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How to fix iPhone microphone not working after iOS 18 update

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Several users have reported that their iPhone’s microphone is not working properly after iOS 18 update. If the iPhone’s microphone isn’t working at all — or the audio it’s capturing is muffled, fuzzy, or unclear — that can lead to a lot of frustration. This article explains what you can do if your iPhone microphone is not working in iOS 18.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • If your iPhone microphone is not working on iOS 18, there are steps you can take to troubleshoot and solve the problem.
  • Your iPhone has three mics, so make sure all three of them are not blocked or obscured in any way.
  • You should also test your mic, disconnect other audio devices, and ensure all your apps have permission to use the mic in Settings.

The speakers and microphones are an important part of your iPhone. If microphone is not working, you may experience various sound issues. For example, Siri may not be able to detect your voice; other people may not be able to hear you during a phone call or you may not be able to record audio. The cause of these problems may be the microphone. Here are the most common methods you can employ to resolve iOS 18 microphone problems.

How to fix iOS 18 microphone problems

1. Make sure the microphones are clear of any blockages

Are the microphones blocked, obscured, or dirty? That could be keeping them from picking sound.

Your iPhone has three different microphones built into the device. Microphones are small round openings. Here is where they are located:

  • The first one is located on the bottom of your phone. This one is used for calls.
  • The second one is located on the front side at the top of your iPhone, embedded into the earpiece, right next to the selfie camera. This one may be used for, along with others, capturing audio when recording videos. This microphone is also used to pick up voice commands.
  • And the third one is located on the back side of the device, built into the rear camera. Again this one is used for capturing audio when recording videos.

You should clean all of these microphones for the best results. To do so, remove your iPhone case and screen protector if it’s affecting the microphones in any way. Then check to see if they’re dirty. If necessary, carefully use a small, dry soft-bristled brush to clear away any lint, dirt, or grime.

2. Test the microphone

It’s easy to test the mics to see if they’re working normally:

  • Test the mic for phone calls. Open the Voice Memos app and record a short memo, talking into the microphone at the bottom. Play it back and see if it sounds clear.
  • Test the speakerphone mic. Open the Camera app and record a video while speaking into the mic at the top of the iPhone. Play it back and see if it sounds clear.

If the audio is unclear, it’s likely you have a hardware problem with your iPhone, so contact Apple’s customer support for additional service.

3. Disconnect any audio accessories

It’s possible that your iPhone is trying to use the microphone in an accessory like headphones, earbuds, or a portable speaker for input instead of its built-in mic. If that accessory is far away, the audio may become distant or muffled. The easiest way to solve this problem is to make sure no accessories are plugged into your iPhone and to turn off Bluetooth. Head over to Settings > Bluetoothand see if any mic-equipped earbuds, headphones, or speakers are actively connected. If they are, power down those accessories, or temporarily disconnect them in the Bluetooth menu by tapping the i (info) button next to them and choosing Disconnect.

4. Make sure your app has permission

If you are having a microphone issue when you are trying to use a specific app (such as Skype, Meet,Messenger, Zoom, WhatsApp, etc), it’s possible that the app doesn’t have permission to use the mic. You can grant the app microphone access. Head over to Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone. Scroll down the list of apps and make sure any app which needs the mic has permission by swiping the appropriate button to the right.

5. Restart the phone

If you’ve gotten this far and the microphone is still not working properly, you might have a glitch that’s best resolved by turning your iPhone off and then back on again. That can flush out any corrupt data or glitchy software that might be causing your microphone to fail to work properly. Restart your iPhone and then test your microphone again.

6. Reach out to Apple customer support

If your microphones are still not working, it’s possible that there is a serious hardware problem with your iPhone. You should seek help from Apple customer service.

How to fix iPhone speaker not working after iOS 18 update

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  • If your iPhone speaker is not working after iOS 18 update, there are some simple ways to troubleshoot possible problems.
  • To fix iOS 18 speaker problem, make sure that the iPhone isn’t muted with the silent switch or with Focus mode.
  • You should also make sure AirPlay isn’t enabled and your phone isn’t connected to an audio accessory via Bluetooth.

The speaker is an important part of your iPhone. If your iPhone’s speaker isn’t working after the latest iOS 18 update, that’s a serious problem — you can’t hear phone calls, music, or notifications. Here are the top ways to troubleshoot your iOS 18 speaker issues and hear your audio once again.

How To Fix iPhone Speaker Problems in iOS 18

1. Make sure the audio isn’t silent

It’s possible you accidentally set your phone to a silent mode, so the speaker works fine — it’s just muted.

