Posted by Apple Inc. smart devices often interact with others through speech and are dependent on a microphone which makes knowing how to fix the iPhone microphone important. Since these devices are electronic; sometimes, they may not function correctly due to software issues. In fact, problems with microphones on iPhones are common.
Your average iPhone has three working mics, and you can control some of its behavior in your iPhone settings and make sure they are not blocked for some functions. As a smartphone user, you should also know how to test your device mic, connect and disconnect audio devices. Additionally, make sure applications that require microphone access have it by granting permission in the settings.
In this piece, I will be showing you ways on how to fix iPhone microphone should you experience a malfunction.
How to fix iPhone microphone
Microphones typically do a lot and it is until it starts acting up that you will appreciate their importance. Without them, you will need an external mic for calls, Facetime, making a video, or audio/voice recordings. In addition, some applications use the microphone for video or audio for commands. Siri, for example, needs the mic to hear you.
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If your microphone isn’t functioning well, you can start fixing by doing the following:
1. Check for blockages or dirt
Mics are hardware components and it will be unwise to ignore physical issues. Several times, technicians have found that what is wrong with an iPhone mic is actually something to with it being entirely or partially blocked by dust, pocket lint, phone cases, and screen guards or protectors.
It is advisable to check all mics for blockage and remove obstacles.
Don’t know where the microphone is? A microphone is at the bottom of your device, very close to the series of small holes. Another mic is at the top of the phone at the rectangular cutout. And the last is located at the back of the phone, close to the camera lens.
2. Test malfunctioning microphone
If after checking all the openings of your device to clear any obstruction and the mic is still not working, you can test all of your mics to see which one is faulty. You can test the microphones on the top, front, and behind by shooting a quick video using both cameras. If they both work well and the audio quality you get is good, check the bottom microphone using the voice memos application. This will enable you to determine which of the three microphones is not functioning well. You can then contact an authorized Apple technician to fix the issue.
There is also a possibility that your device is trying to use the microphone of other devices like earbuds, headphones, or speakers asides from the on built into your phone. This can make the sound muffled. To fix tis, disconnect all external devices and turn off the Bluetooth via the Control Center.
3. Apple support for microphone
If your voice isn’t coming out over calls or other activities that require the use of a microphone, you can use the apple support method to troubleshoot your mic:
- Go to and open Voice Memos application
- Click on the red record button, and speak into the microphone at the bottom of your phone
- Play the recording; you should hear yourself
- If the recording was muffled or not clear enough, you should contact Apple support.
4.Microphone not working on an app
- Open Settings, scroll down to Privacy and head to the Microphone option
- Ensure that the application is enabled
- If permission is granted for the application to access the microphone, if it is not, you can contact the app developer.
5. If you can’t be heard over speakerphone
- Go to and open the Camera application.
- Start making a video while speaking to the top of your device.
- Switch cameras, and record another video while still talking at the top of your device.
- While playing the video back, if the audio isn’t clear enough or still muffled. You should contact apple support.
6. Set up voice control
If you’re using an iPhone running on iOS version 13 and above, you may need to set up Voice Control correctly.
Go to Settings, scroll down or search Accessibility, then head to Voice Control. Your phone will then download the app in the background. After the download is complete, a mic will be visible on your phone’s status bar when your phone listens to the command.
How to troubleshoot my iPhone mic
Thankfully, there are a couple of ways to troubleshoot your device’s microphone, and it can serve as a significant step toward how to fix iPhone microphone issues. These methods can help you get your mic working back in no time without repairing or replacing it physically. Here are some tips to consider:
– Restart the phone
Your iPhone is like any other electronic device, where there are solutions for any glitch. And like many electronic devices, a quick powering it off and on again. This method will flush out glitch software or corrupt data that might cause the problem. So it is advisable to restart your iPhone to fix your microphone.
– Try using an external microphone
If restarting your device doesn’t fix the problem, you can try an external mic with your device. You can use the external microphone indefinitely if you can’t afford a repair or use it while waiting for a repair.
Apple earphones and AirPods have built-in mics, and other headphones or earbuds have mics. You can connect your iPhone to these devices via Bluetooth or a lightning port, and that way, you don’t have to use your phone’s microphone for tasks.
– Update your device’s iOS
Often, an outdated IOS may interfere with device functionalities and may cause certain things not to work correctly; updating your iPhone’s IOS version may clear the problem of a faulty microphone. To check for possible updates for your device, go to setting, then General, and click on IOS update to check for the latest IOS version and install.
– Restore default setting
Unexpected and unprecedented changes to the system setting can cause microphone issues. Restoring your iPhone to the default setting may fix this problem. Doing a reset will not erase any data; only the Wi-Fi passcode will be affected, but it is wise to back your phone up before considering a reset if you want to go back to old settings.
– Restart communication apps
If the microphone doesn’t work with some applications, e.g., social media apps like WhatsApp or TikTok, you can close the app and restart it. Always ensure to leave a brief moment between closing and reopening the app.
– Contact Apple support
If all the above options fail, you can reach out to Apple Inc. to lay a complaint and make an appointment if your iPhone has a valid warranty agreement. They can troubleshoot the issue, repair the faulty mic or replace the device. You can also take the device in for service for free or no cost.
Conclusion
The mic issue is a common issue and should get prompt attention. While Apple makes excellent devices, electronic devices will always come up with faults over time. The above ways should get you off how to fix iPhone microphone at any time. Thankfully, you can choose whatever option you feel is best. Alternatively, you might need to try a couple of the steps above before getting positive results.
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