On HP Spectre laptops, the built-in microphone sits by the webcam on the top bezel; some models add extra mics near the keyboard or edges.
HP’s Spectre line hides its mics cleanly, so spotting them at a glance isn’t always easy. The good news: once you know the telltale signs and a couple of quick checks in Windows, you can find the exact spot in under a minute and confirm the mic is the one your apps are using.
What You’re Looking For
Most Spectre models use a dual-array setup. Look for one or two tiny pinholes flanking the webcam on the display’s top border. Those holes may sit just left and right of the camera or slightly offset. Convertible models can add supplementary pinholes along the chassis near the hinges or on the palm-rest edges to help with beamforming in tablet mode.
Why this layout? The webcam cluster gives the microphone a direct line to your voice during video calls. HP’s product pages and specs regularly list an “integrated dual array digital microphone” paired with the “True Vision” or “Wide Vision” camera, which is a strong hint that the array lives in that camera cluster. You’ll see this language in official specs for various Spectre generations.
HP Spectre Microphone Placement Guide (With Checks)
Use this quick routine to find the physical mic openings and verify the active input in Windows:
Step 1: Scan The Bezels
- Open the lid to a comfortable angle under good lighting.
- Inspect the top bezel around the webcam. You’re looking for one or two pinholes or a fine grille. Some finishes make them subtle; tilt the screen to catch reflections.
- If you don’t see anything up top, check the bottom bezel near the hinges and the keyboard deck edges. Convertible Spectres sometimes tuck a small hole there for secondary pickup.
Step 2: Confirm In Windows Settings
- Right-click the speaker icon → Sound settings → under Input, select the device that includes “microphone array,” “Realtek,” or “Intel Smart Sound.” Speak and watch the level meter move.
- If apps can’t hear you, review the privacy toggles. Microsoft documents the exact switches under Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone. See app permissions for your microphone.
Step 3: Use The Keyboard Mic-Mute Key
Many Spectre keyboards include a mic-mute function key with an LED. Tap it once; a brief on-screen overlay or an amber light confirms the toggle. It’s a handy way to prove you’re interacting with the internal mic and not a headset. HP’s community threads reference this behavior across Spectre models, including the LED indicator on the mic-mute key.
Model-By-Model Cues You Can Trust
Since the Spectre family spans years and sizes, placements vary slightly. These quick cues will steer you:
13-Inch Spectre x360 (aw/ax series)
Expect the mic pair around the webcam on the top bezel. HP’s spec pages list the camera with an integrated dual array mic, signaling top-bezel placement.
14-Inch Spectre x360 (ea/ef/eu series)
Again, look to the camera cluster. Newer 14-inch units advertise collaboration features and “dual-array digital microphone,” matching the same bezel-top arrangement. Retail and support pages reinforce the pairing.
15-Inch Spectre x360
You’ll see the same pattern on older 15-inch convertibles: dual array near the webcam, with occasional secondary pinholes closer to the hinges aiding voice pickup in tent or tablet mode. HP’s support listings and community notes align with this behavior.
How To Prove You’ve Found The Right Openings
Seeing the holes is only step one. Use these quick checks to be sure those holes feed the active input:
Mute Test
- Press the mic-mute key. If the Windows input meter drops to zero, you’re controlling the internal array.
- If the key light stays lit or doesn’t work, it can be a hotkey/driver quirk. Community threads show fixes with hotkey driver updates and HP Support Assistant refreshes.
Proximity Test
- Open Sound settings, speak softly, then move closer to the suspected pinholes. The input level should rise. Cover the holes briefly; the level should dip.
- Rotate the display into stand or tablet mode; see if pickup stays steady—convertibles balance arrays for these postures.
Windows Settings That Commonly Hide A “Working” Mic
Plenty of “mic not working” reports boil down to software switches, not dead hardware. If your Spectre seems silent, run through HP’s official checklist and Microsoft’s guidance:
- Verify the mic is selected as the default input, and the input volume isn’t near zero.
- Grant app access in Privacy & security → Microphone (per Microsoft’s guide above).
- Run HP’s recommended workflow for Windows 11 microphone issues: it walks through hardware checks, input selection, and driver refresh. See HP’s microphone troubleshooting for Windows 11.
