How do I adjust the microphone volume on my Android?

Adjusting your Android’s microphone volume allows you to control how loud your voice sounds in audio recordings, calls, and other voice services. With the right microphone volume, your voice will sound clear and audible without being too loud or quiet. Setting the right level prevents issues like voices echoing or barely being heard on the other end of calls and recordings.

The microphone volume controls how your voice gets picked up by the microphone and amplified before being sent out. Turning up the microphone volume makes your voice louder, while turning it down makes your voice quieter. The ideal setting ensures your voice is transmitted at an appropriate and comfortable level.

Finding the optimal microphone volume may take some trial and error. The needed volume can vary based on your phone model, voice levels, ambient noise in your environment, and the app you’re using. This guide will walk through the steps to locate and change microphone volume on Android phones to help optimize your voice input.

Locate Your Microphone Settings

To begin, you’ll need to open your Android device’s Settings app. The Settings app contains all of the adjustable options for customizing your device’s software. On most Android devices, you can access the Settings app by swiping down from the top of the screen and tapping the gear icon.

Once you have the Settings screen open, scroll down through the list of options until you find the section related to sound or audio. This may be simply labeled “Sound” or “Audio.” Tap into this section.

Within the sound settings, you should see options related to your device’s microphone. Look for toggles, sliders, or menu options like “Microphone volume” or “Mic level.” If you don’t see these immediately, try searching the sound settings using your device’s built-in search bar.

Locating the microphone volume controls is the first key step in the process. Once you’ve found the microphone settings, you can move on to adjusting the levels.

Adjust Microphone Volume

Microphone volume is controlled by a slider directly in your Android settings:

Open your Android settings app.

Tap Sound or Audio settings.
Look for a slider labeled Microphone, Mic Volume, or Recording Volume.
Drag the slider left to decrease the microphone volume, or right to increase it.

The microphone icon will show the volume increasing or decreasing as you adjust the slider.
Settings with multiple microphones may have separate sliders for each one.
Adjust each slider individually based on which mic you want to control.

Moving the slider all the way left will mute your microphone completely. If you can’t be heard during calls or voice recordings, check that the slider hasn’t been muted accidentally.

Increasing the slider too high may cause audio to sound distorted or peak in volume. Find a comfortable level where your voice is clearly audible but not overpowering.

These volume controls directly set the recording levels for any app using your microphone, from phone calls to videos. Adjust the slider based on your usage needs.

Adjust Volume in Specific Apps

Many apps like Voice Recorder have their own microphone volume control separate from your device’s system settings. This allows you to customize the mic level for audio recording or calls within each individual app.

To adjust the mic volume within a specific app, open the app and look for a microphone or volume slider in the settings. For example in Voice Recorder, open the app and tap the settings icon in the top corner. There you’ll find a slider to control the recording volume.

Play around with the mic slider while making a test recording. Listen back to hear the volume differences and adjust as needed for your environment. This gives you more granular control over the mic input level.

The same can be done in other apps like video recorders, karaoke apps, or calling/VOIP apps. Look for a mic icon in the settings to find the volume control. Tweak as necessary to achieve your desired recording or call volume.

Check Volume in Voice Memos

Once you’ve adjusted your microphone volume, it’s a good idea to test it out. The Voice Memos app that comes pre-installed on Android devices provides an easy way to do this.

To check your microphone volume:

Open the Voice Memos app.
Tap the record button to start a new voice memo.
Speak into your phone’s microphone at your normal volume and cadence.

Tap stop to end the recording after about 10 seconds.
Tap play to listen back to the recording.
Check if your voice is now at an appropriate volume – not too loud or quiet.

If needed, adjust the microphone volume again until your test recordings sound good.

The Voice Memos app provides a simple way to verify that your microphone volume changes were effective before using your phone’s mic in other apps.

Consider Your Surroundings

Set your microphone volume according to the level of background noise where you are speaking. In noisy environments like a crowded room or outdoors, you’ll want to set your microphone volume higher so that your voice is picked up clearly over the ambient sounds.

Conversely, if you’re recording or speaking in a quiet setting, set your volume lower to avoid picking up unnecessary static. Get to know the different volume levels needed for different situations.

For example, you likely need your volume set higher when recording videos outside versus recording a podcast alone in your bedroom. Test different volume levels and listen back to find the optimal setting for each environment.

Troubleshooting Low Volume

If your Android microphone volume seems too low even when turned all the way up, there are a few things you can try to resolve the issue:

First, check your app permissions and make sure the app you are using has been granted access to the microphone. You can find app permissions in your Settings. Make sure the Microphone permission is enabled.

Next, try testing different microphones. If you are using a headset, try your phone’s built-in microphone instead. Or if using the built-in mic, plug in headphones with an inline mic and test if the volume increases.

You can also try adjusting your phone’s audio profiles. Look for a Sound or Audio setting, and switch between available profiles like Music, Movie, or Voice to see if any boost the microphone volume.

Lastly, you can try adjusting the microphone’s sensitivity. Higher sensitivity picks up more sound, resulting in louder volume. Just be aware, too high sensitivity could result in distortion.

If you have tried various microphones and settings but the volume is still too low, you may need to consult your phone manufacturer in case of a hardware issue.

Troubleshooting High Volume

If your microphone volume is too high and peaking, causing distortion or poor audio quality, there are a couple things you can try:

First, lower any amplifying effects or gain controls that are boosting the microphone input volume. Many microphone apps include options to add gain, boost loudness, or otherwise amplify the mic level before output. Reduce these effects.

Additionally, try moving the microphone further away from your mouth when speaking. The proximity effect causes close-miking to exaggerate bass frequencies, which can lead to peaking. Move back an inch or two to reduce this effect.

Checking your microphone’s specs can provide guidance on optimal distance. High-quality mics are designed for close positioning, but poorer mics may require more distance. Position the mic just outside the most intense area of breath projection to reduce plosives and distortion.

With a little tweaking of distance and amplifying effects, you can bring down the volume to an optimal level for clean, quality audio recordings.

Additional Options

Beyond the main system and app volume controls, there are a few other places you may need to adjust microphone volume on your Android device.

During phone calls, you can increase or decrease the volume using the volume buttons on the side of your phone. There is a separate call volume that controls how loud the other person’s voice comes through, as well as your own voice that they hear through the microphone.

If using a Bluetooth headset or speakers, there may be independent volume controls on the external device itself that affect the microphone input volume.

Some apps like social media platforms or messaging apps have their own volume slider specifically for audio messages. Look for this in the app’s settings.

You can also install third party apps that give you greater control over mic volumes across your whole device. These can provide features like per-app volume, microphone boost, mute toggles, and more. Search your device’s app store for options.

Summary

In summary, there are a few main ways to adjust your microphone volume on an Android device.

The easiest is to go into your main device Settings app and find the Sound or Audio section. Here you can drag the microphone volume slider to increase or decrease the volume.

Keep in mind the volume can be adjusted differently within specific apps as well. Look for a microphone or volume icon within apps like Voice Memos, WhatsApp voice messages, or Zoom calls to customize the levels.

It’s a good idea to check your microphone volume in a voice memo app and listen back to ensure the level is adequate before making calls or recordings.

Adjust according to your surroundings, increasing the volume when there is background noise or reducing it in quiet settings to optimize sound quality.

With these steps in mind, you should be able to successfully control the microphone volume on your Android device for clear audio in any situation.