When you’re using a mobile headset microphone with a desktop computer, be sure to use the correct input method. Mobile headsets work best with voice commands, such as “mic up,” “mic down,” and “mic left/right.” However, some desktop computers have built-in microphones that can pick up sound from mobile headsets, so it’s important to make sure the computer is set up to receive sound from the headset properly. To set up your computer to receive sound from a mobile headset microphone, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Windows Control Panel and locate the Sound icon. This will open a dialog box that allows you to select which type of microphone your computer should use. If your desktop PC has an on-board mic, select it in this dialog box. If your desktop PC doesn’t have an on-board mic, you’ll need to purchase one or find an adapter that works with your mobile headset.
  2. In the Sound icon’s Properties dialog box, click on the Hardware tab and then click on the Input Method tab. In thistab, you’ll need to select which type of input method your mobile headset should be using when talking to your computer. You can either use voice commands or type in text commands into the text field below the keyboard shortcut for each input method (for example, “mic up” or “mic down”). The following table lists some common input methods and their corresponding keyboard shortcuts: Input Method Keyboard Shortcut Mic Up / Mic Down Voice Command Keyboard Shortcut Windows Key + W (left arrow key) Mic Left/Right Windows Key + V (right arrow key) Mic Up / Mic Down Voice Command Keyboard Shortcut Windows Key + I (left arrow key) Mic Left/Right

You’ve invested a lot of money into a pair of quality headphones with a built-in mic for your phone. Wouldn’t it be great if you could use it for gaming or VOIP calls on your desktop PC? Good news: You can.

The big obstacle to using your nice headphones or earbuds with a desktop PC is that most full-sized desktops separate headphone and microphone jacks, while phones and laptops combine them into a single 3.5mm port. So, you can either plug them into a desktop’s headphone audio-out port and listen or plug them into the microphone-in port and use them to speak—but, not both.

You can use Bluetooth if your headphones have them, but that connection is meant for mobile devices and isn’t really up to snuff regarding latency or quality. Luckily, high-end Bluetooth headphones generally have a line-in option that makes them wired for older gadgets and times when the battery dies. We suggest using it for any PC applications.

Once you have your cable adapter, just plug your headphones into the female port and the male ports into the appropriate jacks on your computer. These are generally color-coded—pink for the microphone, green for the headphones or speakers—if they don’t have icons near the port. Next, choose the correct audio sources in Windows, and you’re good to go.

These adapters aren’t 100% guaranteed to work—there’s enough variation among mobile headphones that you might run into a pairing that’s incompatible. But they’re inexpensive enough that it’s not a big deal if you get unlucky. If you want something a little more reliable with some easy controls for volume and mute, you can get an inexpensive USB sound card. Some models, like this one, add the combined port your desktop is lacking.

It’s too bad that there’s not a software solution to this problem, but a few dollars for some extra hardware is a small price for being able to use your headphones (and their built-in mic) everywhere.