iPhone 7 Microphone Cutting Out

Just an update… I am now on my third iPhone 7 and so far so good (knock on wood) with this one. I had to get new hardware which is the new phone and set the phone up without a recent back up so basically set it up as a new phone. This meant new hardware and new software to my understanding. There was question that if there was a corrupt file in my back up or the software was corrupt that it could have impacted the hardware of the device. even though I had set up my second iPhone 7 as a new phone… I had previously used the back up file which could have somehow messed up the phone. I also did not do the 10.2 software update for this phone and so far things seem to be working well. I did log back into my iCloud account and have slowly been downloading my apps and setting up the phone. I didn't want to do too much at once in case somehow one of the apps is messing up the phone.

Hi Emilymb00,

I sure hope it will remain to work out well for you.

I do recognize your steps. But then without the success.

When I received my 1st iPhone7 I installed it from my previous iPhone6S back up. When I had it in repair the very first time via Vodafone, I received a loan iPhone6 for the meantime.

I installed my latest iPhone7 backup to the loan iPhone6 and all worked perfectly. I tried and tested all problematic issues that occured with the iPhone7 and the loan iPhone6 worked perfectly. So I was assured the problem was with that iPhone7, not with corrupted or damaged software or so.

Then when I got the 1st iPhone7 returned (without repair as the 3rd party Vodafone repair group checked only the hardware via software testing and said all worked fine) I installed the iPhone6 backup to the iPhone7 again and instantly I had the same problem again with this iPhone7.

That's why I don't believe the 'corrupted file backup theory' so much. But it has been suggested to me as well in a later stage of problem solving by the Genius bar. Actually during my 2nd visit.

During my 1st visit at the Genius bar It was changed for an all new iPhone7 in Amsterdam, and I installed the 2nd iPhone7 from the 1st iPhone7 backup (that was turned in). The problem was still there with the new 2nd iPhone7 after it was all up and running (when restored from my 1st iPhone7 icloud backup).

During my 2nd visit to the Genius bar one week later, a Genius bar guy agreed that I did do almost everything imaginable. Even got a new sim card from Vodafone before. And the exchange for a new iPhone7 should have fixed it if the hardware was faulty of the 1st one.

He only suggested - as a last option - to do a DFU reset (cleaning the iPhone from any previous software installations and force it to install it as a new 'virgin iPhone') and not make use of any icloud backups. He personally did the DFU procedure while connected to a macbook at the Genius bar. Then I needed to 'rebuild' it from scratch. Needless to say that this was quite a journey as I had to install a lot of software 'manually' and enter passwords and usernames and all for different apps as I was not using the advantage of the bundled icloud backup or password manager.

Unfortunally I was not rewarded. After going through that all, the all new 2nd iPhone7 still had the same problem while being used for calls et cetera.

As I have walked a similar road but unfortunately with no success, I do hope that it's now really permanently solved for you.

Please keep us updated over the next weeks or so if you have no issues anymore or when you gained additional experience and insight. We could all well benefit from that. Thanks.

I am happy that I finally found this discussion thread. My iPhone 7 problems are the ones described by others in this discussion. Nice to know that there is an effort by the iPhone 7 users to get this problem solved. I am on my 2nd phone with 3 visits to Verizon and 1 to the Apple store. Verizon finally replaced my phone on the 3rd visit. Apple did a hardware check said it was fine and that the problem had to be with Verizon.

I really have only one thought to add to this discussion and would appreciate feedback if my reasoning is faulty.

I would like to add that I have read all of the replies since this thrend was started back in September 2016.

Much of this discussion centers on the source of our misery. Is the source software or hardware?

If the source is a software glitch wouldn't ALL iPhone 7 users be having the same troubles we are because don't all of these phones run on the same software.

THat is the point which makes lean toward hardware source. Ultimately I could care less about where the source lies.

I only care that this gets fixed and soon. Some responders have spent countless hours with Apple people to figure this out. Thank you for your time and especially your patience.

But quite frankly I am stunned at the laughable process employed by Apple engineers/techs whoever they are to try and figure this out. Meanwhile we all have $700 plus phones that are hardly useable and Apple should be incredibly embarrassed and incredibly apologetic that this problem has persisted for close to 5 months and they don't have a clue yet.

Agree about hardware versus software, though it could be a hardware(different in some phones)+software combo. It's very hard to say but yes very likely not just software alone.

I've gotten a new phone - same exact issues.

I also did get a bluetooth headset JUST so I could perhaps talk on the phone. It seems to be working though one caller did say I was cutting out. That might happen when the phone is rustling in my pocket. Almost seems like the 'noise cancelling' microphone is still engaged and screwing things up.

