Copilot can’t hear the interviewer on Windows

Interview Pilot listens to two things on your PC: the interviewer, through your default playback device, and you, through your default communications microphone. It can’t choose other devices, so when the interviewer doesn’t appear in the transcript, it’s almost always one of the checks below.

The interviewer

Screen & System Audio

You

Microphone

Interview Pilot

1. Play the meeting through your default playback device

Interview Pilot hears whatever Windows plays through its default playback device. If your meeting app plays through a different device, Interview Pilot can’t hear the interviewer.

1. Check the default playback device

   Open Settings › System › Sound. Under Output, choose the speakers or headphones you’ll hear the interview through.

2. Match it in your meeting app

   In your meeting app’s audio settings, choose the same speaker, or the option that follows your system’s default if the app has one.

Windows may switch the default device when you connect headphones, so check again after you plug them in or connect them over Bluetooth.

2. Check your default communications microphone

Windows can have a separate default microphone for calls, called the default communication device. Interview Pilot uses that one to hear you.

1. Open the Sound control panel. On Windows 11, go to Settings › System › Sound and click More sound settings. On Windows 10, go to Settings › System › Sound and click Sound Control Panel.
2. On the Recording tab, right-click the microphone you use and choose Set as Default Communication Device.

3. Start recording again after changing devices

Interview Pilot picks up your default devices each time recording starts. If you change a device during a recording, stop it and start again:

1. If the button next to Answer says Clear, click it. This empties the transcript.
2. Click Stop.
3. Click Start.

4. Make sure the meeting is playing on this PC

Interview Pilot hears the audio your PC plays. If you joined the call on another device, such as your phone or a second computer, Interview Pilot on this PC won’t hear the interviewer.

Before your interview, play any video with sound on your PC, click Start in Interview Pilot and check that the words appear in the transcript.

5. If you see a message

Message	What it means and what to do
System audio unavailable at the top of the transcript	Interview Pilot can’t hear your PC’s audio but still hears your microphone. Check that your playback device is connected and is the default, as in check 1, then start recording again.
Microphone unavailable at the top of the transcript	Interview Pilot can’t use your microphone but still hears your PC’s audio. Check that your microphone is connected and is the default communication device, as in check 2, then start recording again.
Audio capture stopped. Check that your microphone and playback device are available, then start recording again.	Recording stopped because Interview Pilot lost its audio devices. Check that they’re connected, then click Start.
The main button says Enable Permissions	Interview Pilot isn’t allowed to use the microphone. Click the button and allow microphone access.

Still not hearing the interviewer?

Restart your PC, then try the video test in check 4 again. If the interviewer still doesn’t come through, email us with your Windows version, your meeting app, the headphones or speakers you use and any message you see.