The Razer Balckshark V2 is an excellent headset that comes with a detachable microphone. An excellent product for live streaming, playing video games, listening to music, ebooks, or just in video conferences.
However, when your Razer Blackshark V2 mic is not working anymore, all the fun ends abruptly. Nothing is more frustrating than being left “speechless” due to mic problems in our online world. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
In this article, you will find out exactly why the Razer Blackshark V2 mic is not working and what you can do to solve it right away!
Why is your Razer Blackshark V2 mic not working?
Various hardware and software issues or wrong configurations can make your Razer Blackshark headset not work appropriately, and sometimes the mic as well.
First, you have to make sure that you connected the headset correctly and play with the mic button on the left headphone.
After you’ve determined whether this was the issue or not, it’s time to pull out the big guns. You need to establish the exact cause of the problem to fix it, and you can only do this through trial and error.
Here are 9 reasons why a Razer Blackshark V2 mic is not working.
1. Detached mic
The Blackshark V2 headset comes with a detachable mic, and if it isn’t connected properly, your microphone won’t work. The same goes with your mic positioning, which can also cause problems.
2. Faulty cables
Immersive gaming can make you jump out of your seat and pull the cables out from your PC. In some cases, these cables might get damaged, or you may have received them broken from the start.
The Blakcshark V2 headphones come with both a 3.5mm audio jack and a USB sound card. Both are susceptible to damage or become defective in time, just as any other accessories.
3. Razer Blackshark isn’t set as the default device
Many apps and software will use the default audio device you set up in your audio settings. If your Razer Blackshark V2 mic isn’t set as the default device, since it is either disabled or the firmware or your audio drivers aren’t functioning correctly, it won’t work.
4. Buggy audio drivers
Your Windows audio drivers might be outdated or buggy, and this is why your sound card doesn’t do its job. You can’t have any mic working without the right audio driver installed on your PC.
5. Wrong audio settings or blocked access
Your Blackshark mic might not work due to your general audio settings. The sensitivity might be too low, or the slight distortion might indicate some connectivity problems.
In other instances, if you are using your Blackshark mic on certain untrusted websites or apps, they might not have access to your mic.
In this case, you will need to check your permissions list, and generally, many sites are blocked for standard security and privacy policies.
6. Faulty Razer Synapse software
The Razer Blackshark comes with its own firmware that you have to install on your PC for high-definition audio settings.
In some instances, the Razer Synapse software might be buggy or outdated, and it may cause your V2 mic not to work.
7. Damaged USB port or audio jack socket issues
Your USB port might not work, hence why your Razer Blackshark V2 mic isn’t working. This can easily result from accidents when you suddenly pull the cable out of your USB port.
In other instances, your audio jack socket might not function properly because it is obstructed somehow, which mostly happens due to a lack of maintenance.
8. Outdated OS
Windows updates or any OS update is very important for your software to work properly. In some instances, if your OS is outdated, it might result in various issues, such as your mic not working.
9. Defective or damaged product
The mic diaphragm on just about any type of headphone is very sensitive and easily damaged. You or someone else might have damaged your Razer headset resulting in your microphone issues.
Your Razer Blackshark V2 mic isn’t working because you received an already damaged product in the best-case scenario. If this is the case, you are lucky since you generally won’t have to pay anything to get another headset.
How to fix a Razer Blackshark V2 mic that is not working?
As you can see, various software and hardware issues might make your Razer Blackshark V2 mic not work anymore. Now rest assured because many of these issues have a simple fix most of the time.
You have to determine the specific cause of your mic problems to find the right solution. Here are 9 easy ways to make a Razer Blackshark V2 mic work again!
1. Attach microphone properly
The Razer Blackshwark V2 comes with a separate microphone. You need to properly attach the microphone to the headset. Hook up the mic into the left headphone socket until it makes a click sound.
Now, you need to bend the microphone until it is parallel to your mouth. Make sure the mic isn’t too far away or too close to your mouth.
2. Replace cables
While unboxing your Blakcshark V2 headphones, you will notice a 3.5mm audio jack and a USB sound card.
If your mic isn’t working, it might be because your cables got damaged. To test this, you need to check if your headset appears on your sound control panel.
You should also hear a system sound or see a notification when connecting your headset. Try to connect it to your phone or another USB port to check if it is working in any way. If there are no signs of activity, you need to replace your cables.
