MacBook keeps using my iPhone as a mic

After the update from Monterey to Ventura, my MacBook keeps connecting to my iPhone at random times automatically using my mic while I'm in the middle of working in Figma or simply watching YouTube videos.


Very frustrating because I'll be listening to music or podcasts on my iPhone then my Macbook will connect to it randomly then it instantly disconnects from it then cuts off my podcast or music then I have to manually play it after it happens.


How do I turn this random 'connecting to my devices' off?

Posted on Nov 5, 2022 8:30 AM

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Posted on Nov 25, 2022 5:18 PM

I just tried this from another thread and I’m hoping it works!


Remove the Continuity Camera feature: on iPhone to go General > AirPlay & Handoff > deselect Continuity Camera

35 replies

Oct 26, 2023 9:22 AM in response to bronx03

Thank you so much. THIS IS MY FIRST COMMENT EVER. I've had an iPhone since 2008, this is easily the MOST FRUSTRATING FEATURE I've ever used, this is my first post in 15 years, I intentionally logged on to give this feedback. Please stop auto-enrolling us in bad features we must dig for and turn off.

Nov 5, 2022 8:48 AM in response to bronx03

Disconnecting your iPhone from your Mac depends on the features you're using to connect them. If you're referring to features such as calls or messages going to your Mac you can disable them using these steps:


  • For calls tap Settings > Phone > Calls on Other Devices; disable the feature or
  • deselect specific devices as needed.
  • For text messages tap Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding, disable any devices you don't want receiving your texts.


Other features that can be linked are mentioned in the following resource and would need to be disabled if you're using them: Use Continuity to connect your Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch


Lastly, there are some features that connect your iPhone and Mac via iCloud such as, Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, iCloud Drive, Photos and others; you can disable these features in System Preferences > iCloud, or System Preferences > Apple ID, depending on your macOS version. If you'd like to stop using the iCloud account you use on your iPhone with your Mac, you'll need to sign out through System Preferences.


Nov 18, 2022 10:37 AM in response to bronx03

It is an issue that is associated with the new camera continuity feature on Ventura. You can now set your iPhone to be used as a microphone for your Mac. I was dealing with this as well and ran into the same issue you were having 1-2x an hour. This article explains how you can disconnect your iPhone from this feature. https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/use-iphone-as-mac-mic-input/

Nov 19, 2023 11:43 AM in response to bronx03

Give this a try: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.


NOTE 1: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files


NOTE 2: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode. This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will insure a successful boot into Safe Mode.


Nov 1, 2023 3:41 AM in response to bronx03

This is really annoying! But useful in a way... I just took delivery of a Mac mini, but there's no screens coming at the moment, so I've no camera or microphone on my new desktop yet - I have a second "dumb" screen that was delivered.

Anyway, I find it surprising that the controls for this feature are only single ended. There's no way to tell the MacOS device not to use a particular device as continuity camera / microphone. I had been using the camera as a higher resolution camera for my laptop, and I wanted that to continue.


And there's no way to tell either end to use the phone as a camera only or a microphone only.

It's useful, but annoyingly on by default and rather crude.

MacBook keeps using my iPhone as a mic

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