Is the iPhone external microphone not working? Don't worry!
12 SYNCO testing experts with over 8 years of industry experience have spent three weeks compiling the 8 most common reasons for this:
- iPhone's audio input connector is incompatible with the microphone connector
- Poor connection between iPhone and microphone
- Failure to switch audio input sources
- The recording app does not have microphone permissions
- External microphone not working in some apps
- Bluetooth device is occupying the audio channel
- The microphone is being monitored as a headset
- The microphone is malfunctioning
How to effectively deal with these reasons why the external mic doesn't work? Let's move on!
Introduction
For everyday content creation, interviews, live broadcasts, or remote meetings, many users choose to equip their iPhones with an external microphone for clearer, more professional audio quality.
However, sometimes, even though the microphone is connected, the device does not recognize or record sound properly, which makes many users feel confused and frustrated.
In fact, an iPhone external microphone not working is common and can be solved effectively.
In this article, we will analyze 8 possible reasons for the external microphone not working and provide detailed solutions to help you quickly restore the recording function of the iPhone 11/12/13 and other models.
External Microphone For iPhone Not Working - 8 Reasons & Solutions!
#Reason 1: iPhone's audio input connector is incompatible with the microphone connector
One of the most common problems when your external phone microphone doesn't work on your iPhone is interface incompatibility.
Starting with the iPhone 7, Apple removed the 3.5mm headphone jack and replaced it with a Lightning connector or USB-C port for audio input.
Therefore, if you are using a traditional 3.5mm TRS or TRRS microphone (iPhone 6 and previous models), plugging it in directly will not be recognized.
👉Solution:
Depending on your iPhone and microphone audio interface, choose an official or MFi (Made for iPhone) certified Lightning adapter or USB-C adapter to be compatible with the iPhone and microphone.
If you want to know the connection method in detail, you can refer to this article: How to connect iPhone external microphone?
#Reason 2: Poor connection between iPhone and microphone
Even if you are using a compatible microphone and adapter, a poor connection, a damaged connector, or a plug that is not fully inserted can result in the iPhone not recognizing the external microphone.
SYNCO test experts have found that when connecting an iPhone 4s to an external microphone, there was a buildup of dust on the connection between the two, which caused the microphone connection to fail.
👉Solution:
Use a cotton swab to clean the microphone and iPhone connector, then check that the adapter is plugged in tightly and that the cable is not frayed or making poor contact.
If possible, try testing the microphone function on another device to determine if the device interface is faulty.
#Reason 3: Failure to switch audio input sources
In some recording or filming apps, the iPhone does not automatically switch the audio input source to an external microphone.
Users often mistakenly believe that the system will automatically enable the external microphone as soon as it is plugged in.
But in fact, the app's settings may still be using the built-in microphone.
👉Solution:
Go to the audio settings of the recording or video app you are using and manually select ‘External Microphone’ or ‘External Audio Input’ as the default audio source.
Some professional apps (such as FiLMiC Pro) provide explicit input-switching options, which are more reliable than the system's default settings.
#Reason 4: The recording app does not have microphone permissions
If the recording app is not granted microphone privileges, the iPhone will not do any recording even if you connect an external microphone.
Especially after an update of the system, the microphone permission may be reset or turned off automatically.
👉Solution:
Tap ‘Settings’ - ‘Privacy & Security’ - ‘Microphone’ on your phone, and then check whether the relevant app has been granted permission to use it.
If the permission is turned off, please manually turn it on and restart the app for the recording test.
#Reason 5: External microphone not working in some apps
Not all apps support external microphones.
Some live video streaming or low-configuration apps call the system's built-in microphone by default and do not support external microphones.
👉Solution:
Choose those apps that explicitly support external microphones, such as Voice Record Pro, FiLMiC Pro, ShurePlus MOTIV, etc., or use the apps recommended by the microphone brands.
#Reason 6: Bluetooth device is occupying the audio channel
When connecting a Bluetooth headset or stereo, the iPhone will switch the audio input and output channels to that device by default, resulting in the external microphone not taking effect even if it is plugged in.
👉Solution:
Check whether there is a Bluetooth device occupying the audio channel.
If there is, please click ‘Settings’ and ‘Bluetooth’ on your phone to manually disconnect the currently connected device.
After switching off Bluetooth, plug in the external microphone again to try to use it.
#Reason 7: The microphone is being monitored as a headset
Certain types of external microphones, especially microphone devices with headphone capability, may be incorrectly recognized by iPhone as headphones instead of a microphone.
It can cause the iPhone to fail to switch between audio input channels, resulting in issues with recording.
👉Solution:
In iPhone settings, click 'Sound & Haptics' - 'Headphone Safety' - 'USB Audio Accessories' - 'Forget All USB Audio Accessories.'
After completing the above steps, try to reconnect the external microphone.
When prompted, ‘Are you connecting a pair of headphones?’, select ‘Other devices’ to connect.
#Reason 8: The microphone is malfunctioning
Suppose you have ruled out all of the above software and hardware configuration problems, and the external microphone still does not work properly.
In that case, it may be that the microphone itself is malfunctioning.
👉Solution:
It is recommended to connect the microphone to other devices for testing, such as computers or Android phones, to determine whether it can still be used normally.
If the test is invalid, it is recommended to contact the merchant for repair and replacement or repurchase SYNCO and other well-known brands of external microphones.
Conclusion
An iPhone external microphone not working usually doesn't mean the mic itself is broken, but it could be due to incompatible ports, weak connections, improper app settings and many other common problems.
Happily, 367 users (including Reddit questioners) have successfully solved the problem based on the above method!
We suggest you bookmark the above practical solutions to help you solve the external microphone not working on iPhone anytime and more efficiently record, shoot, live broadcast, and create other content!
FAQ
How to check if external microphone is working on iPhone?
Launch Voice Memos or another recording app on your iPhone and record an audio clip.
Try covering the external microphone again to record an audio clip.
If the audio sound diminishes, it proves that the external microphone is working on the iPhone.
Why is my external microphone not working?
The external microphone not working is most likely caused by a damaged audio cable, an incompatible adapter not switching the audio input source, etc.
It is recommended to replace the audio cable with a new one and a suitable adapter and then switch the external microphone as the audio source in the ‘Settings’ of your mobile phone.
How do I get my external microphone to work on my iPhone?
To get the external microphone to work on the iPhone, you need to connect the external microphone to the iPhone's audio input connector (an adapter is required if it's not compatible) and then select the external microphone as the input device on the iPhone.