How to fix 'Microphone unavailable' error for Recognize Music on Mac?

Newcompguy12 wrote:

Previously, using my Imacs, the music recognition worked when I had headphones on so it must have been listening to an internal source?

That is correct, because iMacs have built-in mics; Mac minis do not. So it will only work when your Logitech cam/mic is plugged in. Although it sounds like it still isn’t working for you when plugged in…

Does it work fine on Zoom, like other people can hear you ok? Can you connect the Logitech to your Mac, and then go to the Sounds menu in System Settings that brbo suggested earlier? If you click on “Input,” does it show the mic? And more importantly, if you make some noise, do some of the bars light up, as shown in my example below?

Mmmm... thank you for your thoroughness in checking and replying.

With that info... now wondering whether your settings allow access to the microphone from the third-party source you mention ( "music playing on a vlc file (like a tv show on a vlc file")

See System Settings > Privacy and Security> Microphone > to check whether vlc can access the microphone ok

For online sources: Try Safari > Settings > Websites > Microphone

Re: Recognize Music not working .... "No result We were unable to find anything." ...

"Microphone unavailable. Connect a microphone or check system preferences."

(1) You could check Apple Menu > System Settings > Sound > Check the input / output Volume and Balance

The settings / sliders would likely need to be set somewhere need the middle.

(2) Wondering what other apps may be open, and using the microphone ... eg: Voice memos / Game apps etc.

ie: You could check whether quitting those apps while playing music can help.

(3) If you haven't seen it already: Wondering wherher adding "Recognize Music" to Control Centre can help:

Use your Apple device to identify what song is playing - Apple Support

Eg: says:

"Use Music Recognition on Mac

You can add Music Recognition to Control Centre or the menu bar for faster access.

1. To add Music Recognition to Control Centre and the menu bar:

• • Click Control Centre in the menu bar, then click Edit Controls.
  • In the window that opens, click Recognise Music under Sounds. Or enter Recognise Music in the Search Controls field.
  • Drag the Recognise Music control to add it to Control Centre or the menu bar.

1. To identify songs playing around you or on your device when you’re wearing headphones:

• • Open Control Centre and click Recognise Music, or click the Recognise Music button in the menu bar if you’ve added it.
  • Click Recognise Music.

1. To see a list of the songs you’ve identified, click Recognise Music in Control Centre or click the Recognise Music button in the menu bar if you’ve added it, then scroll down the list."

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Article also says:

"Check if your songs are being backed up":

• • On Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Settings, click Apple Account, click iCloud, then click See All next to Saved to iCloud. Make sure Music Recognition is turned on. 

If you choose not to back up your songs in iCloud, they’ll still be saved on your device. You can back up your songs to iCloud at any time, unless you restore your device to its factory settings or get a new device."

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More info:

See how to: Identify a song using the Shazam app or Shazam Music Recognition on Mac - Apple Support

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Music Support website: (info. / support / contat options etc. : Music - Official Apple Support

Thank you for your reply, and for your patience in trouble-shooting.

Seems we may be overlooking some other small, but necessary detail.

Wondering which Mac mini model you use, and which MacOS version is installed.

If you happen to have a Chromium web-browser (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera, or Vivaldi) installed on your Mac:

seems Shazam has a browser-extension you could use for assisting with online music recognition. More info: Identify a song on the web - Apple Support

Resource: Shazam User Guide - Apple Support

Also: VPN is notorious for causing interference in various ways. If installed, you could try turning if off (or use an un-installer) to see if that makes a difference.

Thank you kindly for your reply, and for the info, you thoughtfully supplied.

Thank you too, to stevejobsfan0123 for joining the discussion & providing useful troubleshooting suggestions.

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Re "I do use Cyberghost, but rarely, so it's almost always off".

Wondering if it could still be running quietly in the background, even when turned off

You may want to browse through this User Tip about the use of VPN

It was written by a well-respected community user:

VPN: What you need to know - Apple Community

Eg: Towards the end, says:

"There are two legitimate purposes for using VPN:

• To allow access to a private network such as a school or business when you are not on site. 
• To allow access outside of a country with a repressive government that has restricted Internet access. (This has suddenly become more important)

Any other use is risky, and can lead to problems. VPN disguises your location by making you appear to be somewhere else in the world. But you usually can’t control that “somewhere else”, and if it is in a location that an app isn’t approved for the app won’t work. "

What kind of microphone do you have connected to the Mac mini?