Turn on mic only when key is pressed like a global push to talk (windows 10)

Is there a built in way in windows 10 to have the Mic off until I press a designated key?

If not, how can I achieve this?

2 Answers

No, there is no built in way, default to Windows, to control your mic with a single key.

There are plenty of software options that add this feature, some may even do it globally, system wide.

I'd recommend using a mature tool such as AutoHotKey, which has sound functions such as controlling volume. Turning the mic volume all the way down is the same as turning it off:

These are the scripts I used to toggle the Mic using AutoHotKey: Based on this post on their forums

pushtotalk.ahk

#include togglemic.ahk
$~ctrl:: ; read docs to replace this for your preferred hotkey ToggleMic() keyWait, ctrl ToggleMic()
return

togglemic.ahk

ToggleMic(){
; 3 is my mic id number, run findmicid.ahk to find yours and replace 3 for your id
SoundSet, +1, MASTER, mute,3
SoundGet, master_mute, , mute, 3
; uncomment bellow to show tooltips
; ToolTip, Mute %master_mute%
; SetTimer, RemoveToolTip, 1000
; return
; RemoveToolTip:
; SetTimer, RemoveToolTip, Off
; ToolTip
; return
}

findmicid.ahk

SetBatchLines -1
SplashTextOn,,, Gathering Soundcard Info...
; Most of the pure numbers below probably don't exist in any mixer, but they're queried for completeness.
; The numbers correspond to the following items (in order): CUSTOM, BOOLEANMETER, SIGNEDMETER, PEAKMETER,
; UNSIGNEDMETER, BOOLEAN, BUTTON, DECIBELS, SIGNED, UNSIGNED, PERCENT, SLIDER, FADER, SINGLESELECT, MUX,
; MULTIPLESELECT, MIXER, MICROTIME, MILLITIME
ControlTypes = VOLUME,ONOFF,MUTE,MONO,LOUDNESS,STEREOENH,BASSBOOST,PAN,QSOUNDPAN,BASS,TREBLE,EQUALIZER,0x00000000, 0x10010000,0x10020000,0x10020001,0x10030000,0x20010000,0x21010000,0x30040000,0x30020000,0x30030000,0x30050000,0x40020000,0x50030000,0x70010000,0x70010001,0x71010000,0x71010001,0x60030000,0x61030000
ComponentTypes = MASTER,HEADPHONES,DIGITAL,LINE,MICROPHONE,SYNTH,CD,TELEPHONE,PCSPEAKER,WAVE,AUX,ANALOG,N/A
; Create a ListView and prepare for the main loop:
Gui, Add, Listview, w400 h400 vMyListView, Component Type|Control Type|Setting|Mixer
LV_ModifyCol(4, "Integer")
SetFormat, Float, 0.2 ; Limit number of decimal places in percentages to two.
Loop ; For each mixer number that exists in the system, query its capabilities.
{ CurrMixer := A_Index SoundGet, Setting,,, %CurrMixer% if ErrorLevel = Can't Open Specified Mixer ; Any error other than this indicates that the mixer exists. break ; For each component type that exists in this mixer, query its instances and control types: Loop, parse, ComponentTypes, `, { CurrComponent := A_LoopField ; First check if this component type even exists in the mixer: SoundGet, Setting, %CurrComponent%,, %CurrMixer% if ErrorLevel = Mixer Doesn't Support This Component Type continue ; Start a new iteration to move on to the next component type. Loop ; For each instance of this component type, query its control types. { CurrInstance := A_Index ; First check if this instance of this instance even exists in the mixer: SoundGet, Setting, %CurrComponent%:%CurrInstance%,, %CurrMixer% ; Checking for both of the following errors allows this script to run on older versions: if ErrorLevel in Mixer Doesn't Have That Many of That Component Type,Invalid Control Type or Component Type break ; No more instances of this component type. ; Get the current setting of each control type that exists in this instance of this component: Loop, parse, ControlTypes, `, { CurrControl := A_LoopField SoundGet, Setting, %CurrComponent%:%CurrInstance%, %CurrControl%, %CurrMixer% ; Checking for both of the following errors allows this script to run on older versions: if ErrorLevel in Component Doesn't Support This Control Type,Invalid Control Type or Component Type continue if ErrorLevel ; Some other error, which is unexpected so show it in the results. Setting := ErrorLevel ComponentString := CurrComponent if CurrInstance > 1 ComponentString = %ComponentString%:%CurrInstance% LV_Add("", ComponentString, CurrControl, Setting, CurrMixer) } ; For each control type. } ; For each component instance. } ; For each component type.
} ; For each mixer.
Loop % LV_GetCount("Col") ; Auto-size each column to fit its contents. LV_ModifyCol(A_Index, "AutoHdr")
SplashTextOff
Gui, Show
return
GuiClose:
ExitApp

• So you first change your mic volume to an arbitrary number easy to recognize, then run findmicid.ahk, your id will be next to the arbitrary mic volume you just set.

• Set your mic id in togglemic.ahk

• Change the hotkey in pushtotalk.ahk, run it.

That should be it, hope it helps someone looking for the same functionality.