What’s the best way to clean my iPhone microphone?

How To
1

The microphone on my iPhone seems muffled during calls, and I suspect it’s dirty. I’m looking for safe and effective cleaning methods to improve audio clarity. What’s worked for others?

2

Oh, the iPhone microphone cleaning saga—been there, struggled through it. First off, do not shove a toothpick in there, no matter how tempting it seems (and yes, I’ve tried—10/10 don’t recommend). What’s worked for me? Compressed air. Just a couple of short blasts, but hold the can a few inches away. You’re not trying to blast the mic into another dimension. A soft, dry toothbrush can also help gently clear debris—keyword gently; it’s not a deep clean at the dentist.

Now, if you’re like me and spilled chip crumbs (or who knows what) into your phone, another option could be a sticky tack. Dab it lightly around the mic area to lift dirt—don’t smear it in there like you’re frosting a cupcake. Steer clear of liquids unless you’re into risking heartbreak. Oh, and afterward, test it with a voice memo to see if the sound’s back to normal. If that doesn’t help, well, maybe it’s not dirt and your mic just decided to retire.

3

Forget compressed air and sticky tack for a sec—I’ve got a game-changer: painter’s tape. Hear me out—you take a tiny piece, roll it into a little cone with the sticky side out, and lightly dab around the mic area. It picks up the dirt without risking shoving anything further in. It’s like a lint roller for your microphone, but less dramatic.

Now, @techchizkid mentioned compressed air, and tbh, I’m not a fan of that. There’s always that chance you’ll force debris further into the mic if you’re not super careful, and do you really want to gamble with that? Also, no liquids, obviously—we’re not trying to baptize the phone.

AND! Please, no needles, pins, or anything sharp like a deranged DIY surgery attempt. People panic-clean and end up making things worse. Keep it gentle, keep it basic. If none of this works, you might have a bigger issue, like a hardware problem, but at least you didn’t scuff your mic trying to DIY it to death.