Earbud microphone not working properly

4 min read

Earbud microphone not working properly

The microphone on your earbuds or Bluetooth headphones isn't working properly. At least, that's what the person you're talking to says. "I really can't hear you clearly." Right after you said something brilliant, too. Frustrating. But how do you fix it? We'll explain in this article.

Quick fixes:

Is the microphone the problem?

First, check whether the microphone is causing the problem. The person you were talking to probably said they couldn't hear you clearly. But is the microphone actually to blame?

How to test the microphone

The best way to find out is to test the microphone. How? Record a short voice clip.

🎤 We always record a voice clip when we review earbuds. Take this review of the DunRock Bubble earbuds, for example.

Find out how to record a voice clip with your earbuds' mic

Then listen to the recording.

Can you hear your voice clearly now? Then something else caused the problem. It could be one or more of these issues:

  • Something interfered with the Bluetooth signal during your call.
  • There was interference on the line (in other words, your phone or the other person's phone had a poor connection).
  • The speaker on the other person's phone isn't working properly.
  • Or the conditions during the call weren't ideal (see below).

Hard to hear because of wind

Keep in mind that your phone, even one costing €1000+, can't handle wind during calls either. If you're talking on your phone while cycling, the other person will soon complain that they can't hear you clearly.

Think of the sound operator on a camera crew. They always carry a huge microphone wrapped in a dead cat windshield (that furry cover). All to keep the wind out.

Cycling with earbuds in

Using earbuds while cycling is a good example. They're fine for listening to music. But when you make a call, wind hits the microphones at 30 km per hour. The tiny microphones in your phone and earbuds can't handle that. Even a studio microphone would struggle. The person you're talking to will hear wind noise either way.

Solution: Wearing a hood? Pull it up and try making a call. The wind flows around your hood, so the other person can still hear you clearly.

The thing is, earbuds leave your hands free. That makes you much more likely to use them in windy places. Would you cycle with your phone held to your ear? Or hold it while walking the dog? Your arm would ache after 10 minutes. Not with earbuds in.

Hard to hear because of background noise:

Some earbuds have ENC to filter out background noise. But don't expect miracles. It works, but in a noisy restaurant or a busy departure hall, even earbuds with ENC struggle to filter out the noise.

Solution: Find a quieter spot when you call someone, just as you would with your phone. Does the microphone have ENC? It can handle a fair amount of background chatter, but not loud noise.

Dirt in the microphone opening

Sometimes your voice can't reach the microphone in your earbud, especially if you've handled your earbuds with greasy hands. Dirt in the microphone opening can stop it from picking up sound. Dirt can also build up through regular use over time.

Solution: Clean the opening thoroughly. Here's how:
  1. 1. Find the small opening on the earbud.
  2. 2. Clean the opening with a small brush, such as an old toothbrush. Brush the dirt out, not in.
  3. 3. Test the mic again to see if it works.

Dirt can also block sound from reaching your ear through the earbud. That can make the volume lower in 1 or both earbuds.

Hard to hear because of the connection

The connection could also be letting you down. For example:

  • The connection between the other person's earbuds.
  • The connection between your phone and their phone.
  • The connection between your earbuds and your phone.

This happens much more often than you might think. It's easy to jump from (1) the other person can't hear me to (2) my earbuds have a bad microphone. But hold on: you can't conclude that just yet. That's why we suggest recording a voice clip first.

Solution: Check your signal strength (the bars for your carrier at the top of your screen). Call the other person back using WhatsApp instead of your cellular network.

Others also viewed:

Back to blog

Related articles