Testing Microphone On Android Devices? (7 Easy Steps)

It is essential to ensure that your microphone functions properly before recording any audio. Here we will show you seven solutions to the problem and help you thoroughly test the microphone.

These simple steps should help you test whether your phone’s built-in microphone is functioning correctly.

If your mic isn’t responding or working as expected, check out our related article on how to fix your phone’s microphone.

Here are seven steps that will help you test the microphone on Android devices

Table of Contents

Try A Different App.

If there’s a problem with the microphone when using an app, you can test your microphone using another app. Try the test recording on WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.

If that doesn’t work you might need to allow permissions for the device to use the mic with those apps.

Here’s how to do that:

Go to “Settings” > “Apps & notifications”.
Then, click on “Show all apps” in the upper-right corner of your screen.
Find and select WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger from the list of applications and select “Permissions.”
Make sure that you have permissions to use your microphone for this application, as well as other permissions that are required for this application to function correctly.

If your microphone is recording on these apps then it means that there are certain permission that need to be allowed for the app that you were trying to use. If it still isn’t working, then you should follow the next few steps to try and fix and test your microphone.

Clean The Mic With Compressed Air.

Compressed air, also known as canned air, is a product that comes in an aerosol can and releases a stream of pressurized gas. This gas is often mixed with other chemicals, such as difluoroethane and tetrafluoroethane.

It’s mainly used to remove dust from computers and other devices with delicate components that are susceptible to damage from a vacuum cleaner or brush.

You can use compressed air on your Android device by following these steps:

Shake the canister.
Hold the nozzle about 2 inches away from the device and depress the button for 3 seconds.
Move the nozzle around, so you spray it in all the open ports of your device. You don’t need to apply too much pressure when spraying it because this won’t make it more effective at removing dust or debris. Be careful not to use it directly on any screens or lenses. You should also avoid getting liquid onto any parts.

Check also: How to test your microphone with Microsoft Teams.

Turn On Apps With Usage Access Permission.

Ready to turn on Apps with usage access permission? Follow these easy steps:

Open your Android device’s Settings app.
Scroll down to “Apps & notifications” and click it.
Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of your screen, then choose “Special Access.”
In the “Special Access” drop-down menu, click on “Usage access.”
Choose which apps you want to give permission to by selecting the blue toggle next to them (if applicable). If no apps appear, search for them in the search bar at the top of your screen or press down on an area where an app should be listed and select “Show system processes.”

Allow Apps To Access Your Microphone.

To allow access to your microphone, follow these steps:

Go to Settings on your Android device, and then select Apps.
Once you are in the Apps menu, choose the app you want to test the microphone with.
In the app’s window, choose Permissions from the list of options, and turn Microphone on.
If you have more apps that need access to your microphone, repeat steps 2 through 4 until all desired apps have been added to the allowed permissions for your device’s microphone.
Tap “Allow” when prompted by a notification asking if you would like to allow this app access to your microphone while using Skype or other applications using a similar format.

Update Your Android OS.

When you’re ready to update, here’s how to do it on your Android device:

Open the Settings app on your Android phone or tablet. This will be a gear icon in the apps tray on most devices. On others, you may need to tap the “About” option under Device at the bottom of the main Settings screen.
Scroll down and tap System updates.
Tap Check for updates. A checkmark will appear next to any available updates.
Tap Install if you’d like to install an available update right away.
Wait while your device downloads and installs the update automatically.

To do this via your computer, follow these steps:

Connect your Android phone to your computer via USB cable
The software will automatically recognize that you have an Android device connected to your computer and give you the option to update.
If you don’t see this option, open up “My Computer” and look under “Portable Devices.” Your Android device should be there. Right-click on it and select “Update Device Software.”
You will then be prompted with a screen that offers you three options: manually update, automatically download and install, or get the update file from Google. If you want to manually download the update, select “Get the Update File
From Google.” Otherwise, just select “Install Now.“
This process may take a while depending on how old your phone is and how strong your internet connection is.

Reset To Factory Settings.

This will restore the smartphone to its factory settings, and it should work like new again. Keep in mind that this is the last resort to fix any problem regarding your device.

It can also be lengthy and result in data loss as you’ll have to back up your data before doing so.

Performing a factory reset necessarily means you’ll lose your data. You should back up anything important to you before you proceed. Use the steps below to perform a factory reset on your device:

Open the Settings app.
If you have access to your phone, you can navigate to Settings > Backup & Reset > Factory Data Reset.
If your phone is locked and you don’t have the passcode or fingerprint sensor, you can still reset it by accessing the Android Recovery Mode (for devices with removable batteries) or Android Bootloader (for devices with non-removable batteries).
Once in the Android Recovery Mode, use the volume buttons to navigate between options and use the power button to select one of them. Scroll down until you see “Wipe Data/Factory Reset.” This will delete all apps, settings, and data from your phone and return it to its factory state.
Choose Yes — delete all user data. The process may take a few minutes, after which your phone will be clean and ready for use.

7 Reasons Your Microphone Isn’t Working With Your Android Device

The microphone is an essential part of your device, without which you will be unable to talk or record something.

The correct work of this component is necessary for successful calls and video conferencing on Skype. You can also use it to record videos and send messages and notes through WhatsApp, Viber, and other messengers.

The microphone can break down at any time, and there are no signs that will tell you about it. Therefore, you should choose the right program to test the microphone on Android devices.

If you are still unable to use the microphone, then there are seven potential reasons:

You don’t have permission to use the microphone.
The microphone is broken.
The app you are using doesn’t support a microphone.
The microphone is muted.
The microphone is disabled.
Another app uses the microphone.
The hardware for the microphone isn’t compatible with your device.

Can You Use External Microphones With Android Devices?

You can use an external microphone with your Android device, but this is not recommended. Most Android devices don’t support external microphones.

If your smartphone has a USB-C connection and microphone input, you need to buy a microphone that works with USB-C connections. These are rare and quite expensive.

You can also use a 3.5mm jack microphone with a USB-C adapter, but the quality will be lower than what you get on the best external mic for an Android phone.

Conclusion

The microphone is vital for many mobile apps, so you should test it before incorporating it into your app. The above steps will help you begin testing your microphone to ensure that the sound quality will be top-notch when you use your Android device.

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