AndroidAnswers

How do I fix Android microphone not working?

By the AndroidAnswers Editorial Team · Updated

About 5 minutes · Sound & calls

Illustration of a phone showing a microphone icon, with a speech bubble on one side and a check badge on the other

Steps to check

  1. Check mute, then disconnect Bluetooth and headphones

    During a call, look at the microphone (mute) button on the screen. If it is highlighted, tap it once to unmute. Next, turn off Bluetooth. When earbuds, a hearing device, or a car are connected, the phone may use their microphone instead of its own. Unplug wired headphones and anything in the USB-C or headphone port, then try the call again.

    Samsung Swipe down from the top right to open Quick settings and tap Bluetooth to turn it off (gray means off). To keep Bluetooth on for other things, touch and hold Bluetooth, tap the gear next to the connected device, and turn off Calls and Audio.Pixel Swipe down for Quick Settings and tap Bluetooth to turn it off. If you use headphones, try a different pair to see if the accessory is the problem.

  2. Turn on Microphone access and check app permission

    Android has a master switch that blocks the microphone for every app, plus a separate permission for each app. Check both. For one app, open Settings → Apps → the app → Permissions → Microphone and choose Allow only while using the app. On Android 12 and later, when an app is using the mic, a small green indicator shows at the top right of the screen, which is a quick way to confirm it is working.

    Samsung Settings → Privacy → make sure Microphone access is turned on. If you do not see it there, search Settings for Microphone access. App permission: Settings → Apps → the app → Permissions → Microphone.Pixel Swipe down twice and tap the Microphone access tile if it shows as blocked. Or open Settings → Security & privacy → Privacy → Privacy controls and turn on Microphone access.

  3. Remove the case and gently clean the mic openings

    The main microphone is usually a tiny hole at the bottom edge of the phone. A case, film, or sticker can cover it. Take off the case and any protective film, then wipe the openings gently with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth. Do not poke pins or needles into the holes. If the phone got wet, pat it dry and let it air-dry before you call. Samsung advises against cans of compressed air.

    Samsung Remove third-party cases, films, skins, and adhesives. Pat the earpiece at the top, and the microphone and speaker at the bottom, with a clean, soft cloth.Pixel Remove the case and screen protector. Clean the speakers, microphones, and USB-C port gently with a soft, lint-free cloth.

  4. Restart the phone and record a test

    Restart the phone. Then record a short clip with the voice recorder app and play it back. Also record a short video with sound in the Camera app. If both recordings sound fine, the microphone itself works and the problem is likely an accessory, a setting, or one app.

    Samsung Turn the phone off, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. Test with Voice Recorder or Camera. You can also open Samsung Members → Support → View tests → Mic to check each microphone.Pixel Pixel 6 and later: hold Power and Volume up, then tap Restart. Record in the Recorder app to test the bottom mic, and record a video in Camera to test the top mic.

  5. If only one app fails, update or reinstall that app

    If the recorder and camera work but one app (such as a messaging or video call app) does not pick up your voice, check that app's microphone permission again, update it from the Play Store, and if needed uninstall and reinstall it.

  6. Update the phone, then try Safe mode

    Install any system update. Then restart in Safe mode, which turns off downloaded apps for a while. Try the microphone there. If it works in Safe mode, a downloaded app is likely interfering. Restart normally to leave Safe mode, then remove recently installed apps one at a time and test after each.

    Samsung Settings → Software update → Download and install. Safe mode: open the power menu, touch and hold Power off until Safe mode appears, then tap Safe mode.Pixel Settings → System → Software update. Safe mode on Pixel 6 and later: hold Power and Volume up, then touch and hold Power off or Restart, and tap OK. Safe mode turns on Airplane mode, so turn Airplane mode off before you test a call.

  7. When to get repair help

    If a recording made with nothing connected, no case, and Bluetooth off is still silent or very faint, even in Safe mode, the microphone may need service. Contact Samsung, Google, your phone maker, or your carrier. Back up your photos and contacts before any factory reset a support agent may suggest.

Normal vs. not

Usually normal

Your voice going to earbuds or a car instead of the phone, a muted call, an app that was never given microphone permission, or a muffled sound because a case or film covers the mic hole.

Worth a closer look

Silent or very faint recordings in the voice recorder and Camera apps with no accessories, no case, and Bluetooth off, especially if it continues in Safe mode.

What people are saying

Common questions

Why can people hear me on speakerphone but not normally?

Phones have more than one microphone and use them for different tasks. Remove the case, gently clean the openings, and record a test in both the recorder app and the Camera app. If one of them is silent, one microphone may need repair.

My mic works in calls but not in one app. What should I check?

Check that app's microphone permission in Settings → Apps → the app → Permissions. Then update the app, and if that does not help, uninstall and reinstall it.

Is it safe to turn Microphone access back on?

Yes. Microphone access only lets apps that you have given permission use the mic. You can still choose, app by app, which ones are allowed.

Sources we checked

Menu names can differ by phone brand and Android version. See our editorial policy for how we check steps.