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You are here: Home / Not working? / iPhone 12 Pro Max Microphone not Working? Fix

iPhone 12 Pro Max Microphone not Working? Fix

Last Updated: August 8, 2021 by Moses Gitari

Is your iPhone 12 Pro Max microphone not working? Before you panic, you don’t need to rush to near Apple Store for a fix. There are several quick fixes that can get your microphone running perfectly in no time. Check out these essential tips to fix your iPhone 12 Pro Max microphone issues:

What’s the Cause of iPhone 12 Pro Max Microphone Issues?

There are a few things that can cause issues with the microphone on your iPhone 12 Pro Max. For example, an external device such as headphones may be preventing the microphone from working. Other times, you may hear a crackling noise, or sounds may be unclear in your recordings if the microphone is having problems.

Sometimes, the issue you are having with the microphone of your iPhone 12 Pro Max 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.

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.

In this article, we will first go through the procedure to first check whether the microphone on your iPhone 12 Pro Max is working properly or not. After that, we will guide you through various troubleshooting steps that will hopefully fix your iPhone 12 Pro Max microphone for good.

Test Your iPhone’s Microphone

The iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max come with three microphones – one at the top, one at the rear and the third one at the bottom.

  • To check your front microphone, start the camera app and record a video with the front camera. To check the rear microphone, do the same except using the back camera. When you play back either video, you should be able to hear yourself clearly in the video recordings.
  • To check the bottom microphone, launch the voice memo app on your iPhone and start recording a voice note. End the recording and play it back. If you don’t hear your voice clearly, then this microphone is malfunctioning.

Fixes for Your iPhone 12 Pro Max Microphone Not Working

If you are having iPhone 12 Pro Max microphone issues, don’t panic just yet. There are number of simple steps you can follow to fix your iPhone in no time.

Clean it with a Toothbrush

Dirt particles can accumulate and easily clog the microphone of your device. Cleaning the microphone can help solve the iPhone 12 Pro Max microphone problems you are experiencing. You can clean your iPhone’s microphone using a clean toothbrush or an air compressor. But, be careful about the flow of the compressed air, keep it low otherwise it may damage the internals of your iPhone. Do not insert any sharp object into your iPhone’s microphone hole as that can end up damaging it permanently.

Disconnect Bluetooth Devices

This happens to me all the time. My wireless earbuds Funcl AI when sitting idle in the charging case, automatically turn on and connect to my iPhone. So, when I receive a call on my iPhone, the device sends it to the connected device and I can’t hear the other person. This can also happen to you if your iPhone is connected to an external Bluetooth speaker or to your car’s infotainment system.

It is always recommended that you manually disconnect Bluetooth devices from your iPhone in such scenarios from the control center to avoid such issues.

See also: How to fix iPhone 12 Pro Max Bluetooth not working

Make Sure Nothing is Covering Your iPhone’s Mic

The majority 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.

Turn off Noise Cancellation

iOS by default enables Noise cancellation to reduce ambient noise on phone calls when you are holding the receiver to your ear. While this works fine in most scenarios, it can end up muffling your voice if you are talking to someone while lying on the bed.

Launch the Settings app on your iPhone and navigate to Accessibility > Audio/Visual. Switch off Noise Cancellation toggle. Have a call with a friend and make sure the microphone is functioning properly. If it’s still malfunctioning then re-enable the feature and move to the next trick.

iPhone 12 Pro Max not making calls? Fix

Enable Microphone Access for Third-Party Apps

Are you having problems with video calls on apps like FaceTime, Skype, or WhatsApp? Chances are, you haven’t enabled the permission for the microphone for these apps.

Head into iPhone Settings app > Privacy > Microphone, and enable microphone access to the relevant apps.

Hard Reset Your iPhone

When you notice that your iPhone 12 Pro Max microphone has stopped working, try rebooting your device. It could be a minor issue, so rebooting your device can help fix the microphone problem. 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 iPhone Settings

If your iPhone 12 Pro Max microphone is still not working properly after following all the above steps, then consider taking this as a last resort. You will have to reset your iPhone back to factory settings. It won’t wipe out any app or their data but the step will delete all saved Wi-Fi passwords.

Start the Settings app on your iPhone and go to General > Reset > and choose Reset All Settings option.

Update Your iPhone

If the microphone issue on your iPhone 12 Pro Max popped up after a recent software update, you should update your device to the very latest release of iOS to see if that solves the issue or not.

Go to the iPhone Settings > General > Software Update and download the latest version of iOS on your device.

Follow the guide above step by step, and I’m sure you will have a fixed microphone on your iPhone. If it’s still not working, then it’s time to visit the nearest Apple center. In case any of the steps above worked in solving your iPhone 12 Pro Max microphone issue, drop a comment and let us know about it!

Editors' Recommendations:

  1. How to fix iPhone 15 Pro Max Microphone Not Working Issue

About Moses Gitari

Moses Gitari is the Editorial Director of iPhoneArena and has been writing about iPhones, iPads, Macs, accessories, and software for over 10 years.

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