Iphone 8 plus microphone issues

I did a few things that seems to have helped quite a bit. I set LTE to data only and disabled the background noise filter as others have suggested. I don't have anyone complaining now when I'm on speaker or not. I'm suspecting that the LTE thing is the culprit and not necessarily the microphone. The reason is that all other applications not making calls were able to hear just fine. I also downloaded a spectacular app called Lirum info. There is a lite version for free but you need to pay the 2.99 for the full version to test your microphones. Its a very complete diagnostic app that gives you access to nearly everything on the phone and full diagnostics. The tech at the genius bar was even a bit amazed when I brought my old Ip 6 plus in for a new battery! Anyhow I'm not trying to sell the app, but I tested all the microphones using it. They are all functioning perfectly. So, I know that disabling the LTE for calls was most likely what was causing the problem. At least in my case. I'm not sure what the LTE on calls does, but disabling it did nothing that I can detect to call quality or performance. But it did seem to fix the muffled mic issue for me. Apple needs to look at this.

Thanks that worked! Going into cellular settings and changing LTE to “data only” fixed the problem for me. Everyone should try this first to see if that helps them too. Now I’m guessing it’s a data / connection problem, and not the microphones.

I also turned off noise cancelling and enabled WiFi calling, in case these setting changes help too.

I’ve had my iPhone 8 for over a year, and only started having this problem since the day I recently moved to a new place. I didn’t change the sim, reset the phone or settings, do any updates, or do a factory install.

I’d suggest that you do a simple test using your iPhone 7/8/X and an older iPhone (6 or before). Ensure that “Phone Noise Cancelling” is switched off, under the Accesdibility section of settings.

1. Play any sound from a device with a speaker (constant source of sound).

2. Make an iPhone call from the older iPhone to the newer iPhone (or any phone that allows you to hear the quality of the call) and mute the receiving phone so there no sound feedback.

3. Move the iPhone along the front of the speaker playing the sound and to either side to see how much the bottom mic is picking up.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 using the newer iPhone to compare the sound quality.

To my surprise, my brand new iPhone 8 Plus only picked up clear sound when the bottom mic was directly in front of the physical speaker and a muffled sound when to either side.

My iPhone 6 Plus, also running the latest IOS V11 picked up the sound from the speaker and from either side and when further away.

Conclusion that was accepted by Apple Support Chat engineer, was that the bottom mic was too condensed and not picking up the sound from the near surrounding and needed to be taken in for a repair.

He could not explain the difference between the phone as Apple has not issued any technical info to confirm any changes to the bottom mic spec.

Interestingly, testing the mic with audio notepad and other VOIP services such as WhatsApp and Viber don’t exhibit the same problem. I haven’t confirmed with them which speakers they are using.

Tony

My wife had the same issue of in and out sounds or hard to understand with her new iPhone 8 plus. I'm not an apple tech but the iPhone has multiple mics and what we found under settings, general ,accessibility was if we turned off " phone noise cancellation " that fixed our issue almost immediately .

I spoke to Apple and told them I tested making a call between my new iphone 8+ and my old iphone 6+ with the answering phone being muted so sound only went from the iphone making the call. I used the TV as a constand sound source.

The iphone 6+ made a clear call with all the background, but the iphone 8+ only picked up the tv if it was placed directly in front of the speaker. Even moving it slightly meant little sound was picked up.

The Apple engineer said it was a great test and thought the bottom microphone (this is the one used when speaker is not used) was too condensed... I said its not picking up peripheral sound as all other iphones had.

I had also turned of noise cancelling in case this was causing the problem, but no change. Also it was interesting that voice memo picks up sound ok, but maybe there is a hidden feature that making a call uses

Anyway, I am going to take the phone into the Geniuis Bar, but have complained to Apple that an $869 phone should have been quality tested

You are just another one of many people complaining about the 8+microphone.

It seems we have all gone through **** trying to resolve the problem and have all spent hours on the phone with Apple second-tier senior advisers.

I am on my third 8+ phone. I also had no microphone issues with my six. They started immediately with the 8+.

You have done some really amazing tests and I don’t know whether your issue has been resolved or not but it doesn’t sound so.

Apple is very slow to admit that many people are now complaining about this microphone issue.

My carrier is Verizon and they replaced my Sim card. The advisor who I had spoken to many many days and God knows how many hours finally advised me it was a Sim card issue. He suggested the idiotic idea of exchanging what he thought was a compromise Sim card with another iPhone user having a different carrier. Why would I want to exchanged in the cars with another person and possibly infect their phone? What a ridiculous idea!

I went to Verizon and they whipped out an apple symbol card, installed it, changed a few settings which apparently affected microphone issues in my area which is New York.

I don’t know where you live but if it’s New York Pennsylvania Connecticut or New Jersey you might have a problem with one of your settings which should be on data only. Apparently any other setting caused static and poor voice quality in the microphone.

I don’t know if this helps but all I know is the deal I’m with Apple for five months and setting up three different phones, bringing them back to factory settings and putting everything in again was hair-raising.

