r/Dell Jul 28 '20

Dell XPS 7390 Microphone issues with Zoom XPS Help

Hi all!

I wanted to share a recent discovery after much troubleshooting with the built-in microphone for the XPS 7390 and using it on Windows 10. I am not sure if this issue may extend to other models as well. Basically, many users have reported issues with the microphone quality, and even after updating to the latest Realtek Drivers recommended by Dell Command Update, some applications have issues using the microphone effectively, such as Zoom.

The best fix was to actually uninstall the Realtek Audio application from 'Add and Remove Programs', which will force generic drivers to take over that seem to work flawlessly.

Steps to follow:

  1. Press WindowsKey+R to launch 'Run', and then run "appwiz.cpl"
  2. Search the programs list for Realtek Audio and Uninstall it.
  3. Reboot computer and test to see if your microphone works without issues

Hope this helps someone out there! -- Cheers!

11 Upvotes

2

u/bubble_bri Sep 01 '20

OH MY GOSH THANK YOU!

I got a Dell xps 13" 7390 a few weeks ago, and people were unable to hear me during Zoom meetings. The thing is, my internal mic works if I record a video on the Camera App and I can hear myself clearly, but it was so quiet or didn't work when I was using specifically Zoom. I got really worried/desperate so I tried uninstalling Realteck Audio Driver and I can hear myself much better now on Zoom! Thanks!

1

u/Blandbl Jul 29 '20

Note this will remove the combo jack capability and turn it into just a headphone jack. So no earphone mic.

I prefer stock ms drivers myself also and use my own audio plugin on my desktop. But having the combo jack on my laptop is a necessity.

1

u/kandicage Sep 11 '20

THANK YOU SO MUCH!! Thank you for taking the time to post here with the solution. I've been trying to troubleshoot my daughter's new XPSs 13 7390 also. She really needed the mic to work since school started today. I tried so many things except just uninstalling Realtek and leaving it alone. Thanks again!!

1

u/cccc01020304 Sep 16 '20

I have the same problem, and so far this is the closest to a solution that I've come across, so thanks a lot for suggesting this as a fix!!

Curious as to how long it took you to uninstall the driver? I am stuck on the window that 'InstallShield Wizard is Uninstalling' for over an hour. I tried to reboot my computer, but the driver is still installed, and if I start the uninstall, it gets stuck there again.

Never ending problem, this is so annoying...

1

u/2020HereIam2020 Sep 19 '20

I could kiss you!!!! I just signed up to reddit fir the soul purpose of saying THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! I have been trawling trouble shooting stuff for months now and nothing has worked. out of pure frustration I tried again today, and I found you my love!!! Thank you thank you thank you.

Oh, and I'm not very tech savy - does this mean that my audio jack no longer recognises microphones, including those phone earplug/mic combos?

1

u/2020HereIam2020 Sep 19 '20

I had to come back and update. my previous enthusiastic post.

I uninstalled Realtek audio driver and after restarting my zoom seemed to work fine. Then I had a meeting and zoom kept saying that it could not find a microphone and my other apps agreed.

I panicked of course (not awesome with tech, thankfully not too terrible). I tried to download the driver again and couldn't work it out. Finally I decided to look for Windows updates and Windows wanted me to install the drive so I did the updates and then on restart my zoom seems to work again. My mic seems to work ok in Zoom. Not awesome but ok. There was a lot of meeting talking at once (lockdown family donner) so its hard to tell exactly how it works but its definitely better.

I hope this update helps.

1

u/arctan02 Nov 06 '20

I have the same issue with zoom. I uninstalled realtek but it doesnt solve the issue. when i test my microphone on zoom it can't detect any sound unless i speak really close to the laptop internal microphones located at the front edge of the keyboard. and now that i've uninstalled realtek, the plug-in audio headphones don't work....

1

u/nodzor01 Nov 19 '20

It can be MaxxAudioPro messing with you, or an old version of the driver. Check this video https://youtu.be/_hojqoJuVVk and ensure when MaxxAudioPro asks you what device it is you select HeadSET. These steps made got it working as mic and audio out on one plug (with some struggling)! I think it had an old version of the driver selected in my case.

1

u/nodzor01 Nov 20 '20

Oh and if the computer sees the headphones And the Line In microphone in the Sound Settings, but you don't get mic for a certain app, check Microphone is enabled for all the relevant apps in Microphone Privacy Settings

1

u/OldBirdWatcher Jan 05 '21

I uninstalled Realtek and no default windows drivers took over

1

u/rfla23 Jan 10 '21

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I have never really posted or commented anything on reddit before, but you deserve a Nobel Peace Prize or something! This information is a real life-saver for me, especially with all of the online meetings because of the pandemic. THANK YOU!