Why Your Phone Microphone Picks Up Background Noise (and How to Fix It)

Posted on:

October 25, 2025

“I can’t hear you!” “Are you in a wind tunnel?” “What is all that static?”

If you’re tired of hearing these phrases, you’re not alone. A phone call is the most basic function of a smartphone, and when it fails, it’s incredibly frustrating. Your voice gets lost, and the person on the other end is blasted with a storm of background noise, like traffic, wind, or a constant “hiss.”

You might think your phone is broken beyond repair, but the cause is often surprisingly simple. The problem can range from a tiny piece of pocket lint to a hidden software setting you never knew existed.

As professional tech experts at ReparationTech, we’ve handled thousands of audio issues. This problem is one of the most common we see. This guide is based on our team’s hands-on diagnostic and repair experience. We will walk you through everything, starting with the 1-minute fixes and moving to the advanced solutions that will make your voice sound crystal clear again.

Section 1: The “Why” — Your Phone Has More Than One Microphone

Before we can fix the problem, you need to understand a key fact: your phone doesn’t have one microphone. It has several.

Modern smartphones (both iPhone and Android) use a sophisticated multi-mic array to make your voice sound clear.

The Primary Microphone: This is the main mic, usually located at the bottom of your phone, right near the charging port. Its job is to pick up your voice when you’re holding the phone to your ear.
The Noise-Canceling Microphones: These are secondary (and sometimes tertiary) mics. You can usually find one on the top of your phone and another on the back, near the camera lens.

How Does Noise Cancellation Work?

It’s a brilliant piece of engineering. The noise-canceling mics are designed to “listen” to the ambient sound around you (traffic, wind, crowds). The phone’s audio chip takes this background noise, “flips” its sound wave, and digitally subtracts it from what the primary microphone is hearing.

The result? The background noise is erased, and only your voice is left.

So, Where Does It Go Wrong?

The “too much background noise” problem almost always happens for one of two reasons:

Problem A: The Primary Mic is Blocked. If your main mic (at the bottom) is clogged with dirt, lint, or blocked by a case, your phone can’t hear you clearly. It tries to compensate by “turning up the volume” on all its microphones. This means it amplifies the sound from the noise-canceling mics, making the background noise louder than your own voice.
Problem B: The Noise-Canceling Mic is Blocked. If your secondary mic (on the top or back) is blocked, it can’t hear the background noise properly. If it can’t hear the noise, it can’t “subtract” it. The result is that your caller hears everything—your voice, the wind, the TV, and the traffic.

In short, a tiny speck of dust in the wrong hole can sabotage your phone’s entire audio system.

Section 2: Simple Fixes You Can Try in 5 Minutes

Let’s start with the most common culprits. You must try these first.

Fix 1: Clean Your Microphone Ports (Gently!)

This is the #1 solution. Pocket lint, dust, makeup, and skin oils are constantly being packed into the tiny holes at the bottom and top of your phone.

Where are they?
- Primary Mic: Look at the bottom of your phone. It’s one of the small holes in the speaker grille, next to the charging port.
- Secondary Mic: Look at the top edge of your phone. You’ll see a tiny pinhole.
- Tertiary Mic: Look at the back of your phone, usually in the camera bump.
How to Clean Them Safely:
- DO NOT use a metal paperclip or SIM eject tool. You will permanently damage the delicate microphone membrane.
- DO NOT blow into the hole with your mouth. This forces warm, moist air inside, which can lead to corrosion.
- DO use a can of compressed air. Give it a few short, gentle bursts from a few inches away.
- DO use a soft-bristle brush (like a clean, dry toothbrush or an anti-static brush). Gently sweep it across the mic holes.
- DO (very carefully) use a wooden or plastic toothpick. Gently trace the edge of the hole to “scoop” out impacted debris. Do not poke straight down.

Fix 2: Take Off Your Phone Case

This seems too simple, but it’s a major cause.

Poorly designed cases can cover one of the mic holes.
Impacted debris can get wedged between the case and the phone, blocking a mic.
Thick, “rugged” cases can muffle your voice, causing the phone to overcompensate and amplify background noise.

Remove your case completely. Now, make a test call. If the problem is gone, your case is the culprit.

Fix 3: The Classic Restart

Never underestimate the power of a reboot. Restarting your phone clears its temporary memory (RAM) and resets all software processes, including the audio driver.

A software glitch can easily cause the audio processor to “freeze,” forget its noise-canceling job, or process sound incorrectly. A simple restart is the fastest way to fix this.