Apple is far from user-friendly these days. I do not know what they are doing but I agree that they should not be putting our phones that may have hardware problems.

Hi everyone

I have the same mic / call quality problems here, on an 8 Plus, purchased new in Poland and used with multiple carriers.

Definitely it is the phone's mic, and the easiest way to test/isolate this is to try calling a voicemail and leaving a message (as others have suggested):

- using the phone's mic

- through a headset

- through a MacBook pushing the audio (note: just the audio NOT the call itself) through FaceTime / WiFi (which by the way I find to be a really comfortable option when working at my desk)

I have tried this with people I can safely experiment on, and they confirm the 'phone mic' option is by far the worst.

Just before taking a deep breath and going for repair, I switched off noise cancelling in Accessibility, and switched LTE to 'data only' - the first couple of calls from the phone mic have gone very well. I will hold on for a few more days and let you know if the problem is resolved (at least for me).

Good luck everyone - I share your pain and frustration with problems caused by what is marketed and priced as a top-end phone.... :/

Adam

After receiving my third phone and going through the process of setting it up and then wiping out all the info and sending it back to to Apple and retrieving my $900 in escrow, I had the same issue. No one could hear me properly. My voice was breaking up. I sounded like I was on Mars.

I must’ve spoken to at least 22 tier senior advisers.

The last one had the sense to send it to the engineering department. They didn’t exhausted testing. I had to go through hours of running tests on my phone while on my landline talking to Apple advisor.

After all that wasted time if I still didn’t work properly.

I was told it was a carrier problem and to go to Verizon. I called Verizon and they said oh no problem just change the setting. Of course that didn’t work.

Then the Apple genius told me to take my Sim card and switch it with another idiot who would be stupid enough to give me their phone and Sim card to test for a day. My Sim card was probably compromised. Now why would I want to infect someone else’s phone?

Why I dopey suggestion.

I went to Verizon and they worked out a new Apple sim card. Changed a setting for my region which is New York and apparently your wife I has to be on data only. Now I have no problems!

I went through months of exhausting conversations with Apple. The frustration and anger at not getting my problem resolved What is moving me into a lunatic. After all it is just a telephone. But it didn’t cost $900! Why they couldn’t have just said you probably have a hacked Sim card To begin with is beyond me!

Go to your carrier and get a new Sim card. Explain the problem to them. They may have to change a few settings as well.

Apparently hacking some cars there’s a big thing these days.

I have been corresponding with whaddabeach Who is also in this Apple support community complaining of the Microphone issue.

We are both on our third phone and have spent countless hours over a period of months dealing with organizing tests and phone conversations with Apple senior representatives.

My problem seems to be finally resolved because I went to Verizon and they changed by seven card and a few settings. I live in New York and they said people in New York experience certain issues like this when their Wi-Fi setting is not

I have been corresponding with whaddabeach Who is also in this Apple support community complaining of the Microphone issue.

We are both on our third phone and have spent countless hours over a period of months dealing with organizing tests and phone conversations with Apple senior representatives.

My problem seems to be finally resolved because I went to Verizon and they changed by Sim card and a few settings. I live in New York and they said people in New York experience certain issues like this when their Wi-Fi setting is not set properly.

If you have not tried this maybe you should.

Good luck! Unless you bought it very recently they will never give you your money back. They will give you a new phone.

as I mentioned, I was on my third phone as is whaddabeach.

My problem was finally resolved after much pain.

I went to my carrier Verizon, and they put a new Sim card in and change some settings which had to do with my location.

The microphone issue finally disappeared and people are able to hear me.

Have had a little relief. One person suggested going into settings and eliminate the “Background Noise Reduction” and it has improved slightly. Instead of 99% of all callers saying they cannot hear me, muffled, in/out voice they all hear me in a muffled state. If I speak slowly... they can hear a little better. However, when my iPods are in use, 100% of all callers indicate they hear me well. Go figure.

The new message of the day is, try and shut off the background noise reduction and wager to say it will help. Now, do not celebrate and pop the champaign cork yet...

Lastly, was in Apple store this past week and understand that a newer series is going to be introduced and that it will have a different mic setting. I will dump this 8+ so fast it is not funny but have purchased a new blackberry design phone for overseas calls from verizon. I could not trust my 8+ anymore on important business calls. Good luck.

I have just had my I phone 8 plus replaced due to the bottom mic issue. This looks like a very common fault reading messages. Took it to the shop, ran a test and bottom right mic was not working.. I have only got 3 months left on my gtee, if this happens again I will use the for sale of goods act not fit for purpose. Clearly there is a manufacturing fault due to the number of people with this.

Same issue. Twice in and ‘can’t replicate problem’. Changed SIM. No change.

Tried ‘fix’ suggested in earlier post on this issue of covering up the mic on the back. (Small piece of electrical tape) “bingo” has worked so far. Terrible to think this is the only solution. Let’s hope it stays ‘fixed’!!!

babette71,

See if this helps:

Get help with the microphones on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch