The Blue Snowball is one of the most user-friendly and widely used plug-and-play (PnP) USB microphones for streamers and YouTubers. Users can record studio-quality audio for voice-over work, podcasting, game streaming, Skype chats, YouTube videos, and podcasts thanks to its industry-leading cardioid condenser capsule technology. However, several customers stated that it is not operating on their machines, even though it has several best-in-class features.
There could be multiple reasons for the Blue Snowball mic not working problem on a Windows 10 PC, including improper sound settings and corrupt Blue Snowball Microphone Drivers that can trigger the problem. So, if you are struggling to fix this annoying issue on your computer, you are at the right place. In this article, we will explore some of the most effective and simplest ways to fix the blue snowball mic not working issue on your computer. Let’s dive in.
Reasons Why Blue Snowball Mic is Not Working?
The following are some possible causes of the Blue Snowball mic’s malfunction on your computer:
- Issues with connections: You should start by looking for this, as it is the most likely underlying cause of your Blue Snowball mic not turning on.
- Driver-related problems: Updating the microphone driver should resolve the issue because corrupt or out-of-date drivers are just as likely to be the reason for the problem.
- Misconfigured settings: The microphone may not function if the settings prevent apps from accessing it.
How To Fix Blue Snowball Mic Not Working Issue on Windows 10
There could be a variety of reasons for this problem. However, the good part is that there are multiple ways to fix the blue snowball mic not working issue on a Windows 10 PC. So let’s look into these fixes.
Method 1: Disable the Audio Device and Reconnect
If this is the first time Blue Snowball has stopped working on Windows 10, you can reconnect the Blue Snowball Mic and manually deactivate the audio devices. Here’s how to do that:
- Unplug the Blue Snowball Mic from your computer’s USB ports.
- Choose Device Manager by right-clicking on the Start menu located on the left side of your desktop.
- Expand the section labeled Sound, Video, and Game Controller. Then, right-click the attached microphone in the list and select Disable device.
- Restart your computer and reattach the Blue Snowball Mic to a USB port after the device has been disabled.
If this procedure is unable to resolve the Blue Snowball microphone’s malfunction, proceed to the next methods.
Method 2: Reinstall the Audio Device Driver
As was already noted, Blue Snowball’s inability to function on Windows 10 is also caused by faulty or defective Blue Snowball microphone drivers. You might try reinstalling the device driver to resolve this problem.
- Use the same method as in the previous solution to open your Device Manager and navigate to the Audio Inputs and Outputs section.
- To remove the Blue Snowball Microphone, right-click on it and choose Uninstall device. Then, to finish the process, adhere to the on-screen instructions.
- Proceed to the section dedicated to Sound, Video, and Gaming Controllers and remove the Blue Snowball Drivers.
You can now try to recognize the Blue Snowball microphone by plugging it back into your PC.
Method 3: Troubleshoot Sound Problems
Using the built-in Windows utility is another straightforward and easy method. You can attempt troubleshooting sound issues if Device Manager does not list the Blue Snowball microphone. Take these actions to achieve that:
- Right-click the Sound icon from the right bottom of the taskbar.
- Choose Troubleshoot audio issues.
- After that, this utility will automatically identify and assist you in fixing any sound issues on your computer.
Method 4: Set Sound Settings to Default
On Windows 10, the Blue Snowball not showing up problem might also be caused by incorrect sound settings. You might attempt to resolve the problem by resetting the sound settings. For that reason:
- Select Open Sound Settings by right-clicking on the Sound icon located at the taskbar’s right bottom.
- Click on the Sound control panel after swiping down the right sidebar.
- The Blue Snowball microphone and other recorders can be found by selecting the Recording tab in the pop-up window.
- All other devices can be turned off by right-clicking on them and choosing Disable, except for the Blue Snowball Mic.
- After choosing the Blue Snowball Mic, press the Set default button.
Method 5: Check the Microphone’s Privacy Settings
After installing the Windows 10 update, certain apps will not be able to access the microphone, and the privacy settings will be automatically adjusted. You can check your privacy settings for the microphone to fix the issue where the Blue Snowball is not showing up.
- To access the Settings app, press the Win + I keys. Then, select Privacy.
- Make sure the microphone for this device option is enabled by clicking the Change button located in the right pane after navigating to the microphone section on the left sidebar.
- To select which apps can use your microphone, scroll down the right sidebar. Make sure you flip on the switch to enable any apps you wish to utilize with the microphone. The Blue Snowball not working problem should be resolved at this point.