How do I get the microphone back on my Android keyboard?

The microphone button on the Android keyboard allows users to dictate text instead of typing. By tapping the microphone icon, you can speak your messages and have them automatically converted into text. This handy feature speeds up typing by letting you verbally compose emails, texts, notes, and more.

However, sometimes the microphone button can disappear from the keyboard, which prevents use of this voice typing function. There are a variety of potential reasons for the microphone vanishing, including system updates, new keyboards, app issues, and device settings changes.

The goal of this guide is to help you get the microphone icon back on your Android keyboard, restoring the ability to dictate text through voice input.

Check Keyboard Settings

The first step is to open the Settings app on your Android device and navigate to the keyboard or language settings to check if the microphone option is enabled. Here are the steps:

Open the Settings app on your Android device. Scroll down and tap on System. Look for the Languages & input option and tap on it (source).

On the Languages & input screen, tap on Virtual keyboard. This will open a list of installed keyboard apps. Locate Gboard or your preferred keyboard app in the list.

Tap on the keyboard app and look for a setting like Voice typing, Voice input, or Enable microphone. Make sure this option is turned on. If voice input is disabled, tap the switch to enable it (source).

Go back and check if the microphone icon now appears on the keyboard when you open any app where you can enter text. If not, the issue may be with app permissions which we’ll cover next.

Update or Reinstall Your Keyboard App

If your keyboard is still missing the microphone after checking settings, try updating or reinstalling the keyboard app:

• Open the Play Store app on your Android device.
• Search for your keyboard app, such as Gboard.
• Check if there are any available updates for the app. Tap “Update” to download the latest version.
• If there are no updates available, uninstall the keyboard app completely. You can do this by tapping the “Uninstall” button on the app’s Play Store page.
• After uninstalling, search for the keyboard app again and reinstall it fresh from the Play Store.
• Once installed, open the keyboard settings to enable the microphone feature again.

Reinstalling the keyboard app forces it to re-check for the microphone permission and resets its settings. This often resolves microphone issues if a simple update did not fix it.

Clear App Data/Cache

Clearing the app data and cache for your keyboard app can often resolve microphone issues. To do this on Android:

Open the Settings app on your device. Select Apps or Application Manager. Find and select your keyboard app in the list (for example, Gboard). Tap Storage. Then tap Clear Cache to clear cached data and Clear Data to delete app data.

This will reset the keyboard app to default settings which can resolve issues caused by corrupted data or cache files. According to OOONO’s troubleshooting guide, clearing the app cache is one of the first steps to take when troubleshooting technical issues.

Check App Permissions

One common reason the microphone may be disabled on your Android keyboard is that you have not granted the keyboard app permission to access the microphone. To enable the microphone, you need to update the app permissions in your device settings.

To check the keyboard app permissions:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
2. Tap Apps or Application Manager.
3. Select the keyboard app, such as Gboard.
4. Tap Permissions.
5. Ensure the Microphone permission is enabled. The best setting is “Allow only while using the app” to prevent unnecessary background access.

Enabling the Microphone permission should allow the keyboard app to access the microphone again so voice typing can function properly. If you already had the permission enabled, there may be another issue causing the microphone problem.

Check Do Not Disturb Settings

One of the first things to check is your Do Not Disturb settings. Do Not Disturb blocks sounds and notifications, which can include blocking the microphone on your keyboard.

To check your Do Not Disturb settings:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
2. Tap on Sounds & Vibration.
3. Make sure that Do Not Disturb is turned off. You may see a toggle for “Turn on as scheduled” or “Turn on now” depending on your Android version – make sure both of these are turned off.

According to Google’s support article, Do Not Disturb can “mute sound, stop vibration, and block visual disturbances” which could prevent your keyboard microphone from working properly.

Once you’ve checked your Do Not Disturb settings, try using the microphone on your keyboard again to see if it’s working. If Do Not Disturb was enabled, turning it off should restore full microphone capabilities.

Restart Device

One troubleshooting step you can try is to restart your Android device. Here are the steps:

1. Power down your device completely by pressing and holding the power button until you get the “Power off” prompt. Tap “Power off.”
2. Wait 30 seconds with your device powered off completely.
3. After waiting, press and hold the power button again to turn your device back on.

Restarting your Android device essentially “resets” the operating system and clears out any memory issues or glitches that may be occurring, including issues with your keyboard microphone not working ([1]). Wait as your device boots back up completely, then check if the mic has returned on your keyboard.

If the microphone still does not appear after restarting, you may need to try additional troubleshooting steps like updating apps or resetting app preferences to resolve the issue.

Reset App Preferences

Another troubleshooting step is to reset the app preferences of your keyboard app such as the Google keyboard or Gboard app. Here’s how to do that:

1. Open your device’s Settings app.

2. Go to the Apps section. On Android 12 and up, open the Settings app > Apps > All apps. On Android 11 and older, open the Settings app > Apps > Manage apps or App info.

3. Scroll down to your keyboard app like Gboard or the Google keyboard app and tap on it to open its app info screen.

4. Tap on Reset app preferences here. This will clear any data or customized preferences for the keyboard app to the defaults.

5. Try using the keyboard in your device to see if the issue is resolved and the microphone is working once again. Resetting app preferences can clear app data that may have been corrupted or causing conflicts with system-level settings and the keyboard app on your device.

If resetting app preferences does not resolve the issue, move on to the other troubleshooting steps in this guide. You can also contact the keyboard app developer for further assistance.

Factory Reset

A factory reset will erase all data from your device and restore it to its original software state when you first purchased it. This means all downloaded apps, settings, accounts, and personal data will be deleted.

Before proceeding with a factory reset, make sure to backup any data you want to keep. You should also ensure your device has over 50% battery, or keep it plugged in throughout the process.

To factory reset your Android device:

1. Open the Settings app
2. Select System
3. Choose Reset options
4. Tap Erase all data (factory reset)
5. Confirm the reset when prompted

Once complete, your device will reboot and you’ll have to set it up again like new. Any apps or data present before the reset will be erased. Only proceed with a factory reset if you can’t resolve the microphone issue through other troubleshooting.

Contact Developer

If none of the previous troubleshooting steps have resolved the microphone issue, the next step is to directly contact the developer of your keyboard app for further assistance. Here are some tips on how to reach out to the developer:

First, open the Google Play Store app and locate the listing for your keyboard. Scroll down to the “Developer” section, where you can find the developer name, website, and email address if provided. Tap the developer name to view all apps by that developer.

Next, check if the developer has provided their own customer support information or contact form. Many app developers list ways to get help on their website or within the app itself. You may find a “Contact Us” form, support email, forums, or FAQs with solutions.

If you cannot find a direct support contact, go back to the Play Store listing for the keyboard app and tap “Email Developer.” This will pre-populate an email to the address associated with their developer account. Explain your microphone issue in detail and include your device model and Android version.

Developers rely on user feedback to improve their apps. Contacting them directly can help bring issues to their attention faster, especially for lesser known apps. If the developer is responsive, they may provide customized troubleshooting or push out an app update to address the problem.