iPhone 7 Mic Problem iOS 14

For iPhone 7's that have a loose Audio IC not even iOS 25.x is going to fix it. If your speaker is grayed out and all you can do is use BT, as you have described, it is a hardware problem. It is not caused by any update, although doing one can reveal it and your really have 3 options: (a) Pay Apple for an out-of-warranty replacement and get a service replacement unit. I would not go that route at this point when you can buy a new iPhone SE 2020 for less than $100 more, (b) buy some other phone or (c) find a 3rd party repair shop that can do microlevel soldering and have them re-ball the four connection points that are usually at issue, and do ask and make sure they did all four. Prices have been dropping for this option. Keep in mind if you go this route Apple may refuse future service on your iPhone, but that really should not be an issue.

There is no such thing as a "call chip" and the update does not disable anything. When installing a major update it does have to test and reconnect to various components on the logic board. Your issue is not a "call chip" it is the Audio IC, the connection can break at four particular locations on the logic board. There is no software update that can reconnect it. If you lightly slap the iPhone into your hand or press on the right side of the screen about 2/3 of the way up you might even be able to get it to work again sporadically.

You can pay Apple to do an out-of-warranty replacement of your iPhone or you can locate a competent 3rd party repair site that can do microsoldering and pay about $50 USD to have it re-balled (make they do all 4 connection points even if not all of them are broken). Apple may refuse service on this phone in the future but I wouldn't worry about it.

I have an iPhone 7 and I tried several ways to repair the microphone.I tried today a hard reset (volume down button and on off button) and hold it until apple icon showed up.

After this the microphone it’s working fine.

It isn't a software issue in your case. The only way Apple can fix it would be to do an out-of-warranty replacement of your iPhone, the Audio IC has come loose on the logic board. Your other option would be to find a 3rd party repair shop that can do board level soldering and have it fixed. That route will cost you about $145 and Apple may refuse to service your iPhone after that.

I can confirm that it's not a software problem (while looks suspicious).

Have repaired audio chip for $50 at third party service.

Apple does not replace separate chips, but only changes whole motherboard - so will be costly in official service.

I found that everything was fine in iOS 14 until I updated to iOS14.2 - and then I started getting this issue too. Updating to 14.3 (released very soon after) didn't fix it.

Symptoms: Can't hear calls/can't speak. Can't pickup Facetime calls. Can't record a Voice Memo. Camera video recordings have no sound. Can't turn on voice control (says microphone already in use).

I had several helpful apple support people try to fix it for me - one of whom asked me to 'reset network settings' - Something I was reluctant to do but eventually did... and it still didn't fix it.

What seems to have just FIXED it (time will tell) is... I had a profile (Settings/General/Profiles) that had expired certificates in it (for accessing wifi hotspots belonging to my ISP). I deleted it and used their app to replace it... And suddenly I can record voice memos and videos with sound. And I just took a call and it's all good.

Just adding this here in case anyone else has the same weird issue and has an expired Profile certificate - if you can remove the profile (and re-add if you need to) it may solve the issue for you - hope it does.

Pit85,

like you, I was convinced this was software but once I did the test in my previous post, I realized it was hardware as I could press on the screen where the audio ic was (during hard reset) and then press again and my mic works as long as I was pressing down.

my guess is that when the phone hearts up thru firmware or in my case, iOS update, it causes the chip to finally separate or sometimes reconnect for a short time and work.

it’s worth a shot to test for peace of mind at least. Google looping disease for iPhone 7s, it’s a major issue and there are YouTube videos that show the exact problem.

fyi, my camera also works in other applications 🤦‍♀️

Had same problem as everyone else, no mic or speaker after upgrading. Reboots helped a bit but then stopped being effective.

Although am no techie I believe that the issue is both hardware and software related. I have had my iPhone 7+ repaired professionally here in the UK , cost of approx $30. This involved micro soldering 4 jumpers. It now works 100% fine and has been doing for 3 weeks. The repair guy I found on Ebay, there are lots here offering the service, it is a well known fault with the iPhone 7. Hope this helps.

