Where is microphone settings on Android?

Microphones and microphone settings are an important but often overlooked component of the Android experience. With the right settings, the microphone can enable clear voice calls, accurate voice assistant interactions, and quality audio recordings. This comprehensive guide will cover everything you need to know about locating, adjusting, and troubleshooting microphone settings on Android devices.

We will start by showing you where to find the microphone settings menu on your specific Android device. From there, we will explore the various options available for controlling microphone volume, sensitivity, permissions, default microphones, and more. You’ll also learn some tips for troubleshooting common microphone issues.

Whether you want to optimize your microphone for voice calls, gaming, videos, or just improve overall performance, this guide aims to provide a deep-dive into all the key microphone capabilities of Android. Follow along for pro tips to take control of your Android device’s microphone.

Locating the Microphone Settings

The microphone settings menu is easy to find on most Android devices. Here are step-by-step instructions for different versions and brands:

On Android 9 Pie and newer:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Apps & notifications.
3. Select App permissions.
4. Choose Microphone.

On Android 8 Oreo:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap Apps & notifications > App permissions.
3. Select Microphone.

On Samsung Galaxy devices:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps > Permission manager.
3. Choose Microphone.

On other Android devices like Motorola and LG:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Apps & notifications > App permissions.
3. Tap Microphone.

Following these steps will take you directly to the microphone settings and permissions menu on any Android device. From there, you can adjust specific options covered next.

Microphone Settings Options

Android phones provide various microphone settings to control how your phone’s microphone works. Here are some of the key options available:

You can turn the microphone on or off completely. This controls whether any apps can access the microphone. Go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > App Permissions > Microphone to toggle the microphone on or off for specific apps.

There are also volume controls for the microphone level. Higher volume picks up more sound from your voice and surroundings. Lower volume has better noise filtering but may not pick up soft voices well. You can adjust the volume in Settings > Sound & Vibration > Volume.

The microphone sensitivity setting controls how sensitive the mic is to nearby sounds. Higher sensitivity picks up more audio but may have more background noise. Lower sensitivity filters out background noise but can miss quiet voices. Adjust this in Settings > Sound & Vibration > Advanced > Microphone sensitivity.

You can select separate microphones to use for phone calls or media recording. The phone microphone and bottom microphone may produce different results. Set these options in Settings > Sound & Vibration > Advanced > Phone call microphone and Media microphone.

Overall, Android provides granular controls over the microphone experience. Take some time to test different settings to find what works best for your environment and use case.

Adjusting the Microphone Volume

Increasing or decreasing your microphone’s volume may be necessary if your voice sounds too quiet or loud to others during calls or recordings. Here are the steps to adjust the microphone volume on Android:

1. Open the Settings app and tap Sound.
2. Under Volume, drag the slider for Microphone left to decrease or right to increase the volume.¹
3. Test the new volume by making a voice recording and playing it back to hear if the level sounds good.

Raising the microphone volume can help boost a quiet mic and make your voice more audible. Lowering the volume prevents distortion if your mic is too loud or sensitive. Adjust the level until you reach a clear and comfortable volume. Take care not to set the mic so high that it picks up background noise or so low that you become hard to hear.

Changing Microphone Sensitivity

Microphone sensitivity controls how sensitive the microphone is in picking up audio input. On Android, microphone sensitivity can be adjusted in the sound settings. Higher sensitivity means the microphone will pick up more subtle sounds, while lower sensitivity requires louder sounds to be registered. Adjusting microphone sensitivity may be useful in different use cases:

Increasing sensitivity allows softer voices to be picked up more easily. This can help if others have difficulty hearing you on calls. It may also help pick up quiet or distant sounds when recording audio or video.

Decreasing sensitivity helps filter out background noises. Turning down sensitivity essentially raises the threshold for sounds to be detected. This avoids the microphone picking up and transmitting unintended noises like wind, traffic, crowds, or echoes during calls.

The ideal sensitivity level depends on the phone model and use case. Users should test different settings to find the optimal balance. Some Android devices allow adjusting sensitivity in specific apps, like the phone dialer. Accessing the system sound settings is the most universal way to change microphone sensitivity across all apps.

To adjust microphone sensitivity on Android:
1. Open the Settings app and go to Sound.
2. Tap on Advanced or Additional sound settings.
3. Find the option for Microphone sensitivity and adjust the slider as desired.
4. Test the new setting and readjust if needed for optimal performance.

