Have you ever plugged in your headset or microphone on Windows 11 and suddenly started hearing your own voice? It can be confusing and distracting — especially when you’re gaming, on a Zoom call, or recording audio. The good news is that this issue is easy to fix once you understand what’s happening.
In this detailed guide, we’ll show you how to stop hearing yourself on mic in Windows 11 using several effective methods — from sound settings to driver updates and more.
🎧 Why You Hear Yourself on the Microphone
When you hear your own voice through your headphones or speakers, it’s usually because of mic monitoring or “listen to this device” being turned on. This feature sends your microphone’s input directly to your output device so you can monitor your audio in real time.
While mic monitoring can be useful for recording or streaming, it can also be annoying during regular use.
🔍 Common Causes of Hearing Yourself on Mic
| Cause | Description |
|---|---|
| Mic Monitoring Enabled | Your audio input is being fed back into your headphones or speakers. |
| “Listen to This Device” Option Active | A Windows feature that plays your mic audio through output devices. |
| Sound Driver Glitches | Outdated or incorrect drivers may cause feedback. |
| Audio Enhancements or Echo Settings | Some headsets include built-in echo or monitoring features. |
| Third-Party Apps | Software like OBS, Discord, or Zoom can duplicate your mic feed. |
🪟 Method 1: Disable “Listen to This Device” in Sound Settings
This is the most common fix for hearing yourself on the mic in Windows 11.
✅ Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Open Sound Settings
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Go to System → Sound.
Step 2: Open the Microphone Properties
- Scroll down to Input and select your active microphone device.
- Click More sound settings on the right side (opens a legacy Sound Control Panel).
Step 3: Access Recording Tab
- In the Sound window, go to the Recording tab.
- Right-click your microphone → select Properties.
Step 4: Disable “Listen to This Device”
- Go to the Listen tab.
- Uncheck Listen to this device.
- Click Apply → OK.
Now your mic will no longer play your voice through your speakers or headphones.
🎙️ Method 2: Disable Mic Monitoring via Control Panel
Some headsets and sound cards have mic monitoring built in. You can disable it via the Control Panel.
Steps:
- Press Windows + R, type
control, and hit Enter. - Navigate to Hardware and Sound → Sound.
- Under the Recording tab, double-click your microphone.
- In the Levels tab, find Microphone Playback or Mic Monitor and lower it to 0.
- Click Apply → OK.
This completely removes mic playback on your system.
🧰 Method 3: Turn Off Mic Monitoring in Your Headset Software
If you’re using a gaming headset or USB microphone, it may have its own audio control app.
Examples:
- Logitech G Hub
- Razer Synapse
- SteelSeries GG
- Corsair iCUE
- HyperX NGENUITY
Steps:
- Open your headset’s software.
- Locate the Mic Monitoring or Sidetone setting.
- Slide it to Off or 0%.
This ensures you don’t hear your own voice directly through the headset hardware.
🪄 Method 4: Adjust Sound Mixer Settings
Sometimes, Windows Audio Mixer routes your microphone feed into your speaker output.
Steps:
- Right-click the Speaker icon on the taskbar → select Open Volume Mixer.
- Check if any app (e.g., Voice Recorder, Discord, or OBS) is using your mic input for output.
- Mute or lower that app’s volume.
This eliminates unwanted feedback from apps accidentally outputting mic audio.
🧠 Method 5: Disable Audio Enhancements
Audio enhancements or “spatial sound” settings may cause unintended echo or feedback loops.
Steps:
- Go to Settings → System → Sound.
- Under Output, click your speaker or headset device.
- Scroll down to Audio Enhancements and toggle Off.
- Repeat the same for your microphone under Input settings.
This prevents enhanced audio processing from re-routing your mic sound.
⚙️ Method 6: Check Your App Settings (Zoom, Discord, OBS, etc.)
Some communication or recording apps can cause you to hear yourself.
Example: Discord
- Open User Settings (⚙️ icon).
- Go to Voice & Video.
- Turn Off “Input Monitoring” or “Echo Cancellation” if it’s looping your voice.
Example: OBS Studio
- In the Audio Mixer, click the gear icon next to your mic.
- Choose Advanced Audio Properties.
- Ensure Audio Monitoring is set to Monitor Off.
