MicMonitor

As much as we wish to avoid any technical difficulties, the unpredictable nature of life alongside potential hardware and software compatibility issues can sometimes cause problems when tackling various responsibilities, which is why using programs the likes of MicMonitor can be a necessary precaution.

In their quest to modernize Windows for the purpose of streamlining the user experience and preventing eye-sores when having to adjust certain settings, Microsoft has yet to update a considerable number of Control Panel-powered option sections, which also happen to lack a dynamic dark mode.

On top of that, accessing some of them involves needlessly navigating through several tabs and separate floating windows, making it difficult to carry out time-sensitive tasks. In seeing the lack of straightforward shortcuts for a number of niche functions, the app at hand takes it upon itself to fulfill that gap.

By leveraging the power of what can arguably be considered one of the best utilities ever created for Windows, anyone can craft highly personalized AutoHotKey scripts and package them in a standalone format before sharing them online for others to solve similar issues.

When it comes to internet-powered communication, those who wish to test if their microphone functions at optimal capacity before going online can avoid digging through the Settings app by double-clicking the program’s dedicated system tray icon to toggle the ability to “Listen to this device”.

Whether you wish to check what your newly purchased microphone sounds like in real-time or you want to make sure the system accepts input from it, MicMonitor may be the quickest shortcut to the relevant listening function.

While the app works well in its current version, automatically hiding the leftover legacy sound panel would be a great touch.