On the upper lefthand side of your iPhone is the hardware switch that you use to turn sound on and off. You know the iPhone is in silent mode if you can see a little strip of orange above the button.

This can often be turned on by mistake while taking the iPhone out of a pocket or while it’s in a bag. Take a quick look to see if that’s the case. If so, slide it back and your iPhone speaker should instantly start playing sound.

Note: If you are using an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, or iPhone 16 Pro Max, simply long press the Action Button to unmute your device. You should feel a single haptic pulse and see a "Ring" icon appear in the ‌Dynamic Island‌.

2. See if Focus Mode is on

Another common reason you may think iPhones speaker is not working is when the Focus mode gets turned on accidentally or is left on after a meeting has finished.

To work out if this is the case, swipe down from the top of the screen to see the Control Center and make sure the Focus button says Focus rather than another setting. If it says Do Not Disturb, Personal, or another setting, tap it to disable Focus mode.

3. Make sure you’re not sending audio to AirPlay

If you have various other Apple devices, then AirPlay could be the culprit here. Perhaps you previously sent your audio through your HomePod? To check, swipe down from the top of the screen to see the Control Center and then tap the AirPlay icon at the top right of the music playback section. If another device is receiving audio with AirPlay, tap iPhone to revert back to your own device.

4. Disconnect audio accessories

Another possibility your iPhone speaker is not working is that your phone could be connected to another audio accessory via Bluetooth. This means that any music or other sounds will be sent to that device rather than played through your iPhone speaker.

To fix this, swipe down from the top-right of the iPhone screen to open Control Center. Look at the audio icon — if there is an icon of a pair of headphones there, then the iPhone is still connected to them. To disconnect them, you can tap the Bluetooth icon in Control Center to switch Bluetooth off. Alternatively, go into Bluetooth settings and tell the iPhone to Forget This Device. You would have to re-pair the headphones with your iPhone later, but that’s no biggie.

5. Clean your speaker

An iPhone’s speakers can become clogged with dirt, dust, dead skin cells, and more, reducing the quality of playback and making calls harder to hear.

To clean your iPhone speaker, remove your iPhone case and screen protector if it’s affecting the speaker in any way. Then check to see if it’s dirty. If necessary, carefully use a small, dry soft-bristled brush to clear away any lint, dirt, or grime.

6. Restart your iPhone

If your iPhone speaker is still not working, it’s time to try the age-old solution of turning it off and turning it back on. Your non-functioning speaker might just have a few gremlins in the system, which will be flushed out with a system reboot. Simply restart your iPhone and test your speakers again.

7. Check the volume levels

It’s easy to accidentally turn the volume all the way down on your iPhone. If you keep your iPhone in your pocket, then leaning or sitting in certain positions can cause the volume buttons to be pressed, which in turn makes the device silent.

To check if this is the case, unlock your iPhone and hold the volume up button until your iPhone is turned all the way up. If the volume isn’t turning up even as you hold down the volume up button, check your sound settings on your phone, by going to Settings–>Sounds & Haptics. Here, find out how high the ring volume is. Again, it is so easy to have turned the volume all the way down and not even realized it.

8. Reach out to Apple customer support

If none of those options worked, the problem is probably hardware related and you’ll need to seek help from Apple Support.

How to fix iPhone “Call Failed” issue on iOS 18

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Several users have reported that they can’t make phone calls on their iPhone. They are getting the error message “Call Failed” when they attempt to make a call on their iPhone. They have further said the problem started after the iOS 18 update. This article lists several simple steps you can try to solve the iPhone call failed error in iOS 18.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • If you’re iPhone is saying call failed any time you tried to make a call on iOS 18, you should toggle Airplane mode, restart your phone, and reset your SIM card.
  • You can also reset your iPhone’s network settings to fix iOS 18 call failed issue.

“Two

Why does my iPhone keep saying call failed on iOS 18?

A call failed error on iOS 18 could be because of a problem with your cellular provider or your iPhone. Whatever the cause, here are all the different ways to fix a call failed error on your device.

How to fix call failed on iPhone on iOS 18

Try these steps in order. After trying each step below, open the Phone app and try to make a call on your iPhone to see if you’ve fixed your issue.

Try your call again

I know this sounds obvious, but the first thing you should do is to try calling again. Often, a call will fail as a result of a temporary network glitch, and the call will work just fine a minute later. Before trying other troubleshooting steps mentioned below, tap the dial button to redial your last number.

