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macOS troubleshooting

Google Meet microphone not working in Chrome on Mac

Updated 2026-07-23

Meet in Chrome needs TWO permissions stacked: macOS must allow Chrome to use the microphone, and Chrome must allow meet.google.com to use it. If either layer is off you get 'microphone is blocked' or dead silence. Check macOS first (System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone > Google Chrome ON, then restart Chrome), then the camera icon in Chrome's address bar on the Meet tab.

Layer 1: macOS allows Chrome

  1. 1

    System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone.

  2. 2

    Toggle Google Chrome ON.

  3. 3

    Quit Chrome fully (Cmd+Q) and reopen - Chrome reads this at launch.

Layer 2: Chrome allows meet.google.com

  1. 1

    On the Meet tab, click the tune/camera icon at the left of the address bar.

  2. 2

    Set Microphone to Allow for meet.google.com.

  3. 3

    Reload the tab.

The one most people miss: Meet's own device picker

  1. 1

    In the call, click ⋮ > Settings > Audio.

  2. 2

    Check which microphone Meet selected - it remembers a PER-SITE choice and happily keeps a device you unplugged last week.

  3. 3

    Pick your actual mic. This per-site memory is why Meet can be silent while every other app works.

Still silent?

chrome://settings/content/microphone - make sure meet.google.com isn't under 'Not allowed', and the default device at the top is sensible.

Multiple Chrome profiles have separate site permissions. If Meet works in one profile and not another, grant the mic in the failing profile's settings.

Test at mictests.com in the same profile: if that fails too, the problem is layer 1 (macOS/Chrome), not Meet.

Frequently asked

Why does Meet say my microphone is blocked?

Chrome is blocking the site-level permission (layer 2). Click the icon left of the address bar, allow the microphone, reload. If Chrome itself has no mic access from macOS, fix that first and restart Chrome.

Meet worked yesterday and silently stopped - what changed?

Usually the device, not the permission: Meet's per-site device memory kept a mic that disconnected (AirPods, dock, USB). Open Meet's audio settings in the call and reselect the live device.

Do I need to restart Chrome after granting the macOS permission?

Yes. Chrome checks the macOS grant at launch. Granting while Chrome runs appears to do nothing until a full quit and reopen.

Google Meet Microphone Not Working in Chrome on Mac - Fix · Mac Note Taker