Everyday phone use · microphone
People cannot hear you on calls: check the microphone
If recording works but one calling app does not, the microphone may not be broken. First isolate app permission, mute, Bluetooth and debris before a repair or factory reset.
Updated 7 August 2026
Short answer: run these six tests
- Make a short recording with the phone's built-in recorder and play it back.
- Try a normal call and another calling app; note where the voice disappears.
- Check the app's microphone permission and call mute.
- Turn off Bluetooth and disconnect a headset for the test.
- Remove only loose debris from the opening with a soft dry brush—do not insert anything.
- Update the app and phone, restart, and test before a factory reset.
The symptom narrows the fault
Does the microphone work in a recorder, camera or another app? That split tells you whether to start with software or the device.
| Recorder works, one app does not | Check its microphone permission, call mute and update. |
|---|---|
| Microphone fails everywhere | Check openings, Bluetooth and physical damage; stop home testing early. |
| Only speakerphone lets people hear you | Turn off Bluetooth and compare normal and speakerphone calls. |
| It began after an update | Review app permissions and update the app; do not assume hardware failure. |
| Voice is unclear or cuts out | Background noise, a case or debris may cover the opening; test in a quiet room. |
Android
- Settings → Privacy → Permission manager → Microphone: confirm the app is allowed.
- Check Quick Settings to make sure the device-wide microphone switch is not off.
- Turn off Bluetooth for the test because the phone may be using a headset microphone.
- Compare the built-in recorder with another calling app.
iPhone
- Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone: confirm the app is allowed.
- Make a recording and a short video; if both are silent, the issue is unlikely to be one app.
- Remove a case or film that covers the microphone and clean gently while dry.
- Apple recommends comparing a normal call, speakerphone and app-specific behavior.
What not to do
- Do not insert a needle, toothpick or liquid into the microphone opening.
- Do not install a ‘mic booster’ app that requests unnecessary access.
- Do not factory-reset before checking permission, Bluetooth and the recorder.
- If the device was wet, hot or dropped, stop opening or drying it with home methods.
Quick diagnosis: where does the mic work?
Quick diagnosis: where does the mic work?
Choose the closest situation. Your answer is neither sent nor stored.
When is a guided check worthwhile?
If the microphone fails in every app, the phone was wet or important calls are unreliable, JVS Tuki can separate an app issue from a device fault safely.