You’re sitting in your office, waiting for a phone call from your boss. When she finally calls, you say “Hello?”, only to be met with, “Hey, I can’t hear you!” “Oh no,” you think to yourself, “my iPhone’s microphone is broken.”
Luckily, this is a relatively common problem with iPhones new and old. In this article, I’ll explain why your iPhone microphone is not working and walk you step-by-step through how to fix an iPhone mic.
First, Test And Inspect Your iPhone’s Microphone
The first thing you should do when your iPhone’s microphone stops working is to test it using different apps. This is because your iPhone has three microphones: one on the back for recording video audio, one on the bottom for speakerphone calls and other voice recordings, and one in the earpiece for phone calls.
How Do I Test The Microphones On My iPhone?
To test the front and rear microphones, shoot two quick videos: one using the front camera and one using the rear camera and play them back. If you hear audio in the videos, the video’s respective microphone is working fine.
To test the bottom microphone, launch the Voice Memos app and record a new memo by pressing the large red button at the center of the screen.
Close Any Apps That Have Access To Microphone
It’s possible that an app which has access to Microphone is causing the problem. That app may have crashed, or Microphone may be active within the app. You can see which apps have access to Microphone by going to Settings -> Privacy -> Microphone.
Open the app switcher to close your apps. If your iPhone has Face ID, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to the center of the screen. If your iPhone doesn’t have Face ID, double-press the Home button. Then, swipe your apps up and off the top of the screen.
Clean The Microphone
If you find that one of your iPhone’s microphones sounds muffled after you test it or it has no sound at all, let’s clean them. My favorite way to clean iPhone microphones is by using a dry, un-used toothbrush to clean the microphone grill at the bottom of your iPhone and the small black dot microphone to the right of the rear-facing camera. Simply slide the toothbrush over the microphones to dislodge any stuck pocket lint, dirt, and dust.
You can also use compressed air to clean your iPhone’s microphones. If you take this route, however, make sure to spray gently and far away from the microphones themselves. Compressed air can damage microphones if sprayed at too close of a proximity — so start by spraying from a distance and move closer if you need to.
Make sure to test your iPhone’s microphone again after cleaning. If you find that your iPhone microphone still is not working, move onto the next step.
My iPhone Microphone Still Isn’t Working!
The next step is to reset your iPhone’s settings. This won’t erase any content (except for Wi-Fi passwords), but will set all of your iPhone’s settings back to factory default, erasing bugs that may be causing your microphones to not respond. I highly recommend backing up your phone before erasing your iPhone’s settings.
How Do I Reset My iPhone’s Settings?
Launch the Settings app on your iPhone and tap Settings -> General -> Transfer Or Reset iPhone -> Reset -> Reset All Settings. Enter your passcode if prompted, then tap Reset All Settings again. Your iPhone will complete the reset, then reboot itself.
Put Your iPhone In DFU Mode
A Device Firmware Update (DFU) restore is the last step you can take to rule out a software problem. This restore erases and rewrites every line of code on your iPhone, so it’s important to back it up first.
Check out our other article to learn how to put your iPhone DFU mode!
Bring Your iPhone In For Repair
If after cleaning your iPhone and resetting all settings you find that your iPhone’s microphone still isn’t working, it’s time to bring your iPhone in for repair. Be sure to check out my article on the best places to get your iPhone repaired for inspiration.
iPhone Microphone: Fixed!
Your iPhone microphone is fixed and you can start talking to your contacts again. We encourage you to share this article on social media to help your friends and family when their iPhone microphone is not working. If you have any other questions, leave a comment down below!
I’ve have an iPhone 11 for only six months now and just like that the microphone stopped working. When I take videos on the front and rear camera, it works fine. It doesn’t work on voice memo, if someone calls me I can hear them but they cant hear me. Any ideas?
I thought maybe having been caught in out in a rain storm ruined my mic. I followed your step and when I went to see which apps had access to the mic, the app I was trying to use had access to the mic turned off! Once I turned it on, the app worked great instead of giving me an error message that only told me it couldn’t record, but NOT that the access mic setting was off!!
I have an iPhone 11. If I try to use the speaker on Handsfree people can’t follow me as they say my voice cuts out all the time. It’s a nonissue with voice calls or recording video or voice messages. They all playback perfectly. It’s only when using Handsfree. Any ideas?
I have a iPhone XS Max I can’t hear them and they can’t hear me on a phone call I can face time and the audio and picture is fine voice memos are fine taking videos is fine I tried resetting the settings that didn’t help tried cleaning the mics also that didn’t help. What could be the issue?
Hi Vikki,
Unfortunately, it sounds like there may be an issue with the earpiece speaker & microphone on your iPhone. That’s not usually going to be a software fix. If you’ve tried cleaning the mics and taken off your screen protector and case, you might need to make an appointment at a Genius Bar to have a tech take a look at your iPhone. If your iPhone isn’t under warranty anymore, sometimes local repair shops can be cheaper for this kind of repair. Best of luck, David P.
so.. i connected an aftermarket earbuds to my iphone 12 slim. i saw a message pop up abotu auth, but missed it. i think i didnt enable my mic properly. is there anywhere to reset that headphone setting or do i have to “reset all settings”?
You saved my life! It actually was just dirt!
Using a new toothbrush to scrub the mic grill at the bottom eliminated my mic’s muffled audio on my XR. Thank you.
Just don’t tell your dentist! ?
i have an iphone 8 and the mic works on camera and phone calls but when i want to film stuff using snapchat or insta or even call someone like that the mic doesn’t work at all i have tried everything including resetting can someone please help me it would be much appreciated.
