Google Meet One-Way Audio Issue: You Can Be Heard but Cannot Hear the Other Participant (Chrome)

This Knowledge Base article explains how to diagnose and resolve one-way audio issues in Google Meet when:

• Your microphone and speakers are working

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• The other participant can hear you

• You cannot hear the other participant

• The affected user is using Google Chrome

This scenario typically indicates a speaker/output or permission issue on the other participant’s laptop, not a network or microphone fault.

Technical Explanation

In Google Meet, audio is handled through three independent layers:

1. Browser layer (Chrome)

   • Site permissions

   • Per-tab audio routing

   • Chrome volume mixer

2. Operating system layer (Windows/macOS)

   • Default output device

   • Volume mixer and mute state

   • Bluetooth / HDMI routing

3. Hardware layer

   • Laptop speakers

   • Headphones / Bluetooth headsets

   • Faulty or disconnected audio devices

A misconfiguration at any single layer can cause one-way audio, where audio is transmitted but not received.

Use Cases

This article applies to the following situations:

• Remote support or client calls

• Online meetings or training sessions

• Vendor or AMC coordination calls

• IT troubleshooting via Google Meet

• Calls where:

  • Mic test works

  • Speaker test fails

  • Audio works in other apps but not Meet

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting & Resolution

1️⃣ Verify Google Meet Audio Device Selection (Most Common Cause)

On the affected participant’s laptop:

1. Join the Google Meet call

2. Click ⋮ (three dots) → Settings

3. Open the Audio tab

4. Verify:

   • Microphone → correct device selected

   • Speakers → explicitly select:

     • Laptop Speakers

     • Headphones

     • External speakers
       ❌ Avoid using Default if multiple devices exist

5. Click Test under Speakers

   • If no sound plays → wrong output device selected

2️⃣ Check System Volume and Mute State (Windows)

1. Press Volume Up keys on keyboard

2. Click Speaker icon in system tray

3. Ensure:

   • System volume is not muted

   • Correct output device is shown

4. Open Volume Mixer

   • Ensure Google Chrome volume is not muted

3️⃣ Confirm Operating System Output Device

Windows:

1. Right-click Speaker icon → Sound settings

2. Under Output, select:

   • Laptop Speakers or Headphones

3. Click Test

   • If test sound fails → OS-level issue

macOS:

1. System Settings → Sound

2. Output → Select correct speaker

3. Increase output volume

4️⃣ Check Chrome Site Permissions for Google Meet

1. Open the Google Meet tab

2. Click ? Lock icon in address bar

3. Verify:

   • Sound → Allow

   • Microphone → Allow

4. Reload the page

5️⃣ Disconnect Headphones & Bluetooth Devices

Audio may be routed to an inactive device.

Actions:

• Disconnect Bluetooth headset

• Unplug wired headphones

• Disable HDMI audio output

• Restart Chrome

• Rejoin the meeting

6️⃣ Validate Audio Outside Google Meet

Ask the user to:

• Play a YouTube video

• Or play a system sound

Results interpretation:

7️⃣ Quick Recovery Procedure

1. Leave Google Meet

2. Close all Chrome windows

3. Reopen Chrome

4. Join the meeting again

5. Reconfigure Speaker & Microphone

Commands / Diagnostic Examples (Windows)

Open Sound Settings

ms-settings:sound

Open Volume Mixer

sndvol

Restart Windows Audio Service

net stop audiosrv
net start audiosrv

Common Issues & Fixes

Security Considerations

• Ensure microphone and speaker permissions are explicitly allowed

• Avoid using unknown browser extensions that modify audio

• Use updated Chrome versions to avoid audio bugs

• Avoid public/shared systems with enforced audio policies

Best Practices

• Always manually select speaker and mic in Google Meet

• Avoid using “Default” audio device in multi-device setups

• Disconnect unused Bluetooth devices before meetings

• Test audio before important calls

• Keep Chrome and OS audio drivers updated

Conclusion

One-way audio issues in Google Meet are almost never network-related.
In over 90% of cases, the cause is:

• Incorrect speaker selection

• Muted Chrome volume

• Audio routed to Bluetooth/HDMI

• Blocked site permissions

Following this structured troubleshooting approach resolves the issue quickly and reliably.