The Yeti Mic has been one of the most popular recording devices on the market for the last couple of years. It was designed with a convenient, high-volume workflow in mind, providing pristine sound for podcasts and teleconferences. But what happens if your Yeti Mic suddenly stops working?
Your Yeti Mic is not working for one of three likely reasons: 1) a connection issue, 2) a set-up issue, or 3) a microphone driver issue.
There are several specific reasons under each of these broad categories that may be the cause behind your malfunctioning Yeti Mic. By using the troubleshooting tips in the guide below, you will be able to pinpoint the cause of the malfunction and get your Yeti Mic up and recording in no time.
Go Through the Basic Power-Related Questions
The first place to start is by making sure the microphone is getting the proper power. Check the following:
- Is the microphone turned on?
- Is the USB cable securely connected to the microphone?
- Is the USB cable properly inserted into the computer’s USB port?
While these steps may seem obvious, a good percentage of “dead” microphones can be attributed to one of these simple reasons.
The Connection is Not Being Recognized
Sometimes, USB connections will not be recognized. For example, if you leave your Yeti Mic plugged in and then use a different USB port to connect another piece of hardware, some computers may “forget” your Yeti Mic while the other USB drive is being used.
It is also possible that if you left your Yeti MIc plugged in while the computer powered off, the connection may not be recognized upon restarting. Or there is the chance that you disconnected the Yeti Mic when browsing through your list of available USB drives but never actually physically unplugged it.
If any of these is the case, simply unplug the USB cord from the computer, wait a few seconds, and then reinsert the plug into the port. You should hear the familiar “da-da-da-da” chime if your computer recognizes that an active USB device has been introduced.
Your Computer’s USB Port May Be Faulty
Another possibility may lie with the computer. The more heavily used USB ports may fail over time, so try the other ports (most computers have at least three) and see if the Yeti Mic is recognized.
If none of the ports recognize the external microphone, there is a chance that your cord is not working (unlikely if the Yeti Mic is less than a couple of years old). However, if you have used yours for a while, you may want to try an alternate USB-C cord to see if a connection can be established.
The Yeti Mic is Not Set as the Default Microphone
Sometimes, the microphone is not recognized due to your computer’s configuration. While most computers will recognize connected hardware as the preferred recording option, some may be set to keep the in-computer microphone as the default recording device.
To ensure that your Yeti Mic supersedes the in-computer microphone, take the following steps:
- Open your computer taskbar (referred to as “Control Panel” on Windows systems).
- Click on the option that says “Hardware and Sound.”
- Click on “Manage Audio Devices.”
- Select “Recording” from the top ribbon.
- Right-click on the Yeti Mic and select “Set Default Device.”
- Click “Apply” and “OK” to update the settings.
The Volume on the Microphone is Off or Very Low
Your Yeti Mic may be working—you just can’t hear it. If this is the case, you may need to adjust the sound settings on your computer. Take the following steps to increase the volume:
- Open the taskbar or control panel.
- Click on “Hardware and Sound.”
- Click “Manage Audio Devices.”
- Select “Recording” from the top ribbon.
- Click “Properties” at the bottom right of the box.
- Click “Levels” from the top ribbon.
- Adjust the microphone volume level using the sliding bar.
- Click “OK” to apply the changes.
The Yeti Mic Is Disabled
There is a chance that your Yeti Mic has somehow been disabled. This is unlikely if you use it frequently but may occur if you have used your computer or other recording devices heavily since you last used your Yeti Mic. To check, use the following steps:
- Open the taskbar or control panel.
- Click on “Hardware and Sound.”
- Click “Manage Audio Devices.”
- Select “Recording” from the top ribbon.
- Right click on a blank space within the box.
- A dropdown menu will appear that says “Show Disabled Devices.” Make sure that this box is checked and see if your Yeti Mic reappears.
The Microphone Drivers Need to Be Updated
A driver is a device that provides information to the software and operating system about how to interact with external hardware. These drivers usually get updated when your operating system sends out periodic updates. Still, if the drivers on your computer have fallen out of date, they may be the culprit behind your Yeti Mic not working.
To update your microphone drivers, you will need to go to the manufacturer’s website for your computer and download the latest device driver update and install it on your computer so that external microphones can be recognized.
Conclusion
The Yeti Mic is one of the most popular and effective external recording devices on the market. However, there will be some times when it may appear not to work. By following the troubleshooting guide outlined in this article, you are sure to get your Yeti Mic up and running in short order.