General Information, FAQs, and Quick "How To Guides"
      Back to home
      1. AvodahMed Knowledge Hub
      2. General Information, FAQs, and Quick "How To Guides"

      How to Update Microphone/Speaker Settings via Group Policy in Windows Server

      Prerequisites:

      • Administrative privileges on the Windows Server.
      • Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) installed.

      Step 1: Open Group Policy Management Console (GPMC)

      1. Press Win + R, type gpmc.msc, and hit Enter.
      2. In the left pane, navigate to Group Policy Objects.
      3. Right-click the appropriate Group Policy Object (GPO) or create a new one.
      4. Select Edit.

      Step 2: Adjust Microphone Settings

      1. In the Group Policy Editor, go to:
        • Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Device Installation > Device Installation Restrictions.
      2. Locate "Prevent installation of devices that match any of these device IDs" if you need to block or allow certain microphones.
      3. To manage microphone access for apps:
        • Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > App Privacy.
        • Find "Let Windows apps access the microphone" and select “Force Allow” in the dropdown.
        • You can also use "Specify allowed applications to access the microphone" to control app access, if you’d like.

      Step 3: Adjust Speaker Settings

      1. Navigate to:
        • Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Device Installation > Device Installation Restrictions.
      2. To manage audio devices:
        • Select "Allow installation of devices that match any of these device IDs" if necessary.
      3. Alternatively, go to:
        • Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Sound Recorder.
        • Adjust settings based on organizational needs.

      Step 4: Manage Audio Input/Output Permissions

      1. Navigate to:
        • User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Sound.
      2. Adjust:
        • "Allow or disallow device audio input/output changes".
        • "Allow or disallow microphone access changes".

      Step 5: Apply and Update Group Policy

      1. After making the changes, click OK to close the Group Policy Editor.
      2. Open a command prompt with administrative privileges.
      3. Run the following command to force an update across the domain:

      gpupdate /force


      1. Verify the changes on client machines by checking microphone and speaker settings.

      Additional Tips:

      • For remote or hybrid setups, consider configuring Remote Desktop Session Host settings under:
        • Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Device and Resource Redirection.
        • Configure "Allow audio and video playback redirection" and "Allow audio recording redirection" accordingly.