Close and reopen the Phone app

Often, a software glitch is easily solved just by restarting the program that’s misbehaving. Simply close the Phone app and then start the Phone app a second time. If the app was suffering a minor software problem, it might now work. Here’s how:

iPhones With Face ID including iPhone 16

  1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher. You should see all of your apps represented as cards.
  2. Swipe side-to-side through your apps until you find the Phone app.
  3. Swipe up on the Phone app. When it disappears off the top of the screen, it’s closed.

iPhones Without Face ID including (iPhone SE, 3rd generation)

  1. Double-press the Home button. This starts the app switcher, where you should see all of your apps represented as cards.
  2. Swipe side-to-side through your apps until you find the Phone app.
  3. Swipe up on the Phone app. When it disappears off the top of the screen, it’s closed.

Toggle Airplane mode

One of the most common reasons a call may fail on iOS 18 is because of a glitch with your cellular connection. You can resolve this by toggling your cellular connection off and back on again. Here’s how:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap the switch next to Airplane Mode to turn it on.
  3. Wait about 30 seconds.
  4. Tap the Airplane mode switch again to re-enable your cellular network.

Try moving your location

While relatively rare, dead spots still exist and you might see No Service error on your iPhone. You might encounter this when underground (in a basement or on mass transit) or in a rural area. Reception issues can also happen if you’re near another country’s border and your phone thinks you’re roaming. If this is the case, you should try moving to an area or location with a stronger signal and dial again.

Restart your iPhone

If you have gotten this far and your iPhone keep saying “Call Failed,” restart your device. There might be a glitch with your Phone app or your phone’s network connection that turning it off and back on again will solve.

iPhones With Face ID

  1. Press and hold both the Side button and either of the Volume buttons.
  2. When a slider labeled slide to power offappears at the top of the screen, drag it to the right.
  3. Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the side button to turn your iPhone back on.
  4. Release the side button when the Apple logo appears.

iPhones Without Face ID

  1. Press and hold the Power button.
  2. When the slide to power off appears at the top of the screen, drag it to the right.
  3. Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the power button again to turn your iPhone on again.
  4. You can release the power button when the Apple logo appears on the screen.

Check For An iOS Update

If you are still having trouble making calls, ensure that your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS. Here is how you can check for iOS update:

  1. Make sure your iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi network.
  2. Open your phone’s Settings app, tap General, and then tap Software Update.
  3. If there is an update available, tap Update Now.

Check For A Carrier Settings Update

While rare, it’s sometimes possible that your phone’s carrier settings might be to blame for the call failed error. That’s especially true if your cellular provider has recently updated its configuration and the changes failed to update automatically on your phone for some reason. To check for a carrier setting update, follow the steps below:

  1. Make sure your iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network.
  2. Open your phone’s Settings app, tap General, and then tap About.
  3. Scroll down to Carrier. Next to Carrier, if a new update is available, you’ll see an option to perform this update.

Remove and reinstall the SIM card

If you still see call failed error message, it’s possible that there’s a problem with the way your iPhone’s SIM card is seated in its tray, and the phone is having trouble reading all the contacts on the card. You can resolve this problem by reseating your SIM card. Here’s how:

  1. Locate the SIM card tray on your iPhone.
  2. Gently press the tip of your ejection tool or paperclip into the hole and press into the bottom of the SIM card tray until the tray pops out.
  3. Make sure the SIM card is seated properly in its tray and then reinsert it carefully.

Reset your network settings

If you’ve tried everything else in this list and you still can’t complete any phone calls due to the Call Failed error, it might be time to reset network settings on your iPhone. It’s worth noting that this troubleshooting step will erase all your network settings, including any saved WiFi network passwords and paired Bluetooth devices.

Nonetheless, this might resolve call failed issue. Follow the steps below:

  1. Open your phone’s Settings app, tap General, and then tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
  2. Tap Reset, and then tap Reset Network Settings.
  3. When asked, enter your iPhone passcode, and then tap Reset Network Settings to confirm.

Contact your carrier

There are many reasons why calls might be failing on your iPhone. And, if after troubleshooting things for yourself, you find that you are still unable to complete any phone calls due to the Call Failed error, it’s time to contact your phone carrier. They should be able to walk you through your options, and, hopefully, fix the issue.

Customer Service Contacts for Major Cellular Providers
AT&T 800-288-2020
T-Mobile 800-937-8997
Verizon 800-922-0204
MetroPCS 888-863-8768
Boost Mobile 866-402-7366
Cricket 800-274-2538
Virgin Mobile 888-322-1122

In case you are unable to call them using your iPhone, you might need to visit the provider’s store.