I also have an iPhone 8 & I’m experiencing the exact same issue!
hi, I’ve tried all of the above suggestions plus I even got my mic repaired and it still doesn’t seem to work, is there anything I could do in this case?
We went through that too with an iPhone 7 Plus. The above suggestion of Reset All Settings worked great. 🙂
I have an iPhone 7 and the mic stoped working so I reseted the settings and the mic started working but after a while it stopped working again so I reseted the settings and it works but that keeps happening over and over again and it’s annoying can anyone help please
It’s possible that an app is actively using your microphone in the background. You could try closing all your open apps and then trying to use the microphone again with the app of your choice?
Hi Omar, my husband’s phone had the same problem, and I just fixed it for him after trying EVERYTHING possible. He was preparing to have to buy a new phone. Try this work-around and please report back if it worked… In settings — Accessibility — Hearing Devices — Hearing Aid Campatibility (turn this ON). Close, power off and restart. Microphone working perfectly.
Didnt work!
Just tried it and it worked for me. At least for now. Thanks
My mic works for voice memos and videos but will not record a voice text! What is up with that?
I faced the same issue. Its because the 3rd microphone was blocked. I cleaned the microphone with a toothbrush and it started working.
I have iPhone 7plus and it is clearly a software issue due to the recent updates with ios 14.2. I did all steps with the apple support and reset all me settings . Still not able to make calls or anything unless if I use AirPods.
Still having the same problem even after the latest update.
I have Iphone 7, and I have the same issue.. I have alos done all the steps, but unsuccesfully. I can not take videos with sound, or snaps, or call.. I can still watch videos, what is funny, because, when I am on a call with some one, I do not hear them, or they me. I use now my headphones, but I find it very frustrating..
This is exactly the issue I am having with my 7 plus. It is extremely frustrating and I have no clue how to fix it.
I have the latest iOS 14.2 on iPad and some reason the memo app doesn’t pick me up as well as other apps that use mic …hoping it’s just a bug in this version and soon be fixed in next update
Still have a problem with mic. On my iPhone 7
Has yours fixed yet ..I’m having issues too on iPad .no mic working ..hope it’s just a bug and fixed soon
I have 7plus and it is clearly a software issue due to the recent updates with ios 14 and above. The apple support is not ready to accept it. Any other solution to fix the issue of the Mic not working. Please let us know.
I have 7plus and it is clearly a software issue due to the recent updates with ios 14 and above. The apple support is not ready to accept it. Any other solution to fix the issue of the Mic not working. Please let us know.
i have an iphone 8 and no one can hear me when i call or record but my microphone somehow works for siri and my keyboard but for nothing else. i’ve tried everything and even voice memos cant hear anything
i have an iphone 7. today morning i was playing music on my bluetooth speaker , then went to school and played some more music on my earpods with the lightning cable. the sound was coming from the bottom speaker, not the earpods. also when calling , i can hear nothing as well as they can not hear me. my phone wasnt damaged with water or anything. just normal daily use. please help
I have the exact same problem happend to me today morning
same did you fixed it?
I can hear someone when speaking on loudspeaker during FaceTime but that person cannot hear me .But on voice calls without loud speaker we can talk clearly.I use a 6Splus
I have that kind of problem now
my iphonw works for some apps and facetime/calls but not for apps like houseparty and especially siri wich i use alot what do i do?
Same here
my iphone 7+’s microphone stopped working out of nowhere yesterday. i was playing music in my headphones and the sound cut, but it wouldn’t continue. i shut my phone off and turned it back on and the sound started playing. but then it stopped again. now the only thing that works in that port is the charger
Hi Jazmine, the same think happenes to me. It stopped working out of nowhere. I made an softwer update, thinking this was the problem and it really start working again for a few hours, than went to broke and now I am trying to fix it unssucesfully. Did you find any solution?
Same on sunday during call. Nothing can help, I have tried to reset, but nothing possitive happens. I gues it is kind of bug, but no update is avilable yet
Same here! Letøs hope it gets fixed
Same here
My iphone 6s has a problem. When i turn on my mic in my pubgm my headset wont work and the sounds goes from the speaker and if i turned it off it goes back. How can i use my mic properly? Help please.
I am currently using iPhone 6, 16 GB and its current version is iOS 12 .I have a problem, when I make a calls people can’t hear me clearly. They hear me very faintly. But when I put it on speaker they can hear me better. Or when I talk directly into the bottom mic, it works decently. Besides if I use Facebook messenger, Viber, or some other app to make a call then all is well. My front facing camera is working fine, my rear facing camera is working fine, my voice memos is working fine. I have tried… Read more »
FB Messenger is not letting microphone work on video chat I phone 6 plus
Followed your steps and it fixed it. THANKS!
Ive got a 2 week old iPhone 8 , where the bottom mic doesnt pic up peripheral sound. So people say they cant hear me unless the mic is near and infront of the mic.
Tested calls between iPhone 8 and 6 , the problem only occurs from sound originating from 8 , but oddly voice memo pics up all sound.
dear I have the the same problem of not catching the peripheral sounds. I have iPhone . have you resolved this issue????
I have exactly the same issue with iPhone 8. Kindly guide me how did you resolve this issue.
I just removed screen protector. My phone has started working properly.
thanks all
Have you heard of any issues with the iPhone 10 Apple Watch callers not hearing you speak when they call you but when you call them back they can then hear your voice & if you have have you any ideas on how to fix this issue as Im having this issue?