at all, it doesn’t do you any good.

To adjust, follow the same path as above, but you’ll go to the Audio Settings menu instead. Under Quality, you’ll see dropdown menus for Project Sample Rate, which adjust for the specific project, and Default Sample Rate, which keeps your settings for each new project. 

Most users agree that the ideal sample rate setting is 44.1 kHz. But you may need to play with the settings a little to match up with your recording device. Check the manual for your recording device, as the manufacturer often includes sample recommendations.

If Audacity won’t record sound from your computer or device, you could have an issue with your host settings. The audio host acts as an interface between your device and Audacity and varies based on your OS.

Windows users have three options for audio hosting:

• MME. This host has the most compatibility, so it’s the program default. 
• Windows DirectSound. These host drivers are newer than MME and include an option to reduce latency by bypassing the kernel mixer.
• Windows WASAPI. This is the most recent interface that is helpful for recording "loopback" devices like your computer.

Users sometimes cause problems by changing their host settings by accident, or a system error switches the host. To fix it, you may need to change host settings. To do that, you can either find the Audio Host dropdown menu on your toolbar – it’s the menu that contains the three settings listed above. Or you can click the Audio Setup box and then hover over Host. 

Note, this is a fix for Windows only. Mac users can only use Core Audio, and the majority Linux users will only use ALSA as their audio host.

This fix influences your entire system. So if you’re not picking up sound regardless of your program or device, this could be your solution. Follow these steps:

1. Under your Control Panel, click System and then select Sound.
2. Click the Recording tab and find the Microphone icon. Click it to activate. 
3. You can also check the volume settings and test to be sure it’s loud enough for a solid recording.

This setting affects any recording device you plug into your system. So if Audacity has no sound while recording, follow these steps to unlock things.

1. Under the Start menu, click Settings and then Privacy & Security.
2. Next click Microphone.
3. Then, make sure the box for Allow Apps to Access Your Microphone is switched on. You can use the settings to block or allow individual applications as you need.

Having the Software Playthrough setting on can cause an input delay – the sound stalls when it travels from your device to your headphones and system. If Audacity is recording sound, but it doesn’t record correctly – echos and delays – try this fix. 

Click Transport, select Transport Options, and then click to remove the check mark for Software Playthrough.

If Audacity is still not recording audio after trying these fixes, it’s time to resort to the classics. You could have some software issues from your initial installation or an update, so from here, it’s best to just reset everything. Try restarting the program first. And if it still won’t record, consider uninstalling and reinstalling the program. 

If you choose to reinstall, we highly recommend downloading the latest file directly from the Audacity homepage as opposed to a third-party site. Just make sure you have enough space for the file.

If Audacity has no recording device detected or sound at this point, it may be time to try another program. With Movavi Screen Recorder, you can record both video and sound from your computer or any device with ease.