You are on a call and the other person keeps saying "I can't hear you." Voice notes play back silent. Google Assistant pretends you never spoke. But videos and music play just fine — so the phone's speakers work, and it is the microphone that has gone quiet.
A dead or weak mic is almost never a mystery once you work through the real causes: something physically blocking the mic hole, audio routed to a Bluetooth headset you forgot about, a revoked app permission, or a misbehaving app. These 6 fixes start with the physical checks (they solve a surprising number of cases) and move toward software and hardware.
Quick Answer
If your Android microphone is not working, remove the case and clean the mic hole, disconnect any Bluetooth devices, and check the app's microphone permission under Settings → Apps → Permissions. If it works in some apps but not others, the app itself is the problem.
In This Guide
Fix 1: Remove the Case and Clean the Mic Hole
Before you touch a single setting, look at the phone itself. A thick case or a misaligned screen protector can cover the tiny microphone hole at the bottom of the phone, and pocket lint packs into that hole over months of use. No software fix can overcome a physically muffled mic.
- Take the phone out of its case and peel off any screen protector that covers the bottom edge.
- Find the microphone hole — usually a pinprick opening on the bottom edge next to the charging port, sometimes also near the camera on top.
- Use a soft dry brush (a clean, dry toothbrush works) to gently sweep across the hole. Never push a pin or needle into it.
- A short puff of air can help, but do not blow hard or use compressed air cans at close range — you can drive debris deeper or damage the mic membrane.
- Make a test call or record a voice note with the case still off.
If the mic suddenly works with the case off, the case was the problem all along — replace it with one whose cutouts actually line up.
Fix 2: Restart and Test in Safe Mode
A restart clears temporary audio-process glitches that can mute the mic without any visible error. Safe Mode goes further: it disables every third-party app, so if the mic works there, one of your downloaded apps is interfering.
- Restart the phone and test the mic with the built-in Voice Recorder app.
- If it still fails, enter Safe Mode: hold the power button, then touch and hold Power off until the Safe mode prompt appears (Samsung: same steps from Quick Settings → power icon → hold Power off).
- Tap Safe mode. You will see "Safe mode" in the corner of the screen.
- Open Voice Recorder and record a clip. If the mic works in Safe Mode, a third-party app is the culprit — uninstall recently installed apps, starting with the newest.
- Restart again to leave Safe Mode.
Fix 3: Check the App's Microphone Permission
Here is a pattern worth memorizing: if the mic works in the Recorder app but not in WhatsApp, the mic is fine — WhatsApp simply lacks permission. Android can revoke or quietly deny microphone access during updates, and some apps never ask again on their own.
- Open Settings → Apps → tap the app that cannot hear you (WhatsApp, Zoom, the camera app, etc.).
- Tap Permissions → Microphone and set it to Allow only while using the app or Allow.
- For a global view, go to Settings → Privacy → Permission manager → Microphone and scan the denied list for apps that should have access.
- Reopen the app and test again.
Fix 4: Disconnect Bluetooth Devices
This one catches people constantly. Your phone is still connected to earbuds in your bag, a smartwatch, or the car's Bluetooth — and Android is helpfully routing the microphone input to that device instead of the phone's own mic. You talk, the phone "hears" the empty car, and the other person hears nothing.
- Swipe down to Quick Settings and tap Bluetooth to turn it off completely.
- Alternatively, go to Settings → Connections (or Connected devices) → Bluetooth and disconnect or unpair the active device.
- Test the mic in Voice Recorder with Bluetooth off.
- If that fixes it, reconnect only the devices you actually use, and get into the habit of disconnecting earbuds when they go back in the case.
Fix 5: Clear Cache or Update the Affected App
When the mic fails in exactly one app, the app's own cached data or an outdated version is often to blame. A corrupted cache can break the app's audio pipeline while the system mic works perfectly elsewhere.
- Go to Settings → Apps → select the problem app → Storage → tap Clear cache. (Do not tap Clear data unless you are prepared to sign back in.)
- Open the Play Store, find the app, and tap Update if one is available.
- Restart the app and test the mic again.
- If the problem started right after an app update, check the Play Store reviews — a buggy release often breaks voice input for many users at once, and the next update fixes it.
Fix 6: Reset App Preferences and Get the Mic Checked
If the mic is dead everywhere — calls, recorder, voice typing, Safe Mode — and cleaning changed nothing, you are likely past software. But try one final sweep first: reset app preferences, which restores all permissions and defaults without deleting your data.
- Go to Settings → Apps → tap the three-dot menu → Reset app preferences → confirm.
- Restart the phone and test the mic in Voice Recorder once more.
- If it is still dead, run your manufacturer's built-in diagnostics: Samsung owners can dial *#0*# and tap Mic or Loopback to test the hardware directly.
- A failed hardware test means the mic component needs a professional repair — take it to an authorized service center, especially if the phone is under warranty.
Water exposure or a hard drop can kill a mic outright; if either happened recently, skip straight to the service center.
Watch: How to Fix Any Android Phone Microphone Not Working
This video demonstrates the main microphone fixes on an Android phone, step by step.
Video by Cap Trong Nam - How To — full credit to the creator.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my mic work on speakerphone but not on regular calls?
Phones use different microphones for different modes — the bottom mic for handset calls and another for speakerphone. If one works and the other does not, that specific mic is blocked or faulty while the other is fine.
Can a screen protector really block the microphone?
Yes, if it is misaligned and covers the mic hole on the bottom edge. This is common with cheap or slightly oversized protectors. Remove it and test before assuming anything else.
Why did my mic stop working after an Android update?
Updates can reset app permissions and change audio routing. Check the microphone permission for each affected app (Fix 3) and disconnect Bluetooth devices (Fix 4) — those two steps cover most post-update mic failures.
By Sameer Zehri | App Fix Guru Editor | Last updated: October 2026