Fix 4: Turn Off Bluetooth

This is a hidden problem. Your phone might be connected to a Bluetooth device, and you don’t even know it. It could be:

Your headphones, still on, in their case or in your bag.
Your car’s speaker system.
A portable speaker in another room.

Your phone might be trying to use that device’s microphone, which is far away or in a noisy environment.

The Fix: Swipe down to your Control Center (iPhone) or Quick Settings (Android) and tap the Bluetooth icon to turn it off completely.
Make a test call. If the problem is fixed, you know you have a “phantom” Bluetooth connection.

Section 3: Diagnose the Problem — Is It Hardware or Software?

If the simple fixes didn’t work, we need to play detective. We need to find out when the noise happens.

Test 1: The Voice Memo Test

This is the most important test.

Open your phone’s built-in Voice Memos or Voice Recorder app.
Hold the phone as you normally would for a call.
Record yourself speaking for 10-15 seconds in a quiet room.
Now, record yourself again, but this time in a room with some background noise (like a fan or TV).
Listen back to both recordings (use headphones for the best results).

What the results mean:

If your voice is clear in both recordings: Congratulations, your phone’s hardware is likely fine! The problem is almost certainly related to your network, Wi-Fi calling, or a specific app.
If your voice is muffled, quiet, or very noisy in the recordings: This points to a hardware problem (blocked/damaged mic) or a deeper OS software problem.

Test 2: The “Speakerphone” Test

Call someone and ask them how you sound. Then, while on the call, tap the speakerphone icon. Ask them if the noise gets better or worse.

Why this works: When you turn on speakerphone, your phone shuts off the primary (bottom) mic and uses the noise-canceling (top) mic as its main microphone.

If you sound better on speakerphone: This is a huge clue. It means your primary (bottom) mic is the problem (it’s likely dirty or damaged).
If you sound worse on speakerphone: This means your secondary (top) mic is the problem.

Test 3: The Video Test

Your phone uses different mics for different cameras.

Open your Camera app.
Record a selfie video of yourself talking.
Now, switch cameras and record a video with the rear (main) camera.
Listen back to both videos.

If one video sounds clean and the other is noisy, you have successfully isolated which of your phone’s microphones is failing. This is invaluable information to have if you need a professional repair.

Section 4: Diving into Software and Settings

If your tests point to a software issue, let’s hunt it down.

Software Fix 5: Check for an Operating System Update

This is critical. Sometimes, a new update (like iOS 17 or Android 14) can introduce a bug that messes with the audio processing. More often, a new update is released to fix a known bug.

On iPhone: Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
On Android: Go to Settings > System > System update (or “Software update”).

Install any pending updates, restart your phone, and test again. You can find authoritative guides on updating from Apple Support or Google Support.

Software Fix 6: Check Phone-Specific Noise Canceling Settings

These settings can be in different places.

On iPhone (iOS 15 and newer): “Voice Isolation” This is a feature you can control, and it might be set incorrectly.
1. While you are on a phone call or FaceTime call, swipe down from the top-right to open Control Center.
2. Tap on “Mic Mode” at the top.
3. You will see three options: “Standard,” “Voice Isolation,” and “Wide Spectrum.”
4. Make sure you are on “Standard” for normal calls. If “Voice Isolation” is on, it might be too aggressive and cut out your voice. If “Wide Spectrum” is on, it’s designed to pick up all background noise. “Standard” is the default noise-canceling.
On older iPhones (iOS 14 and earlier):
1. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual.
2. Look for a toggle called “Phone Noise Cancellation.”
3. Make sure this toggle is ON. If it’s off, your phone will not filter any background noise.
On Android (Varies by phone):
1. Open your Phone App.
2. Tap the three-dot menu and go to Settings > Call settings.
3. Look for options like “Noise reduction,” “Clear Calling,” or “Voice clarity.”
4. Make sure these features are enabled. If they are disabled, your phone is letting all the background noise through.

Software Fix 7: Check App-Specific Settings

Is the problem only in an app like Zoom, WhatsApp, or Microsoft Teams? These apps have their own noise suppression.

Sometimes, the app’s noise filter “fights” with your phone’s built-in noise filter, causing weird, robotic sounds or letting all noise through.

Open the problem app (e.g., Zoom).
Go to its Settings > Audio.
Look for “Noise Suppression” or “Noise Reduction.”
Try changing the setting. If it’s on “Auto,” try setting it to “Low.” If it’s on “High,” try setting it to “Auto.”
Run a test call in the app.

Software Fix 8: Reset All Settings

This is a powerful step before a full Factory Reset. It does not delete your personal data (photos, apps, messages).

