6 Best Fixes for Audio Not Recording on PowerPoint on Mac

If you have switched from a Windows PC to Mac, you can download and install Microsoft PowerPoint from App Store to keep working on your presentations. You can perform all the operations of PowerPoint on a Mac, like adding a password to your presentation.

You can also record an audio narration for your PowerPoint presentation to add more value and impact. But in case you cannot do that, here are some working solutions to fix PowerPoint not recording audio on Mac.

1. Check Microphone Permissions

Just like any app used to record audio on your Mac, PowerPoint would also require permission to use the microphone on your Mac. So if you can’t record audio on PowerPoint, here’s the first solution.

Step 1: Press Command + Spacebar to open Spotlight Search, type System Settings, and press Return.

Step 2: Click on Privacy and Security from the left menu.

Step 3: Scroll down and click on Microphone on the right side.

Step 4: Turn on the toggle next to PowerPoint to enable Microphone access.

Step 5: Close Settings and open PowerPoint to check if the problem is solved.

2. Check Audio Input Source

If your PowerPoint for Mac is still not recoding narrations, you need to check the audio input source. If you have connected different audio devices to your Mac, you need to select the right input source to record audio on PowerPoint. Most users will have to go with the default Microphone on Mac.

Step 1: Press Command + Spacebar keyboard shortcut to open Spotlight Search, type System Settings, and press Return.

Step 2: Click on Sound from the left menu.

Step 3: Scroll down and look for Input Source.

Step 4: Select the correct Input Source for recording your audio.

You can also speak and check the Input Level and adjust the Input Volume of your recording device.

Step 5: Close Settings and open PowerPoint to check if the problem is solved.

You can also read our post if the default microphone is not working on your Mac.

3. Check the External Microphone

If you use an external microphone to record your audio, you need to check if it is working properly. You can try connecting it again to your Mac depending on whether it is wired or wireless. If you wish to record a high-quality audio narration but that’s not happening with your external microphone, you can refer to our post that suggests some working solutions.

4. Force Quit and Relaunch PowerPoint

Sometimes a few changes you make in an app don’t apply if the app is running in the background. You can force quit and relaunch the app on your Mac. Case in point – Microsoft PowerPoint.

Step 1: Click the Apple icon at the top-left corner.

Step 2: Select Force Quit from the list of options.

Step 3: Select PowerPoint and click on Force Quit.

Step 4: Click on Force Quit again to confirm.

Step 5: Open PowerPoint again to check if the problem is solved.

5. Update the PowerPoint App

If you are still facing the same issue, you can update the version of PowerPoint on your Mac. This will hepl patch any bugs causing this issue. You can use the link below and check if the problem gets solved.

Update PowerPoint on Mac

6. Record Audio Using QuickTime Player

If none of the solutions work, we suggest using QuickTime Player to record your audio and attach it to your presentation. Here’s how.

Step 1: Press Command + Spacebar keyboard shortcut to open Spotlight Search, type QuickTime Player, and press Return.

Step 2: Right-click the QuickTime Player icon in the Dock and select New Audio Recording.

Step 3: Record your audio narration, close the window, and save the recording.

Step 4: Open your presentation in PowerPoint.

Step 5: Choose the slide where you want to place the audio clip. Then, click on Insert.

Step 6: Click on Audio on the right side.

Step 7: Select Audio From File.

Step 8: Select the audio file you just recorded and click on Insert.

Your audio narration will be saved in your presentation. Just click on it to start playing it during your presentation.

Use Audio For PowerPoint

These solutions will help when PowerPoint is not recording audio on your Mac. You can also read our post if PowerPoint is not getting saved on your Mac.