Are you tired of hearing your friends complain that they cannot hear you no matter how loud you speak through your iPhone microphone? Luckily, you can resolve this problem by cleaning debris off of it with certain workarounds.
To clean an iPhone microphone, power off the device, take a toothbrush and dip it in isopropyl alcohol, squeeze off the excess liquid, and gently scrub the microphone. Once done, wipe off the surface with a microfiber cloth or cotton swab.
To make things easier for you, we took the time to write a comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to clean an iPhone microphone.
Locating iPhone Microphones
Before cleaning an iPhone microphone, knowing where it is located is necessary, as the device comes with multiple ones for different purposes. In total, your iPhone has 3 microphones consisting of the bottom, front, and rear mics.
The bottom microphone is on either side of the charging port and is mainly used for phone calls.
In contrast, the front mic is located on the top of your iPhone, next to the earpiece. This microphone is responsible for recording front-camera videos, connecting to Siri, and speaking on the speakerphone.
Lastly, the rear mic is located at the back of your device and fulfills the purposes of recording videos from the rear camera, phone call noise cancellation, Siri, and FaceTime.
Cleaning an iPhone Microphone
If you’re struggling with how to clean an iPhone microphone, our 5 step-by-step methods will help you do this task without a problem!
Method #1: Using Cotton Swabs
To clean an iPhone microphone using a cotton swab, follow these steps.
- Power off your iPhone.
- Take a cotton swab.”
- Mold the cotton side to a precise tip.
- Insert the precise end in the bottom microphone and roll it with gentle pressure.
- Once satisfied, repeat the steps for other microphones to clean them thoroughly!
Method #2: Using a Microfiber Cloth
You can also clean an iPhone microphone using a microfiber cloth with the following steps.
- Switch off your iPhone.
- Take a microfiber cloth and fold it precisely to create an edge.
- Insert the firm edge into the bottom microphone.
- Gently move it in circular motions to clean out the debris.
- Once the process is complete, repeat the steps with other iPhone microphones to squeaky clean them.
Method #3: Using a Toothbrush and Isopropyl Alcohol
Another way to clean an iPhone microphone is by using a toothbrush and isopropyl alcohol with the following steps.
- Power off your iPhone.
- Pour isopropyl alcohol into a container.
- Dip a clean toothbrush in the liquid and squeeze off any excess substance.
- Use the toothbrush to scrub the bottom microphone gently in circular motions.
- Once satisfied, take a cotton swab and wipe off the microphone surface.
- Repeat the steps on the other iPhone microphones to give them a deep clean!
Method #4: Using Air Dusters
It is possible to clean an iPhone microphone using air dusters with the following steps.
- Power off your iPhone.
- Take an air duster and place its nozzle near your iPhone’s bottom microphone.
- Shoot compressed air by pressing the lever gently to blow out the gunk from your microphone.
- Repeat the steps until all microphones on your iPhone are clean!
Method #5: Using a Putty Cleaner
Using a putty cleaner with the following steps, you can also make your iPhone microphone debris-free.
- Switch off your iPhone.
- Grab a small amount of electronic putty cleaner with your fingers and place it against your iPhone’s bottom microphone.
- Wait for 45-60 seconds.
- Pull it out to clean your microphone thoroughly!
- Once the process is complete, repeat the same steps on other microphones!
What Do I Do if My Microphone Is Still Not Clean?
If the ways above have not helped you clean your iPhone microphone, the last resort is to get it cleaned professionally by contacting Apple Support through their website. Choose your iPhone, navigate to the “Repairs & Physical Damage” section, and talk to a rep to resolve your problem.
Follow the on-screen instructions to get your iPhone microphones cleaned professionally!
Summary
In this guide, we’ve discussed how to clean an iPhone microphone. We have also discussed contacting Apple support if your mic does not get dirt-free using safe measures at home.
Hopefully, your question is answered, and you can now enjoy talking to your friends without hearing them complain about how inaudible you are!
Frequently Asked Questions
To test your cleaned microphone, open “Voice Memos” and tap the “Record” button. Next, repeat a few words, tap the “Stop” button, and select “Play”. You should now be able to hear your voice.
Fortunately, Apple allows users to adjust their microphone sensitivity on an iPhone. To do so, open Settings, select “Sounds & Haptics”, and toggle the button beside “Change with Buttons”. Finally, raise your microphone’s sensitivity by pressing the volume up button.