3. Set Razer Blackshark as default device
If your Razer Blackshark isn’t set as a default device on your video conference software or your PC in general, the mic won’t work.
To solve this, click Start and type Sound. Go to Sound Settings and see if your Razer headset is set as default under the Input section.
Select it as default and save your changes if it isn’t. You can also use the Test your Microphone option or use the Troubleshooter to check for any issues. Follow the guidelines there and reboot your PC for the changes to take effect.
You can also click on the Sound Control Panel and go to Recording. Select your Razer microphone, right-click on it. Select the Set as Default Device option. Click Ok and check to see if the issue persists.
4. Uninstall and update audio drivers
Usually, the sound icon on the bottom right side of your screen will display any driver issues. However, outdated or buggy audio drivers sometimes won’t alert you, and due to these problems, your Razer Blackshark V2 mic won’t work.
You need to either uninstall or update your audio drivers to fix this. Click on Start and type Control Panel. Click on Device Manager, and expand the Audio inputs and outputs section. Select your audio drivers and right-click on them.
Select the Update Driver option, and wait for the software to be updated. You can also select the Uninstall device and reboot your PC.
If you are using Windows, your OS will automatically install the needed drivers upon rebooting. If you use other OS systems, you might need to search for your audio drivers manually on the web.
Make sure to get legit driver software by downloading directly from trusty websites. You can also use tools such as Driver Easy to automatically find and install all the drivers on your system.
5. Change audio settings and permissions
Some audio settings might result in your Razer Blackshark V2 mic not working issue, such as sensitivity settings. To solve this, you can go to Start, type Sound, and click on Sound Settings. Click on Sound Control Panel on the right side of your screen.
Click on the Recording tab and select your Razer Blackshark device. Right-click on your Razer device and click on Properties. Go to the Levels tab and set the volume according to your needs.
If your mic isn’t working, you need to check your permissions. Return to the Sound Settings screen, and click on Microphone Privacy Settings. Select the Allow Apps to access your Microphone, and turn it to On.
Scroll down and see which apps are prohibited from accessing your microphone. Turn them on if you wish to use your mic on them. You can also open your Google Chrome browser and click on the three vertical dots on the right side of your screen.
Click on Settings, and go to Security and Privacy. Click on Site Settings and select the Microphone option to expand. You can see which sites can access your microphone and if any site is blocked from accessing your mic.
You can change these settings and even insert specific sites into the allowed section. You can also use this settings page to set your Razer Blackshark V2 mic as the default microphone.
6. Uninstall and update Razer Synapse software
The Razer Synapse software might no longer be compatible with your headset, or its buggy, and thus your mic won’t work correctly anymore. To solve this, you need to uninstall your Razer Synapse software.
Press the Windows logo key and R simultaneously. On the Run box, type appwiz.cpl, and press Enter. Right-click on the Razer Synapse icon and select Uninstall. Head to the official Razer website and download the latest software.
Complete the installation and reboot your PC. Be sure to keep your hardware-software up-to-date. Use the firmware updater when your dongle and headset are connected to your PC.
7. Change USB port and clean headphone jack port
A faulty USB port can be the last thing someone thinks of when their headset and mic aren’t working. Try connecting your Razer Blackshark headset to other USB ports. If the problem is fixed, you should repair that faulty USB port in the future.
If your jack audio port is obstructed somehow, your headset and mic will also be affected. The most common reason why a jack audio socket isn’t working anymore is due to a lack of maintenance.
You can clean the socket with a toothpick, but do this with your device turned off and unplugged. You can quickly establish if this is the cause when you see if there is any dirt coming out of the jack socket.
Proceed with easy moves and prudence. Connect your Razer back into your PC and see if the problem persists. You can also opt to change the 3.5mm audio jack because it might also be faulty.
8. Update OS
Any outdated OS can cause a myriad of problems on your PC, which also stands true with connected devices. To solve this, you need to check for any available updates on your PC. Click on Start, and type Update.
Click on the Check for updates box, and see if any updates are available for your OS. Install all the updates and reboot your PC. Check to see if your Razer Blackshark v2 mic is working.
9. Report defective product or take it to the repair shop
If your Razer Blackshark V2 microphone is not working even after trying out all of the above tips, you might have a defective product from the start. You need to contact the official Razer support and report the problem.
If your product became defective in time, you might still be able to use your warranty to fix it. Please take it to a trusted repair shop. If you suspect that your issue stands with your computer or laptop, then you need to take it to service as well.
