Zoom audio problems split into two categories: you can't hear others, or others can't hear you. The fixes are different for each, so figure out which one you're dealing with before working through the list.
If you can't hear anyone
1. Check Zoom's audio output device
Click the small arrow next to the mic icon in the bottom-left of the Zoom window and confirm the right speaker or headset is selected under Select a Speaker. Zoom sometimes defaults to a device you're not actually using, especially after plugging in or unplugging headphones.
2. Check your system volume separately
Zoom has its own volume slider in Settings > Audio, separate from your system volume. If one is muted or turned down, you'll hear nothing even if the other looks fine.
If others can't hear you
3. Check your microphone selection
Same arrow next to the mic icon — confirm the right input device is selected under Select a Microphone. If you're using a USB headset, it should appear by name; if Zoom is still pointing at your laptop's built-in mic, that's usually the issue.
4. Check if you're muted somewhere unexpected
Some headsets have a physical mute switch or button separate from Zoom's own mute toggle. If Zoom shows you as unmuted but people still can't hear you, check the hardware itself before anything else.
5. Test your mic outside Zoom
Use your operating system's built-in sound settings (Windows: Settings > System > Sound > Input; Mac: System Settings > Sound > Input) to check if your mic is picking up audio at all, independent of Zoom. If it's silent there too, this is a hardware or driver issue, not a Zoom problem.
Tip: run Zoom's built-in audio test before any important call. Go to Settings > Audio and click Test Speaker and Test Mic — it'll catch most issues before you're live.
6. Update audio drivers
Outdated audio drivers cause inconsistent behavior that's hard to diagnose otherwise — devices that work in some apps but not others. Check Device Manager (Windows) under Sound, video and game controllers and update if anything shows a warning icon.
7. Restart Zoom's audio engine
Fully quit Zoom (not just close the window), unplug and replug your headset or microphone, then reopen Zoom. This forces Zoom to re-detect your audio devices from scratch, which resolves a surprising number of one-off audio glitches.
The bottom line
Most Zoom audio issues come down to the wrong device being selected, not a deeper problem. Check the device dropdowns first — that resolves the majority of cases before you need to touch drivers or settings.