IPhone Microphone Not Working? – How To Fix It

If the iPhone microphone is not working, many important phone activities will be disturbed. For instance, people won't be able to hear you during a phone call, FaceTime chat, etc. Also, when you are recording videos, there will be no sound. How to get rid of this annoying issue?

There are a couple of things to try. Everything is pretty simple, including restarting your iPhone, cleaning the mic and the headphone jack, and updating the software. Without further ado, let’s move to the solutions.

How to Fix the Microphone on an iPhone - 11 Ways To Fix It

Test the microphone

Before sharing the most effective troubleshooting techniques, let's test your iPhone microphone first. There are different ways to do that.

Using Voice Memos

• Open the Voice Memos app that you can find on the Home screen.
• Make sure your fingers aren’t covering the microphone.
• Tap the record icon (the red circle) to start speaking. Once you finish recording your voice, tap the red button.
• You can now playback the recording voice by tapping the play icon next to the red button. Make sure you can hear your voice recording.

Siri

Try to access Siri and ask something. Press the Home button (Or Power button) a bit longer until Siri shows up. Try to speak to Siri and ask her anything. If Siri doesn’t answer your request or question correctly, try again with a louder voice.

Use the Camera app or FaceTime.

You can also use the Camera app or FaceTime video feature to record the audio. Launch the Camera app and set it to Video. Then, record your voice and playback it to check if you can hear your voice clearly or not.

1. Remove iPhone case

Try removing your iPhone case or screen protector that could be covering your iPhone speakers and iSight mic. Test your iPhone microphone by following the steps mentioned above.

2. Turn off Noise Cancelation (iPhone 12 and Older)

Phone Noise Cancelation is a valuable feature that you can find on your iPhone. It can help reduce the surrounding noise when making a phone call. To turn it off, navigate to Settings and tap General. Then, select Accessibility, scroll down and find Phone Noise Cancelation. If you see the green button next to it, tap it to turn it off.

3. Restart iPhone

A restart can fix various issues. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake (Volume Down + Power) buttons until you see the red slider, and slide to the right to turn it off. Wait for a few seconds, then turn it back on by pressing the same button until you see the Apple logo.

4. Disable Bluetooth (Any Audio Accessories)

• Temporarily disable Bluetooth.
• Disconnect any audio accessories or AirPods
• Remove any Headphones

5. Ensure nothing is blocking the mics.

Your iPhone should have at least three microphones. Ensure there is no blockage within these areas. Remove your case or screen protector if it's getting in the way.

If dust or dirt is covering your iPhone microphone, it can affect the quality of sound received by the microphone. It can block the sound from reaching the microphone. You can clean the area to get rid of the dust from there. Moreover, you can also use a toothpick or needle to get off the dirt but do it gently and carefully.

6. Force quit the app / Close and Reopen.

If an app like Skype or WhatsApp is causing the problem, consider reopening the app.

7. Check your iPhone's Microphone Settings.

If the issue only happens when using certain apps, check your iPhone microphone settings. Make sure the app has permission to access the microphone. Open Settings >> Privacy >> tap Microphone.

8. Update iOS

Check if there is a new version of iOS available. Head to Settings >> General >> Software Update. If there is, download it. It may help you get rid of iPhone microphone issues. Tap “Install” on the Software Update window to get the update.

9. Reset All Settings

If you have done all the solutions above and the microphone won’t work on your iPhone, try to reset all settings. This method will reset all the settings of your iPhone, including microphone-related ones.

The steps are so easy. Hit Settings >> General >> Transfer or Reset iPhone. Then, choose Reset All Settings. You may need to enter your passcode before continuing the process. Then tap Reset All Settings in the pop-up window.

10. Erase iPhone

If "Reset All Settings" didn’t fix your iPhone microphone issue, try to erase your iPhone. This technique will reset all iPhone settings and the apps and contents inside. That’s why it’s advisable to back up your data first.

To erase the iPhone, navigate to Settings >> General >> Transfer Or Reset iPhone>> Erase All Contents and Settings >> enter a passcode >> on a pop-up window, tap Erase iPhone.

11. Restore iPhone

You can restore your iPhone to factory settings using Finder on your Mac. You will need a computer and a good Internet connection. Here are the steps:

• Connect your iPhone to your computer
• Tap "Trust this device" on your iPhone
• Launch the Finder
• Under "Location" on the left sidebar, select your iPhone
• Click "Trust this device" on your Mac (On the window to your right)
• Then, under the "General" tab, click "Restore iPhone"

If the iPhone microphone is not working even though you have tried all of the solutions listed above, please contact Apple or visit one of their stores.