This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hello everyone,
I’m using a ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5 and recently ran into an issue after upgrading to Windows 11 version 24H2. The microphone volume is incredibly low, making voice communication nearly impossible on apps like Discord or during calls.
After thorough troubleshooting, including reinstalling Windows, I identified the problem: a compatibility issue between Windows 11 24H2 and Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST) audio drivers. The "Audio Enhancements" option, typically found under System > Sound > Microphone Properties, is also missing in this version.
When I revert to Windows 11 version 23H2, the microphone works perfectly, and the "Audio Enhancements" option reappears. However, updating to 24H2 causes the issue to resurface, which aligns with previous reports of Intel SST causing compatibility problems on Windows 11.
I submitted feedback through the Feedback Hub app, but I haven’t received any updates or acknowledgment yet. For now, I’ve reverted to version 23H2, but I hope Microsoft and Intel can address this with a driver update or patch soon.
If anyone has found a workaround or has more information, please share it here.
Thank you!
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Hello, yes indeed it works like that. Thank you very much for this tip because it saved my life. The microphone is still a little weak and of poor quality but I can be heard much better. I set the amplification to 20 db and it works quite well. I am still looking forward to Windows fixing the problem but in the meantime it helps a lot. Let me know if you found a better tip.
You're welcome, always a pleasure to help!
If I find something better or if Lenovo or Microsoft fixes the problem, I'll post here.
6 months I disable windows updates every 4 weeks and do rollback. How many time should I wait for microphone fix? May be fix already exists just nobody wrote about it here? Lenovo Vantage, or some settings, or some new drivers in Lenovo site which I missed? Guys, you are in the same situation - just patient and wait for good news? I bought one of the best and expensive devices in the market and have to suffer :-(
I totally understand and share your frustration. There is no answer from Microsoft nor Lenovo yet, but I found a fix by manually boost the microphone with EqualizerAPO. I uploaded the tutorial, it is a few messages before in this thread. I hope it will help your case, it helped mine and I have updated my PC now.
As an IT manager who manages hundreds of Lenovo laptops, this is an ongoing compatibility issue. Virtually every new Lenovo machine I buy (E16, Gen 1 Intel, Gen 2 Intel, or P1 Gen 6-7 will have this low microphone problem at some point in it's life, even though I prevent driver and Windows updates via Intune. It's gotten to the point where the Lenovo provided drivers do not work using a fresh ISO install of Windows 11 from MS. The drivers installed by Microsoft update are no better. I have found no recourse for some machines other than using the Equalizer APO, which is a ridiculous oversight.
