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Google Search by Voice not working in Chrome [Fix]

In this guide, we will show you various methods to fix the issue of Google Search by Voice not working in Chrome. This browser from the Silicon Valley giant beholds a slew of nifty features up its sleeves. While it still hogs some additional memory resources in comparison with its counterpart, however, it has greatly improved in this domain in the past couple of years.

Google Search by Voice not working in Chrome

Apart from that, its deep integration into the Google ecosystem has proven to be of great help to the end users. But in spite of all the goodies that it has to offer, it isn’t free from its fair share either. As of now, various users have voiced their concern that the Google Search by Voice functionality is not working in their Chrome browser.

Google Search by Voice not working in Chrome

When they click on the microphone icon, it flashes and brings up the ‘Speak Now’ text. Likewise, the words the user speak get typed on the screen, but then that query doesn’t proceed to the search results. If you are also currently getting bugged with this issue, then this guide shall help you out. Follow along for the fixes.

Fix Google Search by Voice not working in Chrome

Google Search by Voice not working in Chrome

It is recommended that you try out each of the below-mentioned workarounds and then see which one spells out success for you. So with that in mind, let’s get started.

FIX 1: Toggle Microphone Permission

First and foremost, you should consider disabling and then re-enabling the microphone permission for the browser. This will refresh its underlying settings and could hence resolve the issue. So let’s give it a try and test out the results.

  1. Launch Chrome and head over to the below location
    chrome://settings/content/microphone
  2. Then select Don’t Allow sites to use your microphone.Google Search by Voice not working in Chrome
  3. Now restart the browser and then select Sites can ask to use your microphone.
  4. Check if it fixes the Google Search by Voice not working issue in Chrome.

FIX 2: Manually Invoke Microphone Permission

Next up, you should consider manually invoking the microphone permission for the concerned site, which in this case is Google Search. Here’s how it could be done

  1. Launch Chrome and head over to the below location
    chrome://settings/content/microphone
  2. Then select Don’t Allow sites to use your microphone.Google Search by Voice not working in Chrome
  3. Now head over to the Google Search page and click on the Microphone icon.
  4. It will bring up the permission pop-up at the top left, click Allow.Google Search by Voice not working in Chrome
  5. Check if it fixes the Google Search by Voice not working issue in Chrome.

FIX 3: Change Default Microphone

If you have more than one microphone, then you should consider switching over to a different one and then check if it works out or not. Here’s how it could be done

  1. Launch Chrome and head over to the below location
    chrome://settings/content/microphone

    Google Search by Voice not working in Chrome

  2. Then switch over to a different microphone from the drop-down menu.
  3. Check if it fixes the Google Search by Voice not working issue in Chrome.

FIX 4: Run Program Compatibility Troubleshooter

Windows comes with quite a few troubleshooter apps, and one of them focuses specifically on app compatibility-related issues. As of now, we will be using this app to identify the issues related to Chrome and subsequently get hold of the ways to resolve those issues as well. Follow along.

  1. Bring up the Settings menu via Windows+I shortcut keys.
  2. Then select System from the left menu bar and go to Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooter.
  3. After that, scroll to the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter and click Run next to it.
    Google Search by Voice not working in Chrome
  4. Now select Google Chrome from the list and hit Next.
    Google Search by Voice not working in Chrome
  5. The troubleshooter will now run, scan for underlying issues, and will then bring up the associated fixes.
  6. So click on the fix to implement it and then restart your PC for the changes to take place.
  7. Now check if it fixes the Google Search by Voice not working issue in Chrome.

FIX 5: Disable Chrome Extensions

Extensions are notoriously infamous for causing conflicts with the proper functioning of the browser. Therefore, you should consider disabling all these extensions and then check if it rectifies the underlying issue or not

  1. Use the Windows+R shortcut keys to open Run.
  2. Then type in the below command and hit Enter
    chrome.exe --disable-extensions

    Google Search by Voice not working in Chrome

  3. It will now launch Chrome with all the extensions disabled.
  4. Check if it fixes the Google Search by Voice not working issue in Chrome.
  5. If the issue has been fixed, then the culprit was indeed an extension.
  6. So head over to chrome://extensions and enable one extension at a time, until you are able to re-create the issue.Google Search by Voice not working in Chrome
  7. Once that happens, go and check out the last enabled extension- and that would be your culprit.
  8. So it’s better to keep that extension disabled or rather remove it from the browser.

FIX 6: Open Chrome in Incognito

Not just the third-party add-ons, but the stored cookies and cache could also lead to a few issues in some instances. Therefore,  you should consider using the Incognito Mode so that the browser doesn’t end up collecting cookies and at the same time, all the extensions stand disabled. So launch Chrome and use the Ctrl+Shift+N shortcut keys to open an incognito window. Now try using the Google voice search feature and check if it is working in the Chrome browser or not.

Google Search by Voice not working in Chrome

FIX 7: Delete Chrome User Data

In case the stored browser data gets corrupted, then its repercussions will be felt by the browser. From favorites to bookmarks, or cookies and cache, issues with any of its data would have led to issues with the browser as a whole. Therefore, you should consider deleting all these data and letting the browser repopulate them from scratch, using your Google account. Here’s how:

  1. Launch Chrome and head over to the below location
    chrome://settings/clearBrowserData
  2. Then checkmark cookies and other site data and cached images and files.Google Search by Voice not working in Chrome
  3. Now click on the Clear Data button and wait for the process to complete.
  4. Check if it fixes the Google Search by Voice not working issue in Chrome.

FIX 8: Disable Firewall

In some cases, the Windows Firewall might raise a false positive and could end up blocking legitimate traffic from apps that are having access to the internet. But since the data exchange being taken place is from the Google search page, which is a legitimate source, you should temporary disabling the Firewall and then check out the results.

  1. Head over to the Start menu, search Windows Defender Firewall, and open it.
  2. Then click on Turn On/off Windows Defender Firewall from the left menu bar.
    Google Search by Voice not working in Chrome
  3. After that, select Turn off under both the Public and Private networks.
    Google Search by Voice not working in Chrome
  4. Now, check if it fixes the Google Search by Voice not working issue in Chrome.

FIX 9: Reinstall Google Chrome

If Chrome’s configuration or settings have got corrupted then deleting its data might not be enough. In such cases, you will have to uninstall and then reinstall the browser on your PC, using the below-given instructions.

  1. Bring up the Run menu via Windows+R shortcut keys.
  2. Then type in the below command and hit Enter:
    appwiz.cpl
  3. Now select Chrome from the list and hit Uninstall. Wait for the process to complete.
    Google Search by Voice not working in Chrome
  4. Once done, head over to the Chrome official site and download its latest version.
  5. Then proceed with the on-screen instructions to install it onto your PC.
  6. Now check if it fixes the Google Search by Voice not working issue in Chrome.

FIX 10: Downgrade Chrome

In rare instances, it could also be the case of a buggy update rolled out by the developer. To resolve it, you will have to downgrade to the earlier stable version that was free from this issue. To do so, please refer to our guide on How to Downgrade Google Chrome on Windows 11. Apart from that, you could also consider temporarily switching over to Chrome’s Canary/Beta/Dev build and then test out the results.

Google Search by Voice not working in Chrome

That’s it. These were the various methods to fix the Google Search by Voice not working issue in Chrome. Do let us know in the comments section which one spelled out success for you. Likewise, all your queries are welcomed in the comments section below.


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