Microphone · not the speaker
You hear them fine. They can't hear you.
That's a microphone problem, not a speaker one — a different opening, usually blocked by the same dust and lint. Clear it, then test it before you trust it on your next call.
- Dust Buster clears the mic grille
- Record & playback confirms it worked
- Nothing uploaded — stays in your browser
Find the small microphone hole — usually on the bottom edge — and hold it face-down over a cloth.
Mic test
Records 3 seconds of audio and plays it straight back, so you can hear what your mic actually picks up.
Quick answer
If people say you sound muffled or quiet on calls, your microphone is blocked — not your speaker. Find the mic hole (usually a pinhole on the bottom edge), hold that edge facing down, and run the Dust Buster mic cleaner sound for 30 seconds, or Water Ejector if the phone got wet. Wipe the opening, then use the Mic Test on this page: it records three seconds and plays them back so you hear exactly what callers hear. The recording never leaves your browser.
| Where the mic is | What it's used for |
|---|---|
| Bottom edge, next to the charging port | Main mic for calls and voice notes |
| Top edge or near the earpiece | Noise cancellation, speakerphone |
| Back, beside the camera | Video recording, noise cancellation |
Speaker problem or mic problem?
They're easy to confuse because both show up as "bad call quality." The test is simple: if you can't hear them, it's your speaker or earpiece. If they can't hear you, it's your microphone.
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1
Find the mic hole
Usually a pinhole on the bottom edge near the charging port, sometimes a second one on the back near the camera.
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2
Run Dust Buster
The 3,000–9,000 Hz sweep vibrates surface dust and lint out of the opening.
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3
Wipe gently
A soft, dry microfiber cloth over the opening picks up whatever the sweep loosened.
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4
Record and confirm
Use the Mic Test panel above — don't rely on a call to find out, test it privately first.
Case covering the mic?
Before assuming it's dust, check whether a phone case's cutout lines up with the mic hole. Misaligned cutouts on cheaper cases are a common, completely unrelated cause of muffled calls.
If it's your earpiece instead
If people can hear you fine but you can't hear them, the problem is on the other side of the call — see the call speaker & earpiece cleaner instead.
Mic problem, speaker problem, or settings?
| What happens | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Callers hear you muffled or far away | Blocked main mic | Dust Buster + gentle brush, then Mic Test |
| Fine on handset, bad on speakerphone | Blocked secondary mic | Clean the top and back mic holes too |
| Voice notes silent, calls fine | App microphone permission | Allow microphone access in Settings for that app |
| You can't hear callers | Earpiece, not mic | Call speaker cleaner |
| Muffled only with a case on | Case cut-out misaligned | Change the case |
| Everything silent after water | Water in the mic port | Air-dry, Water Ejector, retest in an hour |
How to clean a phone microphone safely
Microphone holes are even smaller than speaker holes, and the membrane behind them is delicate. Work from the outside only.
- Run the mic cleaner sound. Dust Buster's 3,000–9,000 Hz sweep vibrates the surrounding grille and helps loose dust drop out. Hold the mic edge facing down.
- Brush lightly across the hole with a clean, dry, soft toothbrush.
- Lift lint with low-tack tape or cleaning putty pressed on and peeled away.
- Record and compare with the Mic Test above. A clean mic sounds as clear as your voice in the room.
Never push a SIM pin, needle or toothpick into the mic hole, blow compressed air into it, or use liquids. Apple's own guidance for AirPods and iPhone openings is dry cotton swabs and soft brushes only.
After water
A wet mic makes your voice sound muffled or crackly to others until it dries. Run Water Ejector with the bottom edge down, leave the phone in moving air, and retest with the Mic Test after an hour. The full routine is in dropped your phone in water? The first 10 minutes.
How the online mic test works
When you tap record, your browser asks for microphone permission. The test captures three seconds with the MediaRecorder API, shows a live input-level meter, and plays the clip back. It's the quickest way to check a phone, laptop or headset microphone without calling anyone.
Privacy
The recording is kept in your browser's memory only. It isn't uploaded, stored or shared, and it's discarded when you leave the page. You can revoke microphone permission at any time in your browser settings. See the privacy policy.
Mic cleaning questions
Can sound clean my microphone?
Dust Buster's high-frequency sweep vibrates the mic grille the same way it vibrates a speaker grille, which can loosen surface dust and lint. It can't remove anything lodged inside the housing itself.
How do I test if my microphone still works?
Use the Mic Test panel on this page — it records 3 seconds through your microphone and plays it back immediately, so you hear exactly what a call partner would hear.
Why does my voice sound muffled or quiet to other people?
Most often a blocked mic grille — usually a small hole on the bottom edge or back of the phone. Also check that a case isn't partially covering the opening.
Does this use my microphone recording for anything else?
No. The test recording stays in your browser, plays back locally, and is discarded when you leave the page. Nothing is uploaded.
What is a mic cleaner sound?
It's a tone that vibrates the grille around your phone's microphone to loosen dust or water. On this page, Dust Buster (a 3–9 kHz sweep) is used for dust and Water Ejector (165 Hz) after water exposure.
How do I fix my mic speaker?
"Mic speaker" problems are usually one of two things: callers can't hear you (clean the microphone with this page) or you can't hear callers (clean the earpiece with the call speaker cleaner).
Can I test my microphone online?
Yes. The Mic Test on this page records three seconds and plays it back instantly, entirely in your browser. It works on phones, laptops and headsets.
How do I clean my iPhone microphone?
Run Dust Buster with the bottom edge facing down, brush the mic holes gently with a soft dry brush, then record a test clip. Don't insert anything into the holes.