Why didn t my video record sound on Android?

It’s frustrating when you record a video on your Android phone, only to find that it has captured no audio or sound when you play it back. This is a reasonably common issue that many Android users have experienced at one point or another.

The problem stems from the video recording software not properly accessing or utilizing the microphone on the device for some reason. There are various potential causes of this, ranging from incorrect app settings and permissions to hardware faults or software bugs in the operating system.

In most cases, it is possible to resolve the no sound problem and restore full audio recording capabilities through troubleshooting. This generally involves checking key device settings and functions, updating software, cleaning microphones, or at worst, factory resetting the phone.

Common Causes

There are several common reasons why a video may not record sound properly on an Android device:

Microphone Permissions

The camera or video recording app must be granted permission to access the microphone, otherwise it will be unable to record audio. Check the app permissions in your device settings.

Hardware Issues
Faulty or obstructed microphones can prevent audio from being recorded. Test different mics and inspect for debris blocking the mic. Consider taking the device in for hardware repair if needed.

Software Bugs

Bugs in the camera app or Android OS can sometimes cause audio recording failures. Check for app and system updates to resolve potential software issues.

Microphone Permissions

One common cause of videos not recording sound on Android phones is incorrect microphone permissions. For your phone’s camera app to pick up audio when recording videos, it needs access to the microphone. This access is controlled by permissions in your phone’s settings.

To check your microphone permissions, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > App permissions > Microphone. Look for the camera app and any other apps that record videos, and make sure the toggle is switched on to allow access. If access was previously denied, this could cause videos to record without sound [1].

You can also go into the camera app’s individual App Info page to check its permissions. Toggle the Microphone permission on if it was disabled. If you recently updated your Android OS or camera app, the permissions may have reset, so double-check that microphone access is still allowed.

Granting microphone permissions allows apps to record audio when capturing videos. Checking permissions and toggling access on will likely resolve any “no sound during recording” issues if permissions were wrongly configured.

Hardware Issues

One common cause of videos not recording sound properly is a hardware issue with the microphone on your Android device. The microphone may be damaged, dirty, or obstructed in some way that prevents it from picking up audio.

Some potential hardware issues that can cause sound problems include:

• Faulty or broken microphone – The microphone hardware itself may be damaged or defective.
• Obstructed microphone – Dirt, dust, or other debris may be blocking the microphone port.
• Water damage – Exposure to moisture can damage the microphone and audio components.
• Loose microphone – The microphone may have come loose from the motherboard.

If you suspect a hardware problem, check the microphone port and surrounding area for any obstructions. Use compressed air to blow out any dust or debris. You can also try gently cleaning the port with a soft brush or cloth.

If the problem persists, you may need to take your device to a repair shop to have the microphone examined and potentially replaced. A hardware microphone defect will likely require professional repair or replacement.

Sources:

https://repairit.wondershare.com/video-repair/no-sound-on-videos-anddroid.html

Software Bugs

Certain Android software bugs have been known to cause issues with recording sound in videos. One of the most common is an audio routing problem that affects many Samsung devices like the Galaxy S9, S10, and Note 9 (https://repairit.wondershare.com/video-repair/no-sound-on-videos-anddroid.html). This bug causes the phone to incorrectly route audio to the speaker instead of the microphone while recording video. A similar bug impacted Pixel phones in 2020 where videos recorded no sound at all.

These Android software bugs stem from issues with the camera and audio drivers interacting with the operating system. They can prevent the microphone input from being captured properly during video recording. While Samsung and Google have addressed these bugs in updates, any Android phone can potentially be affected by a software bug that leads to silent videos.

Other general Android bugs like media services crashing, audio focus loss, or codec incompatibility could also randomly cause sound to stop working in recorded videos. Fully updating your Android OS and camera/media apps is the best way to avoid potential software bugs impacting your video recording.

Camera App Settings

The camera app settings on your Android device can affect whether sound is recorded with videos. Here are some key settings to check:

In the Camera app, go to the settings menu and look for an option to enable or disable shutter sounds or video sounds. On many Android devices, there is a setting to turn camera sounds on or off. Make sure this is enabled if you want sounds in your videos.

