How to Make the iPhone Microphone Louder
By Avery Martin
The iPhone microphone's can be adjusted manually during a phone call or when making an audio recording. The iPhone microphone should have sufficient volume for most tasks. Generally, when the microphone on an iPhone is low or fuzzy, the issue can be corrected with some basic cleaning and maintenance tasks. If you are trying to record high-quality audio with your iPhone, you may need to purchase a professional microphone compatible with your iPhone to increase the quality and detail of your recording.
Microphone Volume Options
Step 1
Tap "Settings" and "Sounds" on your iPhone.
Step 2
Slide the "Change With Buttons" slider to the "On" position.
Step 3
Press the "+" button on the side of the iPhone to increase the overall system volume. Press the "-" button to lower the volume. This affects the volume of the microphone as well.
Cleaning Microphone and Jacks
Step 1
Locate the small microphone hole between the camera lens and LED flash on the back, the microphone hole above the speaker on the front and the microphone near the headset jack hole on the iPhone 5. The iPhone 4 has one mic on the top of the case and one on the bottom left grill. The grill on the right plays music, app sounds and ringtones.
Step 2
Lightly brush the openings of each of the microphones on your iPhone. Make sure to brush away from the dock connector to avoid getting debris inside the connector port.
Step 3
Locate the microphone jack on the top of the iPhone 4 or the bottom of the iPhone 5 and lightly brush any debris from inside the headphone jack using your brush.
Step 4
Turn the iPhone off by holding the "On/Off" button on the top of the iPhone and swiping from left to right on the "Slide To Power Off" switch.
Step 5
Spray each of the microphone openings and the microphone jack with a bottle of compressed air to remove any remaining debris. Use short bursts of one- to two-second intervals and keep the nozzle about 1 inch from the components.
Additional Troubleshooting Steps
Step 1
Check to make sure you removed the protective covering that came with your iPhone.
Step 2
Remove any casing that blocks or limits access to any of the iPhone microphones. Use only cases specifically designed for your iPhone model.
Step 3
Place the iPhone in different locations to determine the best position to achieve the loudest microphone volume without causing static or interference. In general, you can hold the microphone up to 12 inches from your face with the built-in mic facing you. Hold the phone as you would when on a normal telephone call and avoid putting your face too close to the microphone.
Step 4
Don't hold the microphone in your hand when using a headset with a built-in microphone. Keep the cord away from your face and allow it to hang freely to achieve an optimal distance between your mouth and microphone.
Step 5
Hold the "On/Off" switch for three seconds until the "Slide To Power Off" slider appears. Slide from left to right to power off your iPhone. Press the "On/Off" switch again to restart your iPhone. Rebooting your iPhone sometimes helps fix hardware problems.
Step 6
Tap the "Settings" app and select the "General" option. Select "Software Update" and install any available updates for your iPhone.
References
Tips
- If you are experiencing significant problems with the microphone on your iPhone, take it in to an Apple Store.
Warnings
- Information in this article applies to iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 running iOS 5 or iOS 6. It may vary slightly or significantly with other versions or products.
Writer Bio
Avery Martin holds a Bachelor of Music in opera performance and a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian studies. As a professional writer, she has written for Education.com, Samsung and IBM. Martin contributed English translations for a collection of Japanese poems by Misuzu Kaneko. She has worked as an educator in Japan, and she runs a private voice studio out of her home. She writes about education, music and travel.