In this guide
Test a Voice Memo and videos from both cameras, then compare the results with the app or call that failed. Check microphone permissions and connected accessories; a single successful test does not prove every recording path works.
If your iPhone microphone is not working, first compare a Voice Memo, videos from both cameras and the app or call where the problem occurs. Remove a case or film that may cover an opening, check app microphone permission, and test again without connected audio accessories. If recordings remain unclear across Apple's tests, contact Apple Support about service.
Different symptoms can have different causes. A silent call, a quiet recording and a microphone denied to one app do not establish the same fault. Apple's iPhone microphone troubleshooting guide provides the Voice Memos, camera and permission checks below.
Start with the symptom
| What happens? | First comparison | Next check |
|---|---|---|
| People cannot hear you on calls | Record and play a Voice Memo while speaking near the bottom of the phone. | Compare with a call; check mute and any connected audio accessory. |
| Video or speakerphone sounds unclear | Record short videos with the rear and front cameras while speaking near the top of the phone. | Play both files and compare them with the original problem. |
| Only one app fails | See whether a Voice Memo and another app capture your voice. | Check the affected app's microphone permission and in-app mute or input options. |
| The recording plays quietly or sounds muffled | Listen to a fresh test at a comfortable playback level and compare another output. | Check for an obstructing case, distance and connected devices. |
1. Make a Voice Memos test
- Open Voice Memos, start a recording and speak near the bottom of the iPhone at a normal level.
- Stop and play the saved memo. Listen for intelligible words, not just the presence of a waveform.
- If playback is hard to hear, check the playback volume and compare a known working recording or output. A playback problem can be mistaken for a microphone problem.
- Note whether the memo is clear, quiet, distorted or silent. Compare it with the same symptom in the affected call or app.
Apple uses this test when people cannot hear you on phone or FaceTime calls. A clear memo is useful evidence, but it does not prove that the microphone path used by every camera or app is working.
2. Test video with both cameras
- Open Camera and record a short video while speaking near the top of the phone.
- Switch to the other camera and record another short video in the same way.
- Play both saved videos and listen for clear words. Keep the volume comfortable and compare the same spoken phrase.
Apple recommends testing both cameras when people cannot hear you using speakerphone. Different results help narrow the problem, but they are not a definitive hardware diagnosis. Note which test failed when contacting support.
3. Check the case and connected accessories
Remove a case, screen protector or film that could cover an opening, then repeat the tests. Apple also advises clearing debris from openings; follow its cleaning instructions and avoid getting moisture into openings. Do not push a tool into the phone to diagnose it.
If headphones, a headset, an adapter or a Bluetooth device is connected, disconnect it for a comparison and repeat a test. Then reconnect the accessory and test again if you need it. The selected input can depend on the device and app; a browser test does not let you assume which physical iPhone microphone it used.
4. Check microphone permission for the affected app
- Open Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.
- Find the app and make sure microphone access is enabled if you want to use it there.
- Return to the app, check that you are not muted, and repeat a short test.
- If access is enabled or the app is not listed, Apple's microphone guide recommends contacting the app developer for that app-specific problem.
Apple's privacy guidance says the list shows apps that have requested microphone access. Menu names and available controls can change with iOS and app versions.
Try a browser microphone test
The Saturalabs microphone test can show input activity and play a short local sample in a compatible browser after you grant access. Speak, record a short test and play it back. If the browser asks for permission, allow access only if you want to perform the test; check the browser's site permission if access was previously denied.
The test uses the input selected by the browser or device. It cannot prove which physical iPhone microphone supplied the sound, test a call connection, or repair the hardware. A moving meter alone does not prove the recording sounds clear; listen to the sample and compare Apple's Voice Memos and camera tests.
If the microphone still does not work
Record which tests fail: Voice Memos, front-camera video, rear-camera video, a specific app or a connected accessory. If Apple's tests remain unclear after removing obstructions and checking the app, use Apple's support and service guidance. Avoid assuming that cleaning software or increasing a saved file's volume can repair a microphone that did not capture the voice.
If a new recording works but an older file contains a competing sound, the separate voice isolator can be tested on a supported saved file. It estimates a source and may alter words or leave noise; AI WAV downloads require an account and sufficient credits. It does not fix the live microphone. The iPhone video noise guide covers options for an existing recording.
Common questions
Why does my iPhone microphone work in Voice Memos but not in one app?
A clear memo suggests that test recorded sound, but an app may have different permission, mute or input settings. Check the app's microphone access and contact its developer if the issue remains.
Why can I hear a recording but callers cannot hear me?
Compare a Voice Memo with a call, check mute and accessories, and test the front and rear camera recordings as described by Apple. A single recording does not test the complete call path.
Can a website test every iPhone microphone?
No. A browser test uses the input selected by the browser or device and cannot guarantee which physical microphone was used. Compare other recording and call tests.
Will increasing volume fix a silent recording?
No. Increasing playback or file gain cannot recreate a voice that was not captured. Check the input and make a new test; gain can also amplify existing background noise.