How to fix Apple iPhone XS microphone problems, microphone not working [Troubleshooting Guide]

Microphone problems can occur on smartphones due to errant software or bad hardware. With that said, even the new high-end devices can give into this issue. Outlined below are possible solutions to microphone problems and relevant audio symptoms transpiring on the new Apple iPhone XS handset. Feel free to refer to this context should you too find the need to fix a similar issue on your new iOS device.

But before anything else, if you have another issue with your phone, drop by our troubleshooting page as we have already addressed hundreds of issues reported by the owners. Odds are that there are already existing solutions on our website or at least, there are similar problems we already fixed. So, try to find ones that are similar or related to your problem. If you need further assistance, however, feel free to contact us by filling up our iPhone issues questionnaire.

How to troubleshoot iPhone XS with microphone that’s not working

Before troubleshooting, remove any protective case from your iPhone especially non-Apple accessories. Such things can block the rear, front, or bottom microphone of your phone and may therefore result to audio problems from static background to no sound at all. Also check and ensure that the cellular network on your iPhone is strong and stable. Audio cut-offs during phone calls are sometimes linked to cellular network problems like when the phone is getting weak or poor signal.

Test the primary, rear, and bottom microphones individually to see if they’re all working as intended. You can open sound-enabled apps like Voice Memos to record an audio using each microphone and then play it back. If you hear your voice recording properly, then the microphone is working. Aside from Voice Memos, you can also record a video with the Camera app test the rear microphone and then play back the video to see if you can hear its audio clearly. Also ensure that the microphones aren’t clogged or covered with dust or dirt.

If the microphone tests produce positive results but you’re still having trouble with audio outputs when using certain apps or functions, then the problem must be attributed to software errors. In that case, you can refer to the following walkthroughs and begin to troubleshoot your iPhone XS.

First solution: Disable or disconnect Bluetooth connections on your iPhone XS.

Corrupted Bluetooth connections may also result to a conflict or interfere with your phone’s audio functions. To eliminate this from the underlying causes, disconnect your iPhone XS from any paired Bluetooth accessory.

Open the Settings from your Home screen.
Scroll to and choose Bluetooth.
Tap information (i) icon next to Bluetooth device you want your iPhone to forget.
Then tap the option to Forget This Device.
The selected Bluetooth device will then be deleted.

Alternatively, you can toggle the Bluetooth switch to turn the feature OFF from the Settings menu.

Second solution: Reboot your iPhone XS (soft reset).

Software errors and random firmware glitches may also affect the phone’s microphone system and thereby caused you to endure adverse audio symptoms. The problem may also be just isolated to a certain audio application that’s going rogue on your device. A simple yet very effective solution to this type of problem would be a soft reset or device restart. Doing so also dumps junk files from the phone memory for better performance. Here’s how it’s done:

Press and hold the Side/Power button and either Volume buttons simultaneously for a few seconds.
Release the buttons when the Slide to Power Off command appears.
Drag the power off slider to the right.
After 30 seconds, press and hold the Power button or Side button again until the phone reboots.

Allow your device to finish booting up and then test the microphone to see if the problem is solved. If the microphones are still not working properly, continue to troubleshoot and resort to the next applicable solutions.

Third solution: Update to the latest iOS version available.

Some problem fixes can be found in iOS updates. Aside from bringing in new features and enhanced functionalities, new software updates also contain fix patches or codes that are programmed to address errors and glitches residing on certain apps and services. If your iPhone XS has stable Wi-Fi internet access, you can refer to these steps to check for and install the latest iOS version on your iPhone wirelessly (over-the-air). You may have to consider backing up some critical data before you proceed with these steps:

Tap to open Settings from your Home screen.
Tap General.
Select Software Update.

An update notification will then be prompted on the screen containing the update details, system requirements and key features offered. Read and review the notes then select the option to Download and Install new update to iOS. When the update is completely installed, reboot your iPhone XS to save and apply the new system changes.

Fourth solution: Reset all settings on your iPhone XS.

Deleting customized settings from your iPhone can also be considered an option if the microphone suddenly stops working after modifying some options and settings on your device. There may be some settings errors that need to be cleared or corrected. So here’s what you should do then:

Launch Settings from the Home screen.
Tap General.
Scroll down to and tap Reset.
Select the option to Reset all settings.
If prompted, enter your device passcode.
Then tap the option to confirm all settings reset.

After the reset, your device will restart and reloads the default settings and values. You can enable individual options and features that you need to use on your device. See if that solves the problem. If not, then try performing a deeper system reset.

Fifth solution: Restore factory default settings on your iPhone XS.

If it’s not hardware damage, then it’s most likely a very complex system issue that you’re dealing with. The previous solutions should be able to deal with minor software errors that may have caused the microphone to fail. But since you’re still facing the same problem after carrying them out, your remaining choices would be to troubleshoot further or opt for service. If you wish to troubleshoot further, then performing a factory reset should be considered the next possible solution to try. Be sure to create a copy of your important files beforehand to avoid losing them permanently. Once you’re all set, follow these steps to wipe your iPhone XS and restore its factory default settings and original configurations:

Tap to open the Settings app from Home.
Tap on General.
Scroll down to and then tap on Reset.
Select the option to Erase all content and settings.
If prompted, enter your device passcode to continue.
Then tap the option to confirm fully system reset.

Wait until the reset is complete and your iPhone XS restarts by itself. After it reboots, set it up as new. Software-related issues caused by major data corruption should then be remedied. Otherwise, your iPhone XS might have obtained some sort of hardware damage that requires a technician’s aid.

Other options

If your iPhone XS microphone is still not working after applying the previous methods, then a damaged component is more likely to blame. In that case, your iPhone XS needs service. For thorough hardware damage assessment, visit the nearest Apple-authorized service center in your area. Or you can also report the issue to Apple Support or your iPhone XS carrier for other suggestions.

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If you need more help with the use of certain functions and features of the Apple iPhone XS smartphone, feel free to visit our Tutorial Page. There you can find a list of how-to contents, step-by-step tutorials, as well as answers to FAQs regarding iPhone XS. If you have other concerns or encountered some troubles while using the phone, you can reach us through this form. Just be sure to tell us more details of the problem or device issue(s) you may have and we will be more than happy to assist you further.