Having microphone issues when trying to go live, record a voice message, or make a call on Facebook is a common problem that many users face. The microphone not working on Facebook can occur for a variety of reasons, from software glitches to hardware problems. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the top reasons why your Facebook mic may not be working and provide troubleshooting steps to get it fixed.
Facebook App Permissions
One of the most common reasons for microphone issues on Facebook is that the app does not have permission to access your mic. When you first install the Facebook app on your device, you are prompted to allow or deny access to various features like the camera, contacts, microphone, etc. If you accidentally denied the microphone permission, the app will not be able to access your device’s microphone.
To change this setting:
- On Android – Go to Settings > Apps > Facebook > Permissions and enable Microphone
- On iOS – Go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone and switch on access for Facebook
Granting microphone permission should resolve any issues if this was the cause.
Outdated Facebook App
Using an outdated version of the Facebook app can also lead to microphone glitches. Facebook regularly releases updates to fix bugs and improve performance. However, if you do not have auto-update enabled or haven’t updated the app manually in a while, you may be running an old buggy version.
To update the Facebook app:
- On Android – Go to Play Store > My Apps > Facebook and click Update
- On iOS – Go to App Store > Account > Available Updates and install the Facebook update
Updating to the latest version of the Facebook app can potentially resolve any microphone bugs that may have been present in older versions.
Disable Battery Optimization
On some Android devices, enabling battery optimization for the Facebook app can cause issues with the microphone. This feature limits background app activity to save battery life. While useful in most cases, it can break microphone functionality in the Facebook app.
To disable battery optimization:
- Go to Settings > Apps > Facebook
- Select Battery > Battery optimization
- Change it to “Don’t optimize”
With battery optimization disabled, the Facebook app will be able to freely access the microphone in the background.
Microphone Hardware Issues
Faulty or damaged microphone hardware on your device can naturally cause the mic to not work properly on Facebook or any other app. Some signs of hardware failure include:
- Microphone not working anywhere on the device
- Muffled distorted audio
- People unable to hear you properly during calls/voice messages
If you suspect a hardware issue, first try using your microphone in other apps like voice recorder, phone calls etc. If the problem persists everywhere, it likely indicates a hardware fault. The steps to troubleshoot will depend on your device:
iPhone and iPad Microphone Not Working
- Check for debris or obstruction in the mic hole, clean with compressed air if needed
- Restart your device
- Reset all settings on the device
- Update iOS to the latest version
- Schedule a service appointment at Apple store if issue persists
Android Phone Microphone Not Working
- Check and clean the microphone hole
- Restart your phone
- Boot into safe mode to see if issue persists
- Reset app preferences
- Try a factory reset if nothing else works
- Get the device serviced if microphone still not functioning
If the microphone works fine on other apps and calling, then it likely is a software issue limited to Facebook. But for hardware damage, professional repair is recommended.
Web Browser Issues
When using Facebook on browsers like Chrome or Safari, microphone permission and privacy settings can sometimes interfere with the mic not working.
On Chrome:
- Click the lock icon > Site Settings > Microphone and check if camera access is enabled for Facebook.com
- Also check Chrome settings via chrome://settings/content/microphone and allow both Normal and Incognito microphone access
On Safari:
- Go to Safari > Preferences > Websites and ensure Facebook has microphone permission
- Also check system Preferences > Security & Privacy > Microphone and confirm Safari has access
If using Firefox, Edge or any other browser, look for similar microphone permission settings to confirm they are enabled for Facebook.
Facebook Messenger App Issues
If your microphone works fine on Facebook but not Messenger, the issues may be specific to the standalone Messenger app. Some possible solutions include:
- Make sure Messenger has microphone permission enabled
- Update Messenger to the latest version
- Reinstall the Messenger app
- Log out and back into Messenger account
- Clear Messenger app cache/data and try again
Messenger has separate permissions and settings compared to Facebook app, so issues can occur independently. Following the troubleshooting steps specifically for Messenger should help resolve microphone problems.
Facebook Site Issues
In rare cases, there could be a temporary technical issue affecting microphone access on Facebook’s servers. If your microphone suddenly stops working on Facebook across devices and apps, it may indicate a wider problem.
To check for any known Facebook issues:
- Visit Facebook’s System Status page and check if any reported problems match your issue
- Go through Facebook’s Known Issues page for microphone bugs
- Check Twitter for recent complaints about Facebook microphone not working to confirm if others are facing the same problem
If it seems to be a platform-wide issue, unfortunately all you can do is wait for Facebook to fix it on their end. Monitor the status pages for updates.
Refresh Facebook Login
In some cases, logging out of Facebook and logging back in can help refresh the app and resolve glitches like microphone failure.
To refresh your Facebook login:
- On the Facebook app or website, click the arrow icon > Settings & Privacy > Log Out
- Close and reopen the Facebook app completely
- Log into your Facebook account again and try the microphone
After a clean login, Facebook will reload all your data and settings which may resolve temporary bugs. Worth a try if other troubleshooting hasn’t helped.
Conclusion
To summarize, here are the top troubleshooting tips for fixing microphone issues on Facebook:
- Confirm Facebook has microphone access permission
- Update Facebook and Messenger apps to latest version
- Disable battery optimization for Facebook (Android only)
- Check microphone hardware for damage
- Confirm browser settings allow mic access to Facebook
- Refresh login to force Facebook reload
- Monitor Facebook System Status for known issues
With some diligent testing and tweaking of these settings, you should be able to resolve most microphone problems on Facebook. Reach out to Facebook support if nothing seems to work. Hopefully this guide gave you some useful troubleshooting tips to get your Facebook mic working again!
| Reason | Solution |
|---|---|
| Facebook app lacks microphone permission | Enable microphone access in app permissions |
| Outdated Facebook app version | Update app to latest version |
| Battery optimization enabled | Disable optimization for Facebook app |
| Microphone hardware failure | Inspect microphone, repair/replace if faulty |
| Browser security blocks microphone | Allow Facebook mic access in browser settings |
| Messenger app issues | Troubleshoot microphone separately for Messenger |
| Temporary Facebook outage | Check Facebook System Status pages |
| Facebook app glitch | Log out and log back into Facebook |
This table summarizes the common reasons the Facebook microphone may stop working and the recommended solutions for each issue.