However, it does reset all your system settings to their default. This includes Wi-Fi passwords, Bluetooth connections, privacy settings, and—most importantly—all audio and call settings.

On iPhone: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings.
On Android: Go to Settings > System > Reset options > Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth (try this first) or Reset app preferences.

You will have to re-enter your Wi-Fi password after this, but it often fixes deep-seated software conflicts.

Section 5: The Last Resort vs. Getting Professional Help

If you’ve done all of the above and people still can’t hear you, you are facing one of two scenarios: a massive software corruption or a hardware failure.

The “Nuclear Option”: A Factory Reset

A factory reset erases your phone completely and restores it to its out-of-the-box, “new” condition. This will fix any software problem.

YMYL/EEAT Disclaimer: This is your absolute last resort. It will delete 100% of your data—photos, contacts, messages, everything. You must perform a full backup of your phone to your computer or the cloud (iCloud/Google One) before you even think about doing this.

If you are not 100% confident in your backup, do not attempt this. You risk losing everything.

After backing up, go to Settings > General/System > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings (Factory Reset).
After the phone reboots, set it up as a new phone. Do not restore from your backup yet.
Make a test call. If the problem is gone, you know it was a software corruption.
You can then restore your backup, but be warned: the problem might come back with the backup.

When It’s Time for a Professional Repair

The truth is, if cleaning and software resets don’t work, you have a hardware problem. No amount of software tweaking will fix a physically broken component.

You need a professional repair if:

You dropped your phone. A drop can easily dislodge a mic, crack its internal connection, or damage the audio chip on the logic board.
Your phone has water damage. Water (or rain, or sweat) is the #1 killer of microphones. It gets into the tiny mic holes and causes corrosion. Rice will not fix it.
The “Speakerphone Test” or “Video Test” failed. If you proved that one mic works and the other doesn’t, that’s a clear-cut hardware failure.
Cleaning made it worse. You may have accidentally poked the mic membrane with a tool, permanently damaging it.
A Factory Reset did nothing. This is the final confirmation. If a 100% clean OS can’t fix it, the hardware is to blame.

Stop stressing and let an expert fix it. At ReparationTech, our technicians can perform a free diagnostic. We can pinpoint which microphone is failing and, in most cases, replace it and have your phone sounding brand new.

A microphone fix is a routine, affordable job for a professional. Don’t let it ruin your daily communications.

Book a Repair: We can fix this specific problem. Check out our services.
Find Us: We have several convenient ready to help.
Consider an Upgrade: If your phone is old and this is just one of many problems, it might be time to upgrade. You can to us for a fair price, or you can from our selection of certified refurbished phones that work perfectly.

Conclusion: Don’t Settle for Bad Audio

A quiet, clear phone call is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Your phone’s microphone system is a complex piece of technology, but the problem is usually simple.

Start with the basics: clean the ports, remove the case, and restart your phone. From there, check your Bluetooth and software settings. By following these steps, you can solve the problem yourself more than 90% of the time.

If you’re still stuck, don’t waste another frustrating minute. You almost certainly have a hardware issue that a quick, professional repair can solve. Learn more and our commitment to clear, honest, and reliable tech repairs.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1: Why can people hear me perfectly on speakerphone but not on a regular call? A1: This is a classic symptom! It means your primary (bottom) microphone is dirty or broken. Speakerphone mode switches to using your secondary (top) microphone, which is still working fine. Try cleaning the bottom mic port very gently, but it may require a professional repair.

Q2: Will a “rice bag” fix a water-damaged microphone? A2: No. This is a myth. Rice does nothing to stop the corrosion and mineral deposits that form inside the phone when water gets in. It may dry some of the water, but the damage is already done. A phone with water damage must be professionally opened and cleaned with special solvents to prevent long-term failure.

Q3: How much does a phone microphone repair cost? A3: The cost can vary depending on your phone model and which microphone is broken. However, it is almost always significantly cheaper than buying a new phone. At , we can give you a fast, free quote.

Q4: My voice sounds “robotic” or “underwater.” Is this the same problem? A4: This is closely related. A “robotic” or “garbled” voice is often a sign of a poor network connection (low signal), Wi-Fi calling issues, or a software glitch where the noise-cancellation is being too aggressive and cutting parts of your own voice out. Try the software fixes (especially “Mic Mode” on iPhone) and a system update.

Disclaimer

The information in this post is for educational purposes. Always use extreme caution when cleaning or repairing your device. Do not use metal objects to clean ports. is not responsible for any damage you may cause to your device. For guaranteed, safe, and professional help, please consult one of our certified technicians.