If you Google "Repair IC Audio iPhone 7" you should get loads of info on repairs, it needs 4 jumpers micro soldering. In the UK there are many offering the service through Ebay UK which is what I used. Just checked Ebay USA and the same there, it seems many people think it's a software issue which included me but the software update seems to trigger the hardware problem. Best of luck.

If you are having to use Bluetooth headphones and when you try to go to speakerphone it is grayed out then it isn't a software issue it is a hardware issue, the Audio IC has come loose. The person I gave my iPhone 7 Plus to had this issue crop up back during iOS 13 days and it did not occur during and update. It often becomes apparent during an update as at the end of the update all of the various hardware is tested. I "restored" the microphone on an iPhone 7 tonight by slapping the side of the iPhone. It will fail again when the iPhone is moved. The going price from 3rd party shops used to be $145 USD to re-solder it but some here have said the price has dropped much lower.

Hi guys, after a while the mic finally doesnt work at all, event after reset all content and setting.

I read in another forum, it is iphone 7 AUDIO IC, happens to some iphone 7.

I am unfortunetly is one of the broken audio IC.

I paid equivalent of 50$ to replace it. Its working fine now.

Sorry Apple to accuse it is the Ios update that making this problem. But turns out its your design of the iPhone 7 board that make audio IC vulnerable to stress and making this problems.

Try pressing on the screen (not on an icon) just above where the speaker is and see if the microphone comes back on temporarily. If it does you have a loose connection(s) with your Audio IC. You can either click on the Get Support link at the top right of this page and pay for an out-of-warranty replacement or find a reputable 3rd party repair shop that can do board level soldering and have them re-solder the four suspect connections. If you go this route Apple may refuse to service this device in the future.

In that case neither of you have a software problem you have a hardware problem. Some contacts on the Audio IC have come loose. You can sometimes get it to partially work but slapping the back of the phone into your open palm or pinching the screen on the right side about 2/3 of the way up.

I would personally recommend two options: (1) Trade it in towards a new phone or (2) find a competent 3rd party repair shop that can do micro level soldering. If you go with number 2 make sure they know to re-ball 4 contact points and realize Apple may refuse to service that phone in the future which really shouldn't be a factor given the age of the phone.

Everybody in this tread with a

1. speaker button greyed out
2. calls can’t be placed unless over Bluetooth
3. voice memos not working

YOU HAVE A HARDWARE PROBLEM WITH YOUR PHONE THAT THE UPDATE HAS REVEALED. Please stop waiting for the next update, I PROMISE you it will not fix your phone.

When major updates go through they cause the system to stress harder than normal uses and the device also runs self checks. This can reveal or cause underlying hardware issues to become present because the correct amount of voltage is not running across the pins or the heat of the update worsened the already compromised component.

Multiple people in this thread have pointed to the exact audio IC issue that people in this thread are experiencing, save yourself some grief and accept the facts. I know it doesn’t make sense.

but picture it this way: your car engine has a slightly bent piston and you are unaware, you go 90mph on the freeway which causes more stress to the engine than normal driving conditions and BAM! You threw a rod because the underlying issue is now revealed. This is the best way I can describe it and I think it makes sense once you accept the facts.

I know that this issue only started after the update, I am telling you that the update screwed your phone and revealed underlying hardware issues unbeknownst to you.

Apple is not trying to screw you by trying to get you to buy a new phone, for crying out loud they still pay developer teams to update older versions of MacOS and iOS.

It is simply time to upgrade or fix the current phone you have by micro-soldering the chip back in to place, pick one.

I was able to fix this same issue after taking these steps, per drfone.wondershare.com:

1. Turn Airplane Mode on --- waited a minute and turned back off
2. Power iPhone off
3. Reinserted my SIM card
4. Restarted iPhone

MINE STARTED WORKING AT THIS POINT, but the next step (if needed) was to Reset Network Settings.