mic sounds horrible to others

Try the following steps to improve the microphone quality on the Surface Go tablet:

1. Adjust microphone levels in Windows
   1. Go to Start > Settings > Sound > Sound control panel.
   2. Open the Recording tab, select the internal mic, then select Properties.
   3. On the Levels tab, set Microphone to around 50 and Microphone Boost to about +24.0 dB as a starting point, then test and fine-tune. Too much boost can cause static and distortion.
2. Improve speech-to-noise ratio
   1. Move closer to the tablet’s microphone and make sure nothing (hand, case, cover) is blocking the mic opening.
   2. Use the tablet in as quiet a room as possible; built‑in mics pick up a lot of ambient noise.
   3. Turn down speaker volume or use headphones to avoid echo and “underwater” effects from the speakers feeding back into the mic.
3. Check for physical or placement issues
   1. Ensure the tablet is on a stable, flat surface when using speakerphone-style calls.
   2. If there is any sign of physical damage around the mic area, test with an external headset mic. If the external mic sounds fine but the internal still sounds bad, the internal mic hardware may be faulty.
4. Update or repair audio drivers (if quality is still bad)
   1. Update Surface drivers and firmware using Windows Update or by manually installing the latest drivers for the device.
   2. If issues persist, reinstall audio drivers via Device Manager (uninstall the audio device under Sound, video and game controllers, restart, and let Windows reinstall drivers), then retest the mic.

If, after these steps, the internal mic still sounds “underwater” while an external mic sounds normal, the issue is likely hardware and the device may need service.

References:

• Troubleshoot Surface sound and audio accessories
• Troubleshoot audio and video in Skype for Business
• Your microphone is capturing too much noise