Why Isn't My Microphone Working on My iPhone and How Do I Turn It On?

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Easily enable your iPhone microphone with our simple steps
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When you try to use the microphone in an iPhone app for the first time, you’ll see a notification asking if you want to allow access. But what happens if you don’t see that notification—or if you accidentally deny access? Luckily, enabling the mic for most apps in on your iPhone is easy. We’ll show you how to do that, plus explain where the mics are on your iPhone and how to check them for physical issues. We’ll also go over how to enable additional features, like Talk to Siri and Voice Control.

Quick Steps

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Privacy & Security .
  3. Select Microphone .
  4. Toggle on the switch next to the app for which you want mic access.
Section 1 of 4:

Enabling for Specific Apps

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  1. You'll find this grey gear app icon on one of your Home Screens or in the Utilities folder.
  2. Depending on your version of iOS, this may be in the 3rd or 4th grouping of menu options. Look for an icon of a white hand on a blue background.
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  3. You may need to scroll down to find it.
  4. A white switch indicates that the app does not have access to the microphone, while a green switch means the microphone is enabled. [1]
  5. If you want to enable the mic for an app, but you don’t see it in the Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone menu, you may need to sign into the app if you haven’t done so already. Once you’ve done that, return to the Microphone section of the Settings app and see if the app appears in the list.
  6. If all else fails, try deleting the app from your phone, which may help resolve any glitches or corrupted settings. Press and hold the app until a menu pops up, then tap Remove App . Select Delete App in the alert window, then tap Delete . Go to the App Store, search for the app again, then tap the cloud symbol to re-download it.
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Section 2 of 4:

Fixing Physical Issues with Your Mic

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  1. If your mic is enabled but people still can’t hear you during calls or voice chats, there might be a physical issue with one or more of your mics. Start by taking off your case, screen protector, and any other accessories that could be blocking access to the mics. See if the other person is able to hear you after you do this. [2]
  2. There are several microphones on your iPhone. If your phone isn’t picking up your voice, check all of them to see if they might be clogged with dust or dirt. Use a soft brush or a wooden or plastic toothpick to carefully clean out any clogs.
    • There are two mics at the bottom of your iPhone, which look like a pair of holes on either side of the charger port. These are the mics you use the most (for things like phone calls and voice memos).
    • There’s another mic at the top of your phone in the front, next to the speaker. This is used for things like speakerphone calls and front-facing video recordings.
    • You’ll find another small microphone on the back of your phone, near the camera lenses. This is used for things like rear-facing video recordings.
  3. If you’ve removed any obstructions and cleaned your mics but they still aren’t working, it’s possible there’s some other problem. Here’s how to test them:
    • If people are having trouble hearing you during regular voice or FaceTime calls, test your bottom microphones by recording yourself in Voice Memo while speaking into the bottom of your phone. If the mic is working, you should be able to hear yourself clearly when you play back the recording.
    • For issues with the speakerphone, try recording yourself in the Camera app. Make a video with the camera in selfie (front-facing) mode while speaking into the top of your phone. Then, reverse the camera and make a second video, still speaking at the top. If the top mics are working, you should get clear audio when you play these videos back.
    • If your mics work fine during these tests, double-check your settings for the problematic apps. The problem might also be on the other person’s end.
    • You should also make sure you didn’t accidentally mute yourself , which is easy to do in the Phone app as well as a lot of other voice or video chat apps.
  4. It’s possible that an internal component of your phone has been damaged, or that there’s a serious issue with the system that’s causing your mics not to work. Visit Apple’s iPhone Repair page to set up service for your phone.
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Section 3 of 4:

Turning on Talk to Siri

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  1. If Siri doesn’t respond when you say “Hey Siri,” it’s possible that you don’t have Siri set up to recognize voice commands. You can easily enable this option in Settings. [3]
  2. Scroll down in the Settings menu and tap on Siri . Depending on your device and your version of iOS, you might see Apple Intelligence & Siri instead.
  3. A new menu will open.
  4. If Off is selected, Siri won’t hear or respond to voice commands using a wake word (such as "Siri" or "Hey Siri"). Choose one of the other options to be able to activate Siri with your voice alone.
    • Depending on your version of iOS, you might be able to choose just Siri or Hey Siri , or select an option to have Siri respond to either Siri or Hey Siri .
    • If you’d rather not have a wake word, toggle on the option to activate Siri with a button (typically the side button on newer iPhone models). Siri will still be able to hear you and respond to voice commands, but only if you press the button.
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Section 4 of 4:

Enabling Voice Control

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  1. Voice Control is an accessibility feature that allows you to control your iPhone remotely with your voice using your microphone and the Siri engine. [4] To turn it on, open your Settings app. You'll find this grey gear app icon on one of your Home Screens or in the Utilities folder.
    • If Voice Control is already enabled when you go through this menu, "Set up Voice Control" may not be an option.
  2. This is next to an icon of a person inside a circle.
  3. It's in the "Physical and Motor" section.
  4. If you’ve never turned on Voice Control before, you’ll need to set it up. Tap this blue link at the top of the menu, then follow the prompts to turn it on.
    • You can now toggle Voice Control on and off with the toggle switch at the top of this menu.
    • When Voice Control is active, you will see a blue icon at the top of the screen that indicates it is on and listening. This icon may look like a microphone or a diamond-shaped series of lines, depending on your device and iOS version.
  5. For example, you can say things like “swipe up,” “swipe left,” “tap [item name],” or “lock screen.” If you’re not sure what to say, say “Show me what to say” to view a list of commands.
    • To temporarily deactivate Voice Control, say “Go to sleep.” To turn it back on, say “Start listening.”
    • You can also command Siri to turn Voice Control on or off in your accessibility settings.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/101600
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/101600
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/use-siri-iph83aad8922/ios
      4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/111778

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open Settings .
      2. Tap Privacy .
      3. Tap Microphone .
      4. Make sure the switches are green and in the on position.

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