iPhone Microphone not working? Try these fixes

There have been reports of multiple iPhone users having difficulties with the phone’s microphone as it seems to not work at all. As it turns out, there can be a number of reasons as to why this can be. In some cases, the audio circuit (IC) may have loose connections which can trigger this scenario. If this unfortunate scenario comes to be, then you have no choice but to ask for a repair at your nearest Apple store.

With that said, there is a good chance that you may not be unlucky after all and be able to resolve the issue with a few simple steps. In this article, we are going to take you through this purpose and show you exactly how to achieve this so just follow through.

As it turns out before we get started with the various methods that you can use to resolve the issue in question, make sure that you have cleaned all of the microphones on your phone. It can often happen where your microphone is covered with debris, plastic or anything of the sort which prevents it from working properly. If you have cleaned it already, you can get started with the methods down below in an attempt to fix the issue. 

Update System Software

The first thing that you should do when you encounter the problem in question is to check if there are any available updates for your iPhone. The operating system is continuously updated to patch bugs or add new features. An outdated version may have trouble communicating with the audio module which is why your microphone does not work. As such, updating your iOS can lead to a fix. To do this, follow the instructions given down below:

1. First of all, on your iPhone, make your way to Settings. 
2. Make sure that you are connected to the WiFi since you are going to need data in order to download the update.
3. On the Settings app, make your way to General.

   

4. There, tap on the Software Update option. 
5. In case an update is available, download and install it. 
6. Once your phone restarts, see if the problem is still there. 

Disable Microphone Access for Other Apps

As it turns out, there are going to be various apps on your phone that share resources across each other and your phone’s microphone is one of them. This is especially true for the various social media apps that you may have installed on your phone, such as Messenger, Instagram and many more. 

In some cases, your microphone may be failing due to the interference of a third party application. In such a scenario, you will have to take away their permission to use the microphone in order to resolve the issue. Alternatively, you can also choose to simply uninstall the apps but that’s a choice up to you if you want to make it. Follow the instructions given down below to disable microphone access:

1. To start off, open up the Settings app on your phone.
2. Scroll down and tap on the Privacy option provided.
3. From the list of options under Privacy, choose Microphone.

   

4. Here, you will be able to see all of the apps that have access to your microphone.

   

5. We recommend disabling access for all of the apps except where you wish to use the microphone in order to see if that resolves the issue. 
6. In case the problem has been fixed, you can enable microphone access for apps one by one to see which app is the culprit. 

Turn off Noise Cancellation

Noise cancellation is a pretty neat feature and it is really helpful especially when you are in a crowded area. This is because it cancels out the background noise and allows only your voice to go through which results in clear communication. However, when this starts to malfunction, it can stop your microphone from working at all. 

As such, if this case is applicable, you will have to disable noise cancellation in order to resolve the issue. To do this, follow the instructions that are given down below:

1. First of all, on your iPhone, open up the Settings app.
2. On the Settings app, make your way to Accessibility.

   

3. There, disable noise cancellation by toggling the Phone Noise Cancellation slider provided.

   

4. On some devices, this might be located under Audio/Visual.

   

5. With that done, go ahead and restart your phone.
6. Once your phone starts up again, see if the microphone issue has been resolved. In case your phone does not have the noise cancellation option, move on to the next method down below.

Reset Network Settings

As it turns out, the network settings of your phone can also be the cause of the microphone issue in discussion in some scenarios. When this happens, you can easily get around the problem by simply resetting your network settings. Doing so is completely safe as it will only reset your network connections i.e. WiFi along with any Bluetooth paired devices. 

This has been reported by other users who were facing a similar issue. To do this, follow the instructions given down below:

1. To start off, open up the Settings app on your phone. 
2. Then, make your way to General.

   

3. On the General screen, tap on the Reset option provided.

   

4. Finally, under Reset, choose the Reset Network Settings option.

   

5. Confirm the action on the follow up prompts and wait for it to complete.
6. Once done, see if the microphone works now.

Perform a Hard Reset

In case none of the above methods has fixed the problem for you and the microphone continues to not work, you can try performing a hard reset. Performing a hard reset won’t erase any of your data that is stored on your phone so you don’t have to worry about any of that. Essentially, a hard reset is another name for forcing your phone to restart without the typical process.

To perform a hard reset, follow the instructions down below:

1. First of all, press and release the volume up button and then press and quickly release the volume down button. 
2. With that done, press and hold down the Power button until you see the Apple logo on the screen.

   

3. Once you see the Apple logo, you can let go of the Power button as the process has been initiated at this point.
4. After your phone boots up again, see if your microphone has started working. 

Finally, if none of these solutions works out for you, then it is very likely that the problem is being caused by the audio module on your phone. In such a scenario, your best shot is to take it to a nearby Apple store and have them look at it.