Example: Zoom
- Click the arrow next to the mic icon → Audio Settings.
- Under Advanced, disable Echo Cancellation and other monitoring features.
🖥️ Method 7: Update or Reinstall Your Sound Drivers
Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause strange audio routing issues.
Steps:
- Press Windows + X → select Device Manager.
- Expand Sound, video, and game controllers.
- Right-click your audio device → select Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for drivers.
- If the issue persists, select Uninstall device, restart your PC, and let Windows reinstall it.
You can also download the latest drivers from your PC or motherboard manufacturer’s website.
🔄 Method 8: Disable Stereo Mix (Optional)
“Stereo Mix” is a virtual recording device that can sometimes duplicate your mic input.
Steps:
- Right-click the Speaker icon → Sounds.
- Go to the Recording tab.
- Right-click Stereo Mix → choose Disable.
- Click Apply → OK.
🧩 Method 9: Use Privacy Settings to Reset Microphone Access
Sometimes resetting permissions fixes weird mic behaviors.
Steps:
- Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.
- Turn Off microphone access for all apps.
- Restart your PC.
- Re-enable microphone access for apps you trust.
🧼 Method 10: Restart Windows Audio Services
If none of the above works, restarting the audio services might help.
Steps:
- Press Windows + R, type
services.msc, and hit Enter. - Scroll down and find:
- Windows Audio
- Windows Audio Endpoint Builder
- Right-click each → select Restart.
This refreshes the sound system and can remove looping feedback.
💬 Troubleshooting Checklist
| Issue | Possible Fix |
|---|---|
| You still hear yourself after disabling “Listen to this device” | Restart your PC or unplug/replug your headset |
| Feedback occurs only in specific apps | Check app-specific voice settings |
| Headset has hardware mic monitoring | Disable it via manufacturer software |
| Echo when using speakers instead of headphones | Switch to headphones or lower mic sensitivity |
🧩 Quick Tip: Test Your Microphone Settings
To confirm the issue is fixed:
- Go to Settings → System → Sound.
- Under Input, select your microphone.
- Speak into it and watch the input level move.
- Ensure no playback occurs through your speakers or headphones.
If you don’t hear your voice anymore — success!
🧠 Advanced Tip: Use the Sound Control Panel Shortcut
You can access sound settings faster with:
mmsys.cpl
- Press Windows + R, type the command above, and press Enter.
- This opens the classic Sound panel instantly for quick mic tweaks.
🧾 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why do I hear my own voice when talking on Windows 11?
You likely have the “Listen to this device” or mic monitoring option enabled. Turning it off usually solves the problem.
2. Is mic monitoring useful?
Yes — it helps musicians, streamers, and podcasters hear themselves clearly while recording. But it’s unnecessary for regular calls or gaming.
3. Why does my mic echo during calls?
This can happen if you’re using speakers instead of headphones, or if your mic picks up the sound from your output.
4. How do I turn off mic monitoring on my gaming headset?
Open your headset’s software (like Razer Synapse or Logitech G Hub) and disable Sidetone or Mic Monitoring.
5. Can Windows updates cause this problem?
Occasionally yes — driver or audio setting resets after updates can reactivate mic monitoring. Just recheck your sound settings.
🧭 Conclusion
Hearing your own voice through your mic in Windows 11 can be distracting, but it’s easy to fix once you know where to look. The quickest solution is usually disabling “Listen to this device” in the Sound Control Panel or turning off mic monitoring in your headset software.
To recap:
- Disable “Listen to this device.”
- Turn off mic monitoring in your headset app.
- Update or reinstall audio drivers.
- Restart audio services if needed.
Once done, your mic will work quietly in the background — no unwanted echoes or feedback.
🧾 Summary: Key Takeaways
| Key Point | Description |
|---|---|
| Disable Mic Monitoring | Turn off “Listen to this device” in sound settings. |
| Use Headset Software | Check for sidetone or monitoring options. |
| Update Drivers | Outdated drivers often cause feedback issues. |
| Restart Audio Services | Refreshes sound system when settings fail. |
| Test After Changes | Always confirm with mic test in Windows settings. |
By following this step-by-step guide on how to stop hearing yourself on mic in Windows 11, you’ll enjoy clearer audio, distraction-free calls, and smoother recordings every time.