Why Spectre Models Favor The Top Bezel
Placing the array by the camera lines up the pickup pattern with your mouth during calls. Dual pinholes enable noise reduction and directional capture. HP’s Spectre specs consistently pair the webcam with a named dual-array mic, which matches this layout choice. You’ll see that phrasing across multiple Spectre generations in official product spec pages.
Typical Spots By Size And Generation
Use this table as a quick locator when you’re helping someone or checking a new unit. It summarizes the most common placements described above and reflected in HP’s specs for each family.
| Spectre Family | Typical Mic Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 13-inch x360 (aw/ax) | Top bezel near webcam | Listed as “integrated dual array” with the camera in HP specs. |
| 14-inch x360 (ea/ef/eu) | Top bezel; some add side/hinge pinholes | Market pages and support docs mention dual-array mics for collaboration features. |
| 15-inch x360 | Top bezel; occasional hinge-area assist | Older threads and manuals align with webcam-cluster placement. |
Practical Tips For Better Pickup
Angle And Distance
Keep the screen angled so the webcam points at your eyes. That same angle favors the array’s pickup. Sit a forearm’s length from the screen; closer helps in noisy rooms.
Cut Background Noise
Close nearby apps that grab the mic, switch a loud fan to a lower setting, and keep the laptop off soft surfaces that reflect sound oddly. Many Spectres ship with noise reduction enabled, but room noise still matters.
Choose The Right Device In Apps
Apps like Zoom or Teams keep their own input dropdown. Pick the “microphone array” entry there as well, then speak to verify the in-app meter moves. If it doesn’t, return to Windows input settings and test again.
When The Mic “Exists” But Nothing Records
If the input device appears yet no sound comes through, work down this short list:
- Toggle the mic-mute key once or twice to clear a stuck state.
- Check Privacy & security → Microphone for both global and app toggles (see Microsoft’s page linked above).
- Update the audio driver through Device Manager or HP Support Assistant. HP’s microphone guide includes this step.
Signs You’re Looking At The Wrong Hole
Laptop lids have other tiny openings: ambient light sensors, camera LEDs, and camera shutters. If covering the suspected hole doesn’t change the input meter, you likely found a sensor or LED window, not the mic. The real mic hole is often unlabelled and sits just off the camera ring.
How To Confirm Hardware vs. Software Trouble
Still unsure whether the array itself is okay? This quick split test helps:
- Hardware healthy: Input meter moves in Windows; the mic works in one app but not another. Fix the app’s input dropdown or reinstall the app.
- Software/driver snag: Input meter is dead everywhere. Reinstall or update the audio driver, then reboot. HP’s Windows 11 guide lists the sequence.
Why Some Articles Say “By The Keyboard”
On a few convertible builds, makers use extra pinholes on the deck to keep pickup steady when the display flips around. You might see a small grille on the palm-rest edge or near the hinges to help capture sound in tablet or tent mode. The primary array still lives up top on most Spectres; the deck holes supplement it.
Proof In The Specs: What HP Publishes
HP’s own product specifications repeatedly mention a webcam paired with an integrated dual-array mic. That phrasing appears in Spectre spec sheets across years, including 13-inch and 13-aw devices, which ties the mics to the camera housing. You can check any specific SKU’s page for the same language.
Still Can’t Find It? Do This
If you’ve scanned the bezels and deck and you’re still stumped, use Windows as a “metal detector”:
- Open Sound settings → speak while slowly moving a fingertip across each tiny hole around the camera. Watch for dips on the input meter when you cover the right spot.
- Rotate into stand mode and repeat. If the meter steadies when you speak directly toward the top bezel, you’ve found the main array.
- If the meter never moves, run through HP’s step-by-step microphone troubleshooting page to catch a permissions or driver issue.
Quick References
For policy toggles and app permissions on Windows 11, see Microsoft’s official page linked earlier. For HP’s comprehensive mic checks on Windows 11, use the HP support document linked above. Both sources walk you through exact screens and buttons with current screenshots.
Bottom Line For Spectre Owners
The main microphone lives in the webcam cluster on the display. Secondary pinholes can appear near the hinges or deck on some convertibles. Verify the active input in Windows, keep the mic-mute key in mind, and you’re set for calls without guesswork. If audio goes silent, HP’s guide and Microsoft’s privacy switches solve most cases in a minute or two.