One question - I have Verizon. I just switched from ATT to Verison. I never had this issue with the iphone 6 even once when I was on ATT. Just wondering if everyone here is using Verizon that has experience specifically "caller on the other line saying your voice is cutting out"?

I'm 99% sure at this point I'm going to switch to the Google Pixel XL when it comes out - though they are back ordered for months.

I had an online chat with apple support , sent the link to this discussion, he claimed he couldn't open the link. It was so bizarre - just a simple link.

I have this problem as well. My iPhone 7 plus is straight out of the box new. First phone call I could hear and she could hear for 5 minutes then it went static on her end. I need my phone for work. This is a problem!! How do we fix this?

I don't think this problem is ever going to be fixed. Some people on here have gotten 4 brand new iPhones and the same problem is on every one of them. Because of this I don't think it's a problem with the phone (hardware or software on the new phone) but it's tied to the person's account, since it's happening on every single phone they get. The only connection between all four phones is the person signed into all four of them. Therefore even if we wait until an iPhone 7S or iPhone 8 I feel the same thing will be happening. I have tried everything mentioned here, to no avail, and I'm getting very depressed over this. People have trouble hearing me or can't hear me at all, and there has been NOTHING from Apple about there even being an issue. What is the point of having a phone if people can't hear you on it???

I'm having the same exact problem with my 7 plus! I have it for T-Mobile, I just switched it out with a new one at apple the other and the same thing with this phone! What happened with yours when you master reseted it?

I am having the same issue with an iPhone 7 Plus 128Gig which started a couple of days ago. My phone was fine and I never had an issue like this. Putting the phone in WI-FI calling seems to resolve the issue for me when I am near a WI-FI hot spot. Waiting for Apple to resolve this but I have a feeling is related to the signal that comes to your phone. I am with AT&T by the way

I had some luck in figuring out a work around - I got a bluetooth headset - EVEN with that people said I was cutting in and out - phone was in my pocket. However if I leave the phone on the counter I did not have the problem. It's almost like holding it or it being in my pocket causes the issue. Still had the issue even when turning off the 'noise cancelling' microphone. My girlfriend's dad has the same issue with his iphone 7.

If people could post their phone type it might be interesting to see if it's clustered around a type of iphone:

iphone 7 Plus, white, 256GB

A Google Pixel might be imminent.

I think I have found the solution as I can no longer reproduce the issue after attempting the following:

In Settings go to Cellular and under Cellullar data options only select Data. At least in my case the issue only occurs when the setting is set to Voice and Data.

It seems like AT&T networks for the last couple of days are having an issue switching between Voice and Data. I have also noticed that my signal strength is not as it used to be.

I'll give that a try, I have a iPhone 7 Plus 128GB and my daughter and brother have the iPhone 7 Plus as well. I'm kind of the Apple troubleshooter since I fix electronics for a living.

On another note remember the commercial T-Mobile did about Apple phone had the special chip I think it was a chip or method with voice quality could be so much better if the carriers used it. T-Mobile's claim was they are going to use it. Right after that AT&T said they were going to use it too. I wounder if this is the area where the problem is coming from? Just a thought. I'll keep posting after some testing.

Russ

I had an iPhone 7 128 GB on AT&T Network that was replaced due to mic cutting out. People stayed connected but could not hear me speaking. Seems it would cut out for 5 seconds to 10 seconds. This could happen multiple times during a call. I tried everything and worked with Apple support. As indicated they eventually replaced my phone. However, the replacement phone is again cutting out. Seems like it worked fine for a couple of weeks but now has been getting worse. Today cut out 5 times on one call, and once each on two other calls. Never had a problem with my iPhone 5. Seems like an issue with the iPhone and telephone provider, just do not know.

Yes that is exactly a description of my issue. I'm now using Verizon so I think we can rule out that it's a carrier issue.

This did work for me: talking through bluetooth headset while the phone lays on the counter. Never cut out after talking an hour, however if the phone is in my pocket or I'm talking on it normally it always cuts out. EVEN with the bluetooth headset. Basically if the phone is being handled or moved or is in a pocket it will cut out.

With so many comments on this thread I wonder what we have to do to get a senior level Apple Support representative involved? Any ideas? For every person here there are probably hundreds who never found this thread or thought to Google the issue.

Apple is spending a lot of money here on returned phones as well. I had mine replaced - no improvement.

Always work with Apple, it seems Apple knows about this issue give it some time, many people seem to be having the same problem. Hard to say with phones today if its hardware or software. Apple doesn't have too many hardware issues.