Follow these troubleshooting steps to fix the microphone if it stopped working on your iPhone 7.
Is your iPhone 7 microphone not working? If so, you might want to get that fixed as soon as possible. The iPhone 7 is almost useless without the microphones. It means you can’t talk on the phone, use FaceTime, record voice memos, or summon Siri.
What’s the Cause of iPhone 7 Microphone Issues?
Here are some reasons why the microphone is not working on iPhone 7:
- External devices: An external device such as headphones may be preventing the iPhone 7 microphone from working.
- Network problems: Sometimes, the issue you are having with the microphone of your iPhone 7 can be tied to network problems. If you are on a call and suddenly, the person you are talking to can’t hear you, then the problem may be caused due to network issue.
- Microphone obstruction: The microphone on your iPhone 7 has openings and as time goes on, dirt particles can accumulate in the microphone thereby causing an obstruction. Also, you might have unknowingly placed your fingers on the microphone while you were on a call.
- Hardware damage: Your iPhone 7 mic can also become damaged due to physical issues, such as internal malfunctioning or damaged hardware from mishandling your phone.
- Other common issues are related to software updates and external accessories. These tend to reconfigure or disable your mic without you realizing it.
There are several steps you can take if your iPhone 7 microphone is not working. If you are having one of the issues below, you may be having a microphone problem:
- Siri doesn’t hear or understand you.
- Dictate text doesn’t work when you are composing a text message.
- Recording a voice memo doesn’t work.
- People don’t hear you when you are on phone or FaceTime calls on your iPhone.
You may be having issues with the features above because they require the microphone to function properly. If your iPhone 7 microphone isn’t working, you’ve probably already noticed it and want to get it repaired fast. If your iPhone 7 microphone isn’t working, give these steps a try to get it fixed and start making calls again in no time.
How to Fix iPhone 7 Microphone Not Working
Note: information in this article apply to iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
1. Find Out What Microphone Isn’t Working
Before you begin fixing your iPhone 7 microphone, you’ll need to know which microphone isn’t working.
The iPhone 7 has three microphones: one on the bottom of your phone for phone calls, one on the front of your phone for speakerphone, and one on the back for the camera.
Test each microphone by recording into your voice memos (bottom microphone), calling a number and speaking on speakerphone (front microphone), recording a video (back microphone). If all the microphones aren’t working, it’s most likely a hardware issue and you should skip step two.
If only one microphone isn’t working or sounds muffled, start with step one.
2. iPhone 7 Microphone Muffled or Muted? Try Cleaning It
One of the simplest ways to fix iPhone 7 microphone not working issue is by cleaning it. If any of your microphones sound muffled when you speak, they might need a good cleaning. iPhone 7 microphones are sensitive, and a small piece of dust or dander can affect how they sound.
To clean your microphone, avoid blowing into it at first, as you could push more dirt in there.
Instead, take a cue tip and dip it in some isopropyl alcohol. Don’t put too much on there, as you don’t need a lot. Then wipe it along the muffled microphone, either on the front, bottom, or back of your iPhone 7. Try to get inside the microphone hole if you can. Furthermore, ensure that the microphone on your iPhone 7 is not blocked by a protective case.
Isopropyl alcohol breaks up grime and dries fast, so it won’t damage your phone. Try using the highest percentage of isopropyl alcohol you can find.
3. Restart your iPhone
Turn off and on your iPhone and then test the mic again.
Press and hold the power button. Drag the Power Off slider. Then press and hold the power button until the Apple logo appears.
4. Make Sure You’re Not Connected to a Bluetooth Device
Being connected to a Bluetooth device could mean that your iPhone 7 is activating an external microphone and you can’t use the one built into the iPhone 7 itself.
This is a common issue with those who use Bluetooth headphones or smart home systems. You can check if you’re connected to a Bluetooth device by opening the Control Center, then toggle Bluetooth off. Alternatively, tap and hold it to view all your connected devices.
5. Make Sure Apps Have Microphone Permission
If your iPhone 7 microphone isn’t working in a specific app, you might not have granted that app permission to use your microphone.
To grant an app permission, head to Settings and go to your selected app. Open that app’s settings and make sure the Microphone option is enabled
6. Update iOS
In some cases, your iPhone 7 might not be working properly due to a bug in the software. Some users have reported that updating iOS can fix a variety of problems, including a microphone that doesn’t work.
If updating iOS on your iPhone 7 doesn’t resolve the microphone issue, you might want to restore your iPhone 7 to the default settings. Sometimes, apps can customize settings which can cause your microphone not to work. Restoring your iPhone 7 will fix this.
To do this, head to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings.
This will restore all the settings on your iPhone 7 without erasing your data.
If neither of these options worked, one other step you can take is to erase all the content on your iPhone 7 and set it up from scratch. While this is very time-consuming, it might be worth a try if all your iPhone 7 microphones stopped working.
Make sure you back up your iPhone 7 first. Then, to erase everything, head to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
7. Try Using an External Microphone
If you’ve tried all the above fixes but nothing is working, you can still use an external microphone with your iPhone 7. You can use this while you wait for a repair, or even use an external microphone indefinitely if you can’t afford a repair.
Apple’s earphones have a built-in microphone, and many other headphones have a microphone as well. While not ideal, headphones will connect through your Lightning port or over Bluetooth and don’t rely on your built-in microphones for many tasks.
8. Repair options
Apple has a dedicated support page for those who are having issues with their iPhone and need to schedule a repair. If all else fails, Apple will be able to fix or replace your iPhone 7.
You can choose to send it in or bring it in for repair. The cost of a microphone repair depends on what’s wrong with it.
If you choose to go to Apple, the repairs can be expensive. To save money, you could try a third-party repair service instead, but the repairs might not meet Apple’s standards.
Luckily, if your phone is under warranty, you won’t pay anything for a repair from Apple. You can check if you’re eligible on the Check Your Service and Support page.
iPhone 7 Microphone Not Working? There Are Solutions
An iPhone 7 microphone not working can be annoying, but there are solutions that can get you heard again in no time.
While these DIY repairs might not work for everyone, hopefully you have resolved your iPhone microphone issues with the tutorials above. For those who haven’t, you have repair options and have the ability to use an external microphone in the meantime.
Either way, we hope you resolve your iPhone 7 microphone not working issue as fast as possible.
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