If you can’t get any sound from your iPhone 12 Pro microphone or it sounds distorted, try these solutions.
iPhone 12 Pro microphone has suddenly stopped working? Or people are complaining about not being able to hear your voice clearly? Or are recorded videos and audio on your iPhone 12 Pro having poor audio quality? Chances are, your iPhone 12 Pro microphone isn’t working as expected. Now, before you panic, you don’t need to rush to the nearest Apple Store for a fix. You can easily resolve microphone issues on your iPhone yourself.
See also: How To Fix iPhone 12 Pro Volume Issues
You may not even be aware of your iPhone 12 Pro microphone problems; the worst-case scenario is having a broken mic. Let’s take a look at some of the issues your iPhone 12 Pro mic can encounter and methods to fix them.
What’s the Cause of iPhone 12 Pro Microphone Issues?
So why and how do iPhone 12 Pro microphone problems arise? Your mic can become distorted for a variety of reasons, with the most common being a dirty phone. If you aren’t someone who cleans their phone regularly, you might be surprised to see how much dirt gets built up.
Other common issues are related to software updates and external accessories. These tend to reconfigure or disable your mic without you realizing it. Your mic can also become damaged due to physical issues, such as internal malfunctioning or damaged hardware from mishandling your phone.
How Do You Know Your iPhone 12 Pro Mic Is Faulty?
If you suspect that your mic might be broken or malfunctioning, it’s best to test it to make sure.
Recent iPhone models such as iPhone 12/ 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 mini come with three microphones – one at the top, one at the rear and the third one at the bottom.
To check the front and rear microphone, just record two quick videos using the selfie and back camera and check the audio. For the bottom microphone, open the voice memo app on the iPhone and capture a voice note holding the microphone close to your mouth. Play that note and check if the audio is crystal clear or not. If you find your voice fading or cracking in the middle, then your iPhone’s microphone needs looking into.
Ways to Fix Your iPhone 12 Pro Mic Issues
If you’ve confirmed that your iPhone 12 Pro mic isn’t working properly, now you can set out to fix it. Since there are various reasons why your iPhone 12 Pro microphone may malfunction, let’s go through different ways to fix your problem:
Make Sure Nothing is Covering Your iPhone’s Mic
A lot of people out there use third-party cases to protect their iPhones. The legit ones are fine but if you are using a cheap case from an unknown vendor then make sure the holes at the bottom of the case are precise with the ones on your iPhone. If the holes are not aligned, they will end up covering your iPhone’s microphone leading to quality issues with the microphone.
See also: How to fix iPhone 12 Pro Audio issues
Restart and Check for Updates
Sometimes the easiest solution is the best solution. Restarting your phone refreshes your system by clearing all processes and open apps. It can be a quick fix to your iPhone 12 Pro microphone issues.
Hold the side button and either of the Volume buttons until the power off slider appears, then drag the slider. Leave it off for 30-60 seconds before turning it back on, then check to see if the microphone problem is resolved.
If the restart doesn’t work, check for software updates, which is located under Settings > General > Software update. A new software update usually fixes any bugs/errors that the current version may have, which could affect your microphone.
Clean Your iPhone’s Microphone
The next basic thing you need to do when your iPhone 12 Pro microphone stops working is to check the microphone grill at the bottom of your iPhone. See if there’s any sort of dust accumulation. Grab a toothbrush or cotton swab and use it to gently clean your mic. The other alternative is to blow directly at it, to remove all the built-up debris. However, if you do this, be careful not to blow air further into the phone.
If your iPhone got wet in the rain recently, or if you accidentally dropped it in the sink, place your iPhone with the speaker side facing down to drain excess water and then let it dry for a bit.
Disconnect All Bluetooth Devices
Now that you have a feeling it’s not a hardware-related issue, you’ll need to make sure that you’re not connected to any of the nearby Bluetooth devices. This is because connections to nearby Bluetooth speakers, headphones, and other devices can disable the built-in microphone on your iPhone and use the microphone on the Bluetooth peripheral instead. To do this, go to to the iOS Control Center and tap on the Bluetooth toggle once, if it’s enabled. This will disconnect you from all Bluetooth devices for 24 hours.
See also:
- How to Fix iPhone 12 Pro Bluetooth Pairing Problems
- Bluetooth not Working on iPhone 12 Pro? Here’s the fix
Disable Phone Noise Cancellation
iPhones come with a feature called phone noise cancellation. Noise cancellation reduces ambient noise on phone calls when you are holding the receiver to your ear.
For those unaware of this, the result can sound a bit disorientating, so it’s easy to assume there is something wrong with your mic. Here’s how you can disable the setting to make sure your mic is fine:
- Go to the Settings app.
- Select Accessibility
- Tap Audio/Visual
- Look for the Phone Noise Cancellation option and disable it.
- Restart your phone and check if the problem is solved.
See also: iPhone 12 Pro Not Ringing? Fix it Here
Enable Microphone for Specific Apps
If you’re only having microphone issues with certain apps such as FaceTime, Skype, WhatsApp, zoom etc, chances are, the app lacks permissions to access your microphone. This can be quickly resolved by going to Settings > Privacy > Microphone. Just use the toggle to give microphone permissions for the app that you’re trying to use.
If you have previously blocked microphone access for websites or for specific apps, this may be the problem.
Disconnect All Hardware from iPhone
If you have a physical set of headphones or speakers plugged into the iPhone 12 Pro, try disconnecting those. Some iPhone headphones, like the earbuds, have built-in microphones, which are very convenient to use, but occasionally that headphone-set microphone can become damaged or dirty itself, and make the microphone not pickup audio, or sound muffled. This is an easy thing to check, so just unplug headphones if they’re plugged in and try again.
Force Reboot
If none of the above steps worked in your instance, you can try force restarting your device and see if that fixes your iPhone 12 Pro microphone issues. Most minor software-related bugs and glitches can be resolved by force restarting your device. Here’s how:
Press the volume up button first, followed by the volume down button, and then hold the side/power button until you see the Apple logo.
Reset All Settings
Consider this to be your last resort, because it’s a nuisance. Try resetting your iPhone to its factory default settings and see if that resolves your iPhone 12 Pro microphone issues. To do this, head over to Settings > General > Reset and tap on “Reset All Settings”. Although this doesn’t wipe all the data or apps installed on your iPhone, it will remove all your saved Wi-Fi passwords.
By now, you should’ve resolved the issues you were facing with the built-in microphone on your iPhone 12 Pro.
Take It to Apple Store
If all else fails, there is a good chance your iPhone is damaged. Mics are delicate parts and can easily break from fall, water, or similar damage. In this scenario, it is best to take your phone to a technician who can determine the fault within your device.
iPhone 12 Pro Microphone Issues: Fixed!
There are various reasons your iPhone 12 Pro mic may not work properly. If you ever run into a problem, the methods above should help you identify and fix issues with the iPhone’s mic. Which of the troubleshooting methods we discussed here worked for you? If not, did you get in touch with Apple Support? Do share your personal experience in the comments section down below.
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