There may also be separate settings for shutter sounds and video sounds that can be configured independently. For example, on Pixel phones there is an option for “shutter sounds” which applies to photos, and a “video recording sound” setting for videos. Make sure video recording sound is turned on.

Some camera apps like Google Camera have an “audio recording” option in settings. This needs to be enabled to record audio with videos. If it’s disabled, videos will save without sound.

Additionally, see if there is a “media volume” or “mic gain” setting. Increasing these levels can help ensure clear audio is picked up by the microphone in videos.

Checking these key settings in your camera app is important to troubleshoot no sound issues when recording video on Android. Just be sure to enable any options related to audio, video sounds, microphone gain, etc. (Google Camera settings)

Storage Permissions

Another common reason Android videos may not record sound properly is if the app lacks the proper permissions to access storage. When recording video, the app needs permission to write the video file to device storage. Without this, the video will get recorded but may lack audio entirely.

To check your app’s permissions, go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > App Permissions > Storage. Make sure the camera app has permission to access storage. Toggle the permission on if it is disabled. You may also need to re-launch the app after changing permissions for the update to take effect.

Storage permissions can accidentally get revoked, especially after an Android OS update. Checking here ensures the camera app wasn’t denied access. With proper storage access, the app can fully record and encode video files including both picture and sound (source). Restoring permissions should resolve any missing audio issues caused by storage limitations.

Cleaning Microphone

A dirty microphone can often lead to muffled or muted sound when trying to record audio or video. Over time, dust, lint, and other debris can accumulate in the microphone hole and block or dampen the sound waves from being properly captured. This is especially common with phone microphones since phones are handled frequently and the mic is exposed to the elements. As the microphone gets more clogged, less audio signal is able to reach the microphone’s sensor, leading to poor sound quality on recordings.

To resolve this, the microphone hole needs to be gently cleaned to remove any blocking particles. On Android phones, the microphone is usually a small pinhole located along the bottom or back of the device. Use a soft brush or compressed air to dislodge and clear away any dust or debris that has built up in the hole. Avoid using sharp tools to poke the microphone, as this could damage the sensitive membrane underneath. After cleaning, test the microphone with a voice recording app. The sound quality should improve once the microphone has been cleaned and can freely capture audio again. Just a small amount of built up debris can drastically dampen the microphone, so regular cleaning helps maintain recording performance.

Sources:
https://www.gizchina.com/2023/09/03/troubleshooting-android-microphone-issues-six-solutions/

Updating Software

One of the most important steps is to make sure your Android device is running the latest software version. Android releases periodic updates that include bug fixes, performance improvements, and new features that can help resolve problems like no sound when recording video.

Go into your device Settings and check for any available System Updates. Install the latest Android OS update to get fixes aimed at improving stability and fixing known issues.

You’ll also want to make sure the Camera app is updated. Open the Play Store app, go to My Apps & Games, and check for any available Updates for the camera app. The developers often release improvements to the recording functionality, including audio issues.

Updating the Android OS and camera app provides an easy software fix to troubleshoot and resolve problems with no sound when recording video. Always keep your device’s software up-to-date for the latest bug fixes and improvements.[1]

Factory Resetting as a Last Resort

If none of the previous troubleshooting steps resolve the issue of videos having no sound, performing a factory reset on your Android device is one final option. However, this should only be tried as a last resort, as a factory reset will erase all data and settings on your device and reset it to its original state.

To factory reset, go to Settings > Backup & Reset > Factory Data Reset and select Reset Phone. This will wipe the device and require you to reconfigure all settings. You will lose any data that wasn’t backed up.

Before factory resetting, be sure to back up any data you want to keep, such as photos, videos, contacts, and text messages. Sign out of accounts you’ve logged into on the device. Then perform the reset. After restarting the device, you can check if videos now play sound properly.

If the no sound issue persists even after a factory reset, it’s likely a hardware problem. You may need to contact the device manufacturer or repair center for further troubleshooting.