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In the Tella web app, the Record button stays greyed out until Tella has something to record and can hear your microphone. Most of the time the cause is the microphone: the wrong one is selected, it’s muted, or it’s sending silence. Check the microphone button to the left of Record first.

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What a red microphone button means

When the microphone button has a red background, Tella can’t use your mic. It shows one of these:
  • A microphone with a warning icon: a mic is selected, but Tella hears no sound at all from it. It’s usually the wrong device, a muted headset, or a mic that isn’t plugged in.
  • A crossed-out microphone and “Unmute”: your mic is turned off in Tella. Click the button to turn it back on.
When your mic is working, the button isn’t red and the microphone icon moves while you speak. Microphone button with sound moving while you speak

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Pick the right microphone

  1. Click the small arrow in the top-right corner of the microphone button.
  2. Choose the microphone you’re actually using. If you recently switched headphones, a dock or a USB mic, Tella may still point at the old one.
  3. Say a few words. The icon should move, the red background should go away, and the Record button becomes clickable.
If your mic has a hardware mute button or switch, make sure it’s off.

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What a red camera icon means

A red, crossed-out camera with Start camera under it means your camera is off. To use a different camera, click the small arrow in the top-right corner of the camera button and pick it from the list.

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What you need turned on before Record works

The Record button turns on once Tella has something to record:
  • Camera and microphone: camera on, and the mic picking up sound.
  • Screen and microphone: a screen, window or tab shared, and the mic picking up sound.
  • Screen only: a screen, window or tab shared, with your camera off. Sound isn’t needed when the mic is off.
  • Slides: at least one slide added and selected. With your camera off and your mic on, the mic also needs to pick up sound. With your camera on, your mic needs to be on too.
Record stays greyed out with only your camera on, with your camera on and your screen shared or slides selected but your mic turned off, or with only your mic on. Turn on your mic and make sure it’s picking up sound, or turn off your camera and share only your screen. If you’re recording slides with your camera off and your mic on, the mic also needs to pick up sound.

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Microphone allowed but still no sound on Windows?

Windows can block the microphone even when your browser allows it. Open Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone and check that Microphone access and Let desktop apps access your microphone are on, then reload the Tella tab. Also close other apps that might be using the mic, like Zoom, Teams or OBS. For browser permissions, see Permissions for camera, mic & screen. For more device checks, see Debug camera and microphone issues.

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Still greyed out?

Contact support and include a screenshot of the bar at the bottom of the recorder, showing the microphone and camera buttons.
Last modified on November 9, 2026