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.
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