How To Fix Apple Watch Microphone Not Working During Voice Calls
How to fix Apple Watch muted microphone during calls.
Are you answering a voice call directly from your wrist but the caller isn’t able to hear you? This happens when the microphone on your Apple Watch isn’t working as it should. A glitch could automatically mute your device’s microphone and thus render it unusable!
It happened to me on a brand new Apple Watch Series 6 model, running watchOS 7.0.2. Every time when I was picking up a call from my watch I couldn’t have a proper conversation. I could hear the caller at the other end of the line, but he couldn’t get any audio input from my end.
How To Fix Apple Watch Microphone Not Working
1. Tap The Microphone Icon
Your first option is to check the microphone icon on the watchOS 7 ongoing call interface. It’s available in the bottom-left corner of the screen. It shouldn’t be muted.
Fix: Even if the icon isn’t muted, tap it once to bring it to the mute state and tap again to unmute. Continue to speak while you perform these actions to check if the situation changes and your call partner starts to get any audio from your end.
2. Check Paired iPhone
If your paired iPhone is nearby check it. If the call is routed through the iOS device, the ongoing call interface will be also displayed on the smartphone, after you wake the screen.
Make sure that the microphone isn’t muted. If it is, tap the mic icon once to unmute and check if the problem has been fixed.
Fact: That’s what was happening in my case. Apparently, an iOS 14 bug was automatically muting the microphone, when picking up calls from Apple Watch. Unmuting the microphone temporarily fixes the issue for the current call, but the issue reoccurs whenever you pick up the next call. force restarting Apple Watch and iPhone did not help either!
3. Permanent Fix
Thankfully, this bug seems to have been patched in the latest iOS 14.1. update. Ever since I updated my iPhone to this latest OS release the muted microphone bug has disappeared.
Do you encounter the same problem on your Apple Watch? Use the comments section available below and let us know if iOS 14.1 fixed the problem for you too.
Related: How to fix Apple Watch unexpected restart bug!
Nothing I do seems to fix the issue. I tap the mute button on my watch to unmute and it does not respond. Have unpaired my watch, erased and taken it back to factory settings and then paired it again with my phone. Did not fix problem.. I looked at my phone and it was unmuted. I may not fully understand the second step. Apple chat was no help at all.
That’s strange. Not sure what else to suggest, excepting the fact that you should update to the latest software update available on both iOS and watchOS.
I have the very same issue. Unpaired, repaired, set settings my both phone & watch. None of those helped.
Thanks for reporting. Is the microphone muted only when you pick up a call, or also if you initiate one from your Apple Watch?
Only when picking up a call
I am having the very same problem. Nothing seems to work. Siri can’t hear me. Dictation for any app does not work. Phone calls do not work. Walkie-Talkie does not work.
Same for me. WTH?
These Apple watches are designed to fail after so much time elapses, this is how they get you to buy a new device, 100% FACT
Not sure if I can agree with this mike. I have the original Apple Watch model which still works without a flaw.
I am also having the same problem, my Ultra is running OS 9.0.2. I am unable to remove mute
Mine just started doing this. I’m sick of apple of Microsoft of every worthless expensive device that steals time and happiness never to work properly. go to hell I’m getting an old flip phone and reclaiming my life – even if everyone around me is a bumbling idiot walking into traffic with the attention span of a mosquito.
Sorry to hear that you’re also affected by this issue. These devices are able to provide lots of features nowadays and hiccups will always come along. I’m sure it’s just a glitch that will be fixed soon. Be optimistic!
I can’t un mute my Apple Watch Series 6 Very unhappy about it
Are you running the latest watchOS 7.6 software?
I have had the same problem for well over a year now. have tried the factory reset route without success. Both watch and iPhone (11) are running on the latest OS
Thanks for reporting Colin. Have you tested out the Apple Watch microphone with some other app, just to make sure that the mic is working and you’re not dealing with a hardware failure? Open Messages, for example and dictate something. Does your Watch pick it up?
My watch has just started to this, so has my wife’s. We are tuning IOS 14.6 & the latest Watch software. The mic works to dictate a text of WhatsApp message but not on a phone call?
Try to unpair and re-pair the Apple Watch to your iPhone. A backup will be saved before unpairing the watch, so you will be able to restore to the most recent setup when you re-pair the watch. Let me know if it helps.
I figured it out, and it is a re-boot for the watch, not a reset. No where does anybody ever talk about a simple re-boot, which is to push in the crown and the discreet little button found on the same side as the crown. There is a small whole on the same side as the crown and the reset button. Press and hold the crown and the reset button at the same time until the watch turns off and then shortly you will see the apple logo appear as it boots back up. This seems to have resolved my problem for the moment, although I don’t know what error forced the mircrophone to shut down in the first place, but at least it works for now.
Isen’t that hole the mic?
