Quick answers
There are a few common reasons why your microphone may be muted in WhatsApp:
- You have muted WhatsApp in your phone’s settings
- You have denied WhatsApp access to the microphone
- You have enabled a setting in WhatsApp to mute your mic during calls
- There is a technical issue with WhatsApp, your microphone, or your phone
To troubleshoot and fix a muted microphone in WhatsApp, you can try various solutions like checking your phone’s settings, restarting your phone, reinstalling WhatsApp, allowing WhatsApp mic access, and more. With some troubleshooting steps, you should be able to get your WhatsApp mic working again.
Why is my mic muted in WhatsApp?
There are several potential reasons why your microphone may not be working during WhatsApp calls or voice messages:
You’ve muted WhatsApp in device settings
One common reason your WhatsApp mic is muted is because you’ve restricted WhatsApp’s access to the microphone in your device settings. Here’s how to check this:
- On Android: Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > App permissions > Microphone and see if WhatsApp has permission enabled.
- On iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone and check if WhatsApp has access toggled on.
If WhatsApp doesn’t have microphone access allowed in your device settings, tap the toggle for WhatsApp and enable microphone permission. This should resolve the muted mic issue.
You’ve denied WhatsApp microphone access
Another possibility is that you denied WhatsApp access to the microphone when the app first requested it. Here’s how to fix this:
- On Android: Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > App permissions > Microphone. Tap WhatsApp and turn on Allow access to microphone.
- On iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone > WhatsApp and toggle on Microphone access.
Granting WhatsApp access to your phone’s microphone through these settings should unmute your mic within the app.
A setting in WhatsApp has muted your mic
Some WhatsApp settings can mute your microphone during calls and voice messages. Here are two to check:
- Mute microphone during calls – Go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy and disable this option.
- Mute microphone for voice messages – Go to WhatsApp Settings > Chats and turn off this setting.
If either of those options were enabled, your mic would get muted in WhatsApp. Disabling them should restore microphone access.
Technical issues with WhatsApp, microphone, or phone
In some cases, there may be a technical issue causing the muted microphone in WhatsApp:
- WhatsApp issue – A bug or glitch in the app related to microphone access.
- Microphone malfunction – Hardware or physical damage to your phone’s mic.
- Phone software issue – Problems with the operating system or firmware.
- Conflict with other apps – Another app interfering with WhatsApp mic access.
If you’ve checked the above settings and troubleshooting steps without fixing the muted mic, then try these technical fixes:
- Force close and restart WhatsApp
- Restart your phone
- Check for WhatsApp or phone software updates
- Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp
- Use a headphone mic instead of the phone’s built-in mic
This should cover any app crashes, OS issues, or conflicts that could be preventing WhatsApp from accessing the mic.
How to troubleshoot and fix a muted WhatsApp microphone
If your mic is muted in WhatsApp calls or voice messages, don’t worry – in most cases it can be easily fixed. Follow these troubleshooting steps:
1. Check your phone’s settings
As mentioned above, the most common reason for a muted WhatsApp mic is incorrect permissions in your device settings. Double check that WhatsApp has microphone access enabled:
- On Android: Settings > Apps & notifications > App permissions > Microphone
- On iPhone: Settings > Privacy > Microphone
Toggle access on for WhatsApp if it’s disabled.
2. Force close and restart WhatsApp
App glitches can sometimes cause microphone issues. Try force quitting WhatsApp and restarting it:
- On Android: Head to Settings > Apps > WhatsApp > Force Stop
- On iPhone: Double tap the Home button and swipe up on WhatsApp to close it
Then open WhatsApp again and check if your microphone works.
3. Restart your phone
If force closing WhatsApp doesn’t help, try rebooting your phone. This will clear any memory issues and restart all systems:
- On Android: Hold down the Power button and tap Restart
- On iPhone: Hold down the Power and Volume Down buttons until you see the Apple logo
Once your phone has restarted, open WhatsApp and test the microphone again.
4. Check for app and OS updates
Having the latest WhatsApp and operating system updates can resolve bugs that may be muting your mic:
- Update WhatsApp from your phone’s app store
- Update your Android or iOS version in device settings
App and system updates contain fixes for microphone and permission issues in many cases.
5. Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp
If all else fails, uninstalling WhatsApp and installing it again can clear out any corrupted files or settings:
- On Android: Uninstall from Settings > Apps > WhatsApp > Uninstall
- On iPhone: Hold down on the WhatsApp icon until it jiggles, then tap the X to delete
Once deleted, install WhatsApp again from the app store. When first opened, allow WhatsApp access to the microphone when prompted.
6. Use a headphone mic instead
As a workaround, you can use wired headphones with a built-in microphone for WhatsApp calls and voice messages. This will bypass any issues with your phone’s mic.
First enable ‘Use headphone mic during calls’ in WhatsApp Settings > Calls. Then plug in headphones and check if the mic works.
Preventing WhatsApp microphone issues
Once you’ve fixed your muted WhatsApp mic, follow these tips to avoid issues recurring:
- Don’t restrict or deny WhatsApp microphone access in device settings
- Keep WhatsApp updated to the latest version
- Update your phone’s operating system regularly
- Don’t install unsupported or unstable WhatsApp mods
- Avoid allowing other apps to access the mic unnecessarily
Granting and maintaining proper app permissions is key to preventing microphone muting problems. Also keep your software updated and limit other apps’ mic access to minimize issues.
With the right troubleshooting steps and preventative measures, you can ensure your WhatsApp microphone stays unmuted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my WhatsApp mic mute during a call?
If your WhatsApp microphone mutes unexpectedly during a call, it’s likely due to incorrect permission settings, a technical glitch, or the ‘Mute microphone during calls’ option enabled under WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy. Check your app and device settings to allow mic access.
How do I know if my WhatsApp mic is muted?
You’ll know your WhatsApp mic is muted if you see a mic icon crossed out during calls and voice messages, or the other person says they can’t hear you. To confirm, tap the mic icon during a call – if it’s muted, it will say ‘Your mic is off’.
Can other people mute my WhatsApp mic?
No, other WhatsApp users cannot remotely mute your microphone. Only you can control mic access via your device settings or the WhatsApp app. If your mic isn’t working, it’s an issue on your end.
What happens if I accidentally mute someone’s mic in WhatsApp group call?
Don’t worry, muting someone’s mic in a WhatsApp group call only mutes that person locally for you. It does not mute their mic for other participants. Only individual users can mute their own mics.
Why does my WhatsApp voice message have no audio?
If your WhatsApp voice message sends with no audio, it’s likely because your microphone was muted when recording. Make sure to unmute your mic and ensure WhatsApp has microphone access allowed before recording and sending voice messages.
Summary
Some common reasons for a muted WhatsApp mic include incorrect permissions, in-app settings toggles, technical issues, and phone software problems. Check your device settings, restart apps and phone, update software, and reinstall WhatsApp as needed. Prevent issues by maintaining proper app permissions and limiting mic access only to required apps. With the right troubleshooting, you can fix a muted WhatsApp microphone.