iPhone XR - microphone issue ?

I have a similar problem on my new iPhone XR. While talking on the phone with the phone to my ear and the mic in front of my mouth, people can hear me. If I so much as pivot the lower end of the phone down from my mouth, people can no longer hear me. It works fine when on speaker or using ear buds. Something definitely wrong with the mic fading off if not directly in front of your mouth.

My XR microphone worked for phonecalls and voice memos. But not for taking videos as there would be a lot of hiss and patchy underwater-like sound recording with silences and gaps.

After doing all the recommended suggestions including toggling of various sound options and even doing a reset that caused the loss of all my preset wifi passwords and customised settings, I finally solved the problem.

There is actually a 3rd microphone near the rear-facing camera that was covered by the rear phone protector. Cutting off a corner of it to unblock the microphone hole did the trick. All that unnecessary sweat wasted. Hopefully this helps for some of you.

I have had my iPhone XR for a few months. The microphone for the phone only breaks up sometimes or I sound muffled. It is worse on speaker phone or if I talk thru the bottom of the phone. It does this with any covers off the phone. I reset the phone as instructed and it seemed to work for a short time. I'll go to Apple Support but it is a strange issue. The other mics all work fine i.e. only happens with phone calls.

I bought the new XR a short time ago and have the same problem. My friends and fAmily kept telling me they could not hear me and I sound like crap. I insisted it wasn’t my phone as it was an expensive brand new iPhone but then my son called me from his friends XR and I finally heard exactly what every one had been saying about my phone all along. I contacted apple tech support and nothing helped. Except holding the phone just so the mic is right under my mouth. Heaven forbid it’s even slightly turned away from my mouth. Any way I asked the apple tech I’f this is a common complaint and she said no but clearly this isn’t true. A simple google search proves that is actually a problem across all color versions of the XR and there is a design flaw that some how apple is not acknowledging. They are saying there is nothing wrong and while there may not be any damage or malfunction per say there is most definitely a design flaw. For the cost of these phones I shouldn’t have to consciously be sure the phone is held perfectly straight on to be heard. My old 6splus didn’t have this issue and the cheap 40$ Android I got my daughter doesn’t have this issue so I expect the 800 dollar phone to pick up my voice no matter how the phone is held against my ear. This is ridiculous

If the microphones on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch aren't working - Apple Support

I have a very similar problem. Sound in video sounds patchy and sort of like auto attenuated. Even without protective case, I have this problem. Speech memo app works just fine. What else could be the problem? Already restarted the phone...

I have the same issue with my new XR. Everyone complains about my voice getting garbled. Ive taken the cover off and it seems to help a bit but problem still occurs. Have reset too but still happens. Gonna try my sim in my old 5s to rule out my carrier.

The problem remained with the replacement phone (red). Diagnostics by Apple indicated the phone was in working order.

I have been working with the phone provider, for a solution but thus far none. We replaced the SIM card. I am waiting for a final tech work up before going back to apple.

I believe it is a design flaw. If I speak loudly and especially speak into the microphone holding the phone at a perpendicular angle to my head then it seems to work better. The speaker phone isn't as good.

Anyone else go through a similar experience?

Allyismydog,

The problem you describe is the same I had. I worked with Verizon and Apple. If I wasn't holding the MIC directly in front of my mouth people could not hear me. Ultimately I returned the XR and went back to my older 6 and no longer are having the issue.

Iphone XR microphone problems reported by Freedom Mobile in Canada -- They have had a number of clients with iPhone XR and XS models who have the same problem. I have had a new SIM card and their technicians are evaluating the issue to see if there is anything they can do.

Finally, found the solution. Weak LTE signal (possibly... though my phone shows full LTE signal)...the fix is to put your LTE to data only. Apple engineers are working on the issue apparently...it's not just me. Hope this helps others.

I have found that if I hold my phone with my left hand the mic doesn’t work but with my right hand it does. I am sure It has to do with how the bottom mic is positioned to my mouth as it’s very easy to move off target. I have now resorted to always use earbuds as there seems to be no fix anytime soon.

Your experience is identical to mine.

First chance I get to sell this phone I will.

Maybe it's time to leave apple for a while and give them a chance to figure out how to make products with basic functionality in addition to all the other stuff they seem to focus on.

A working mic on a phone is essential otherwise it's just a tablet.

Most likely you are covering the noise cancellation mic on the back of the phone either with your hand or a case. The flip-open folio cases are the worst offenders, as they cover the mic if you flip them to the back when on a call.

yes I thought that might be the cause as well so when chatting with the apple tech I told her I was going to try one more thing and that was removing my case although there is no way in heck I would carry around this phone with a glass back with out a case. I actually have literally 5 different styles of cases for this phone and had the same issue with all of them but to did make a phone call with no case installed at all and again holding only the side edges of the phone I was told I was heard fine when holding it perfectly straight on but literally moving it even 6 degrees away from directly in front of my mouth that it sounded like crap and was all gargled and choppy and she couldn’t hear or understand me. I mean I suppose eventually I will learn to be aware to hold the. Bottom of the phone directly under my mouth but I find myself being less aware when I’m super busy and answer a call while getting my kids a drink or really anytime I first answer the phone. Same with making calls. I keep forgetting the mic stinks on the phone and I make a call to the doctors office for example and soon as they answer I’m like hello I’m calling Jonny Appleseed and his birthday is J

1/1/10 and I’m calling because he has a bad cough and bla bla boa and I get the response of I am sorry I didn’t hear a thing you said your voice is gargled and choppy and I’m thinking come on this phone is driving me insane and I then adjust is the 5 or so degrees so the bottom is right below my mouth and apologize then start over. Yes it has the ability to pick up my voice clearly but I just upgraded from the old iPhone 6s Plus and never ever had an issue with being heard no matter the angle the phone is being held. So for that reason I certainly expect to have the same quality in phone calls as I did with my older iPhone. It can’t be that hard to fix the placement of the mic or what ever they did right on the older iPhones on the new XR so that people so t have to constantly be checking they are holding the phone just right so they can be heard. I mean I’d the issue only happens I’d i was holding the hone way way off or upside down then I would just make sure I’m hiding the phone normal but I am holding it normal it’s just super finicky with being needed to be held just so. It should still be clear even if the user is holding the phone bottom an inch or two on either side of the mouth let alone just slightly off to one side or the other.