The oldest fix for any computer: reboot. Worked for me.
Thanks for confirming.
I have same issue with new Apple Watch purchased in October. I can’t hear caller and they can’t hear me. It’s not muted, I have unpaired and even did a reset as if it was new and same issue. Any suggestions what else to try? Siri hears me and I hear her lol
Thanks for reporting. Yes if you Can hear Siri and vice-versa it means that the hardware is OK. Please also try the following:
1. Theater Mode should be disabled in Control Center.
2. Make sure that audio isn’t routed to another paired Bluetooth device like HomePod or AirPods.
3. You can also attempt to force restart both devices. iPhone first followed by Apple Watch.
Let us know if you manage to get the hang of it.
My Apple Watch SE did the same thing. I could not hear them they could not hear me. I spent 2 hours with tech support and not fixed. I force started the phone and watch and it did work. So now I have to cancel the claim that I filed. Thanks for this simple reboot advice to both devices.
You’re welcome Jules. Happy to help. Thank you too for confirming the fix.
I have same issue with new Apple Watch purchased in October. I can’t hear caller and they can’t hear me. It’s not muted, I have unpaired and even did a reset as if it was new and same issue. Any suggestions what else to try? Siri hears me and I hear her
Thanks for your feedback. That must be annoying. Microphone seems OK if Siri can hear you. Is your Apple Watch perhaps in Theater Mode (check in Control Center)? Not sure what else to suggest. Have you tried contacting Apple support and ask for help? Keep us posted because I’m also curious how this ends up.
Same problem as others report. Frustrating for sure. My mic on Apple Watch won’t unmute! My mic works as I can use mic to dictate a message.
Thanks for confirming. Is this also happening in watchOS 8? Have you updated?
Yes! Brand new Apple Watch series 7 running the latest Watch OS8. I’m furious because at no point since I bought this expensive watch…has the microphone worked when a call is initiated from the watch. I can hear the person I called clearly….but they can’t; have never heard me despite numerous attempts. I’ve followed advice above re un-muting (& muting)….but nothing changes. I can send messages & communicate with Siri. Both Apple Watch ‘&* iPhone 12 running latest OS. This has turned out to be a very expensive & useless bit of kit. I won’t be making that mistake again.
This sounds terribly frustrating and annoying. You should visit an Apple store and ask them to take a look at it. If this is a hardware failure they will most likely replace your watch with a new one. Let us know if you managed to fix it!
My microphone quit working as soon as I installed the latest update watchOS8.1. I have restarted, unpaired and done it all again. I’ve done all the checks everyone says to do. Extremely unhappy about this.
Thanks for reporting. Can you please mention your Apple Watch model? Also, microphone isn’t working in any circumstances? Calls, Siri, voice memos?
My Apple 3 Watch’s microphone hasn’t worked in months. I just got the watch last Christmas and it’s frustrating. I’ve tried everything. I can’t answer calls, use Siri, or dictate texts. These are the things I need most from my watch.
That must be frustrating indeed. You might need to visit an Apple store and have it inspected.
I am having the same issue, got the Apple SE two days ago the latest software update, when i try to make a call on the watch no one can hear me, if they ring me i can them and they can hear me. Please help!
Have you tried to unpair and re-pair Apple Watch to iPhone?
I too am having this problem. Cannot unmute the phone to answer it. This is the newest software update for the watch, and ios 15.1.1 for the phone. I have a feeling the culprit is the phone since Apple screwed up just about every aspect of the phone with the new and “wonderful” iOS 15. Very frustrating the tryand fix it, as the only time this incoming call screen shows is when I have an incoming call and am attempting to answer it.
Any suggestions? I have force-shut down and force restarted both devices to no end. I have tapped on the x-ed out microphone on the watch. I can’t get rid of it.
Merry Christmas.😤
Have you unpaired and re-paied the Apple Watch to iPhone?
The same problem. Apple Watch 8. Bought it 1 weak ago. 2022. Terrible! I am going to Apple store tomorrow. Want to return it! Caller doesn’t hear me!!!!!!
Thanks for reporting. Let us know if you get a free replacement or what Apple had to say about the problem.
I have a brand new Apple Watch 8, and cannot unmute the watch. Update is 16.02 and it still does not work. Cannot answer phone on watch. Other person cannot hear me.
Thanks for reporting Mary. This has been fixed in watchOS 9.0.2 which was released literally a few hours ago. More details available here:
https://www.iphonetricks.org/watchos-9-0-2-bugs-fixed-problems-features/
It is now 2023. I have iPhone 13 Pro on iOS 16..5.1, Apple Watch Series 4 (Model A1975) on 9.5.2. Same problem others were having in 2022. The watch microphone no longer works when picking up a call. I tried things suggested here. .???
Thanks for the feedback. Not sure what else to suggest at the moment. I assume that you’ve tried to reboot both devices?