12 Ways to Fix Microphone Not Working on Apple Watch

The Apple Watch is a powerful device to strap onto your wrist but isn’t free from flaws. Recently, we experienced an issue where the microphone was not working on our Apple Watch and realized we weren’t alone. If you’re facing the same problem – we’re here to help.

Without the microphone working on your Apple Watch, you can’t use Siri with your voice, answer calls, use dictation on the keyboard, or even use apps like Voice Memos or Walkie-Talkie. But why does the issue occur in the first place? Let’s find out!

Why Is Microphone Not Working on Apple Watch

Here are some reasons the microphone is not working on your Apple Watch.

• The case on your Apple Watch is blocking the microphone.
• You have turned off permissions for an app to use the microphone.
• You have disabled dictation on your Apple Watch settings.
• You have disabled a few settings that let you speak to Siri on your Apple Watch.
• Dust particles may be blocking the microphone.
• You may have to eject water from your Apple Watch.
• Your Apple Watch may be affected by a software glitch.

Where Is the Microphone on my Apple Watch

The microphone is nestled between the Digital Crown and the side button on your Apple Watch. Knowing where it is can help you see if the case on your Apple Watch is blocking it or if any dust particles are present nearby.

How to Fix Microphone if It Stopped Working on Apple Watch

Here are twelve ways to resolve the problem on your Apple Watch. Let’s begin with checking the microphone permissions.

1. Enable Permissions for Microphone

You may not have permitted the third-party app to access the microphone on your Apple Watch. Here’s how to check if the app can use the microphone.

Step 1: Press the Digital Crown once to open the App Library. Open the Settings app.

Step 2: Tap on ‘Privacy & Security’.

Step 3: Scroll down and tap on Microphone.

Step 4: Check if the permission is disabled for any app.

Note: The permission settings will be shared between your Apple Watch and iPhone. You need to open the privacy settings on your iPhone to grant the app permission to use the microphone.

Step 5: Open the Settings app on your iPhone

Step 6: Tap on ‘Privacy & Security’.

Step 7: Scroll down and tap on Microphone.

Step 8: Enable permissions for the app to use the microphone.

2. Enable Dictation

If you can’t dictate and use speech-to-text while using your Apple Watch, you may have disabled Dictation on your Apple Watch. Here’s how you can turn it on.

Step 1: Press the Digital Crown once to open the App Library.

Step 2: Go to Settings > tap on General.

Step 3: Tap on Dictation.

Step 4: Turn on the toggle for Dictation.

3. Check Siri Settings

If you’re unable to use Siri on your Apple Watch, don’t conclude that the microphone is not working on your Apple Watch. You need to ensure you’ve enabled Siri on your Apple Watch.

Step 1: Press the Digital Crown to open the home screen on the Apple Watch.

Step 2: Now, tap on the Settings app and select Siri.

Step 3: Enable the toggles for the below options.

• Press Digital Crown – Toggle on this option if you cannot activate Siri by pressing the Crown.
• Listen for “Hey Siri”: Enable this option if your Apple Watch does not recognize the ‘Hey Siri’ command.
• Raise to Speak – Raise to Speak is a convenient way to access Siri on your Apple Watch. However, if that does not work, enable this option.

4. Remove the Case on the Apple Watch

The chances are that the case on your Apple Watch is blocking the microphone. Therefore, remove the case from your Apple Watch and see if the microphone works. Ensure to use the right case designed for your Apple Watch model to avoid such problems.

Also Read: Best slim Apple Watch cases to buy

5. Eject Water From Apple Watch

The Apple Watch is water-resistant, but there’s no stopping water droplets from entering the speaker and the microphone. However, there is an option to easily discard water and moisture from your Apple Watch by using the Water Lock feature. Here’s how:

Step 1: Open the Control Center on your Apple Watch.

Note: Control Center does not open when you swipe up on the latest watchOS 10. You need to click on the side button once to do so.

Step 2: Tap on the Water Lock icon.

Step 3: You will see a water droplet icon on the top of your watch face, indicating that Water Lock is enabled.

To turn off the Water Lock on your Apple Watch, hold the Crown for a few seconds until you see a message that says ‘Unlocked’. Then, wait for the sound to be played that ejects moisture and water out of your Apple Watch.

6. Clean Apple Watch Microphone

Gently clean the microphone on your Apple Watch with a soft, micro-fiber cloth. Any dust particles stuck inside the microphone may cause a few issues while recording your voice.

7. Disable Low Power Mode

Using the Low Power Mode is ideally not expected to interfere with the microphone. However, given its nature to restrict device performance to conserve battery – you can try disabling Low Power Mode to check if the microphone is working as usual on your Apple Watch.

Step 1: Open the Settings app.

Step 2: Tap on Battery.

Step 3: Turn off the toggle for ‘Low Power Mode’.

8. Restart Apple Watch

Shutting down your Apple Watch closes all the processes, including the bugs, if any. So, if a bug is affecting the microphone, restarting your Apple Watch can help fix the issue.

Step 1: Press the Digital Crown once to open the home screen and go to Settings.

Step 2: Tap on General.

Step 3: Tap on Shut Down. This turns off your Apple Watch.

Step 4: Now, press and hold the side button to power on your Apple Watch.

9. Reinstall the Third-Party app

If you find the microphone working everywhere except a single third-party app, uninstall the app and reinstall it from the App Store. This removes any corrupt or junk files causing the issue.

Step 1: Press the Digital Crown once to open the App Library.

Step 2: Long-tap on the app icon you want to delete.

Step 3: Tap on the cross-mark icon to uninstall the app. Tap on Delete App to confirm.

Step 4: Now, open the App Store on your Apple Watch, search, and reinstall the app.

Alternatively, you can open the Watch app on your iPhone. Scroll down to find the available apps, and tap on Install next to the app to get the app on your Apple Watch.

10. Update Apple Watch

If many users face problems with the microphone on the Apple Watch, Apple will release an update to fix it sooner or later. Therefore, ensure you are running the latest version of watchOS on your Apple Watch. Here’s how to update it. 

Step 1: Open the Watch app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Tap on General.

Step 3: Tap on Software Update.

Step 4: Tap on Install Now to download and install a new update, if available.

Your Apple Watch must have at least 50% battery level and be on charging as you install the update.

11. Reset Apple Watch

If none of the above methods work, reset your Apple Watch. This should fix the software-related issues.

Note: Resetting will unpair your Apple Watch and iPhone. So, you’ll have to re-pair the devices.

Step 1: Press the Digital Crown once to open the home screen and go to Settings.

Step 2: Tap on General.

Step 3: Tap on Reset.

Step 4: Tap on ‘Erase All Content and Settings’ to proceed. If prompted, confirm the deletion.

Tip: If you have GPS + Cellular Apple Watch, choose to keep your mobile plan if you wish to pair with the same iPhone.

12. Contact Apple Support

If none of the above methods work, reach out to Apple Support. If there’s any hardware issue, they can resolve it and fix the microphone on your Apple Watch.

FAQs on Apple Watch Microphone

Fix All Microphone Woes

We hope this article helps you fix all the issues regarding the microphone on your Apple Watch and that you get back to using your favorite features without any problems. If you face further issues, comment below, and we’ll help.