Sources:

[1] https://stackoverflow.com/questions/68007810/how-to-change-microphone-sensitivity-in-android-java

[2] https://www.weshare.net/productivity/microphone-setting/

Default Microphone

Selecting the default microphone on Android allows you to choose which microphone app’s access by default. For example, if you have a built-in microphone and a Bluetooth headset, you can select which one different apps use when accessing the microphone.

To set the default microphone on Android:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Sound & vibration (on some devices, this may be under Sound).
3. Tap Advanced.
4. Tap Default microphone.
5. Select the microphone you want to be the default.

This will set the chosen microphone as the default across different apps on your device. Keep in mind you can still override this default on a per-app basis in each app’s settings if needed.

Setting a default microphone allows you to conveniently switch between multiple microphones without having to change each app’s settings individually. It’s useful if you regularly use different microphones like wired headsets, Bluetooth headsets, or external USB microphones.

Microphone Permissions

Android requires apps to request permission before accessing sensitive data or features on your device, like the microphone. This helps protect user privacy and prevent misuse. You can view and adjust microphone permissions for each app in your phone’s settings.

By default, apps do not have permission to use the microphone. The first time an app needs to access the microphone, Android will prompt you to allow or deny this access. You can choose “Allow all the time”, “Allow only while using the app”, or “Deny”. This sets the microphone permission for that specific app.

To review or change microphone permissions for any app:

1. Open your Android phone’s Settings app.
2. Tap Apps or Application Manager.
3. Select the app and tap Permissions.
4. Toggle the Microphone permission on or off.

You can also disable microphone access for all apps in your phone’s main app permissions settings. Just search for “App permissions” and toggle “Microphone” off. This will override any app-specific permissions you’ve allowed.

Permissions can sometimes reset after a system update. Checking microphone permissions regularly ensures you understand how apps are accessing your device’s microphone. Only enable microphone access for apps you fully trust.

Microphone Troubleshooting

Microphone issues are common on Android devices. Here are some of the most common microphone problems and how to fix them:

If your microphone is not working at all, first go to Settings > Apps and notifications > App permissions > Microphone and make sure microphone access is enabled for your desired apps. You can toggle access on or off for each app.

Check that your phone is not muted – look for a microphone icon in the notification bar or volume buttons and make sure it is not crossed out. If muted, press the volume up button to unmute.

Your microphone port may be blocked by dust, lint, or other debris. Carefully clean out the microphone port with a toothpick or compressed air. Make sure the phone is off while cleaning the port.

Some apps like Facebook Messenger may have an additional mute button or setting – check the app’s settings to make sure the microphone is not muted there.

If your microphone is very faint even when enabled, go to Settings > Sound and try increasing the microphone volume and sensitivity sliders.

As a last resort, restart your Android device and test if the microphone works properly after rebooting. Persistent issues may require servicing the phone.

See the Android Authority troubleshooting guide for more tips on fixing microphone problems.

Additional Microphone Settings

Android devices offer a few other microphone settings that can improve your audio quality:

Noise cancellation – This setting helps filter out background noise so your voice comes through clearly. To enable it, go to Settings > Sound > Advanced and toggle on Noise cancellation. Some devices may have this under Accessibility settings instead.

Microphone zoom – Zooming your microphone focuses it more directly on your voice. You’ll find this option under Settings > Accessibility > Hearing enhancements on some Samsung devices.

Mono audio – Switching to mono rather than stereo can improve call clarity. Look in Settings > Accessibility > Audio balance for a Mono audio toggle.

External mic – Using a headset or external microphone can provide cleaner audio input than your phone’s built-in mic. Make sure any external mics are enabled under Settings > Connected devices.

Testing microphone – You can test your microphone settings at any time under Settings > About phone > Audio testing. Speak out loud to visualize your mic input level and quality.

Optimizing these additional settings as needed can help ensure your Android mic picks up your voice accurately in any situation. Test different combinations to find what works best.

Conclusion

In summary, there are various ways to adjust and control the microphone settings on Android devices. The main options are located in the Settings app under Sound/Audio settings, giving you controls for microphone volume, sensitivity, and selecting the default microphone. You can also manage microphone permissions for privacy, and troubleshoot any issues through testing and granting permissions. Key points covered:

• The microphone settings menu lets you control volume and sensitivity
• You can choose which microphone is the default in Settings
• Microphone permissions can be managed on an app-by-app basis
• Testing the microphone and granting permissions can resolve issues

With these microphone controls, you have great ability to customize your Android device’s microphone setup. Adjust the settings to achieve your ideal audio input performance. Check back if any microphone problems arise.