A number of factors can lead to this issue, including faulty updates, outdated/corrupt audio drivers, and applications that don’t have access to the microphone. Below, we have listed six troubleshooting methods that are likely to help you get rid of this issue for good in no time.
For the purpose of saving time, we recommend going through the troubleshooting methods first and moving on to the most appropriate one that suits your situation.
1. Run the Speech Troubleshooter
If you encounter any kind of speech-related issues on Windows, then the first thing you should do is run the Speech troubleshooter built into Windows.
Microsoft has developed this utility to specifically look for speech-related issues within the system and fix them without requiring much effort from the users. You can access it in Windows Settings app.
Here is how you can run it:
Press Win + I together to open Windows Settings. Choose Troubleshoot from the left pane. Click on Other troubleshooters. In the following window, scroll down to locate the Speech troubleshooter. Click on the Run button associated with it and wait for the scanning to complete. If any problems are identified, click on Apply this fix to implement the solution suggested by the troubleshooter.
If the troubleshooter fails to identify any issues, jump to the next method below.
2. Uninstall the Recent Update
Some users also reported facing the issue because of a recently installed update. This issue is commonly related to the KB5014697 and KB5014699 updates, so if you have installed any of those, we recommend you uninstall the update. Hopefully, it will fix the problem.
However, if you do not know which update might be causing the problem, then you can try uninstalling the most recent update and see if that does the trick for you.
Once you uninstall the problematic update, make sure you hide it to prevent it from installing itself in the future.
3. Update Audio and Microphone Drivers
Another reason why you might be facing the Speech Diagnostic Calibrate error is because of outdated or corrupt audio or microphone drivers. If this scenario is applicable in your case, then updating the relevant drivers should do the trick for you.
If that does not work, you can try reinstalling the drivers and see if that fixes the issue.
Here is how to proceed:
Type Device Manager in Windows search and click Open. In the following window, look for the Audio inputs and outputs section and expand it. Right-click on the microphone driver and choose Update driver. Choose Browse my computer for driver and pick an old driver available. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed. If you do not have an old driver available, choose Search automatically for drivers instead and let your system pick a driver itself. Once done, expand the Sound and Video Game Controller section in the same window. Locate your audio driver and right-click on it. Update it as well by following the steps above and then check if this resolves the speech issue you are encountering.
If this does not fix the problem, you can try reinstalling the driver software from scratch. If the issue is indeed driver-related, then a clean install will hopefully help you fix the problem.
4. Set Microphone as the Default Device
If your microphone is not already set as the default device, your computer is likely to have issues while picking up your speech. The solution, in this case, is simple, as all you need to do is make a few changes in the Control Panel.
Follow these steps to proceed:
Type Control Panel in Windows search and click Open. Change the View as Category to Large icons. Now, head over to Speech Recognition > Advanced speech options. Choose Audio Input under Microphone. Move to the Playback tab and right-click on the microphone you are using. Choose Enable. Right-click on it again and choose Set as Default Device and Set as Default Communication Device from the context menu this time. Now, go to the Recording tab and right-click on the microphone you are using. Choose Set as Default Device and Set as Default Communication Device from the context menu. Click OK to save the changes. Next, click on Configure Microphone in the Speech Microphone dialog and choose your microphone. Finally, click OK to save the changes and check if the issue is resolved.
5. Modify Your Language Settings
Speech Diagnostic Calibrate error might also appear when you are using a language other than the system’s default language.
You can verify if you are using the correct language in the Speech section of Windows settings. In case you are not a native speaker of the language you have selected, you can checkmark the box associated with Recognize non-native accents for this language in the same window.
6. Allow Apps to Access Your Microphone
There is also a chance that the application you want to use does not allow your microphone to access it. You can manually allow the app to access the microphone to fix the problem.
Type Microphone privacy settings in Windows search and click Open. Turn the toggle on for Microphone access and Let apps access your microphone. Expand the Let apps access your microphone option and enable microphone access for the app you want to use.
Speech Diagnostic Calibrate Error, Fixed for Good
If you use your microphone often, it can be frustrating when it stops picking up your speech out of nowhere and throws an unknown ‘Speech Diagnostic Calibrate’ error.
We hope one of the methods mentioned above helped you resolve this issue for good. To steer clear of such future problems, ensure the relevant drivers always stay up-to-date and the targeted applications have permission to access your microphone.
