How to fix no mic signal?

First, I must say that the extensive writing on Realtek sound drivers is amazing and confusing. That is why I am sure someone must have an idea of how to fix my little issue or at least point me in the right direction.

I just got my son a very basic laptop from Gateway/Evoo/Acer (long story) GWTN-141-4 (Windows 10). It has a Realtek chip. When a TRRS plug is placed in the analog port it sees the mic but gets no signal. I did notice on system install the driver was updated but there is no rollback option. Headset output is great.

I have tried to uninstall the driver and it reinstalls itself (no drivers are shown on the manufacturer's site). I have increased mic boost and increased mic volume. Tried three different headsets (all confirmed to be working). Still no luck. I asked support for assistance and they said to try other headsets (wow, I would never have thought of that). An old Acer of mine had the same issue and when I rolled back the driver everything worked. That is why I think it is a driver issue. How do I check if it is a driver vs hardware issue (bad analog port)?

So what do I to diagnose the issue?

- - - Updated - - -

Here is some driver info
Name Realtek High Definition Audio

Manufacturer Realtek

Status OK

PNP Device ID HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0269&SUBSYS_1C6C1234&REV_1002\4&242B2E65&0&0001

Driver C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\RTKVHD64.SYS (6.0.9003.1, 5.83 MB (6,111,344 bytes), 12/10/2020 6:53 PM)


Windows 10 20H2 Build 99042.685 experience 120.2212.551.0

Sysinfo says it is GWTN-141-4 but the settings screen says it is a GWTN156-3. This I know to be wrong as the 156 is 15.6" So the system is confused to start with.

Welcome to TenForums!

I took a look at a picture of that laptop and it appears to have a seperate mic input and audio out jack. So in that case the mic input would be a TRS type connecter NOT a TRRS.

If the only headsets / mics you have available all have TRRS connectors, you may need to try an adapter that will break those up into two seperate TRS connectors.

That would be my best guess at this point as to the cause of the problem

EDIT: I think I misunderstood which model you have and got them mixed up. The info above applies to the 15 inch laptop. If this is the 14 inch, then it looks like it has a single connector in which case it may well be a TRRS. Apologies for the confusion.

Looks like that model only has headphone output, no Mic input.

In most Laptops it is a Combo socket, but apparently not on that one.
I guess it is seeing the internal Mic.

Possibly, if Combo, TRRS standard, the Mic (..RS) being swopped around not matching the Headset standard.
The way around that is to use a USB audio dongle with the required Mic input.

Neither model has TRRS combo jacks.

GWTN-141-4 (video at 1 minute) has headphone jack only. If you have this model, you have to get a USB headset in order to use headset mic. But you don't have usb 2.0 port so that may cause problems buying usb headset. Otherwise use the laptop's internal mic if you continue to use 3.5mm headphone.



GWTN156-3 has separate headphone jack and microphone jack (left side photo). You can get a Y splitter to split the TRRS headset into the headphone jack and microphone jack.

Gateway GWTN156-3BK review: A gaming laptop that lives a bit too loud | PCWorld

Thanks, you all confirmed what I thought (I hoped I was wrong). These oddities still bug me
1. Why didn't tech support just say no analog mic?
2.Why does the driver know there is a mic plugged in? I would have disabled that "feature"
3. Why is the computer confused by its identity. I know it is a 141 but parts of it the software think it is a 156. Odd

I bought, a few days ago, a usb to TRRS. It works fine. I was just hoping that I missed something. It was worth a try.

My next attempt with tech support will be "how do I turn off FN Lock" They don't seem to get the question but that is not this group's concern. I miss the old Gateway.


Thanks again

Oppyusa said:

My next attempt with tech support will be "how do I turn off FN Lock" They don't seem to get the question but that is not this group's concern. I miss the old Gateway.


Thanks again

On many system that is a BIOS setting. On my HP laptop, as an example, I can set the default as Fn on or Fn off.

I don't want to discuss this here (wrong group) but I did the Bios thing. Nothing there and thoroughly locked down. I suspect, like mic thing, it can't be done. The computer is very idiosyncratic even though it has a standard windows install. It has a learning curve.