iPhone has many features to create top-notch photos and make them enjoyable for users. But what is an iPhone without speakers and a microphone? Other factors can cause iPhone speakers and microphones to malfunction, but dirt, dust, and waxing are common causes of problems. They build up over time and clog the mesh, degrading the quality of the sound coming in and out. To make matters worse, this may prevent them from working at all.
If your iPhone’s speakers and microphone don’t work, it’s a good idea to try these fixes before spending a fortune at a repair shop. And even if they work, it is advisable to clean them regularly to prevent the buildup of dirt over time.
Continue reading to see how to clean your iPhone’s microphone and speakers.
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Before you start
Before cleaning your iPhone speakers and microphone, there are some things you need to be careful not to break these iPhone parts.
1. Where is the iPhone microphone?
Most series have the iPhone’s primary microphone at the bottom left of the device. A small opening between the rear camera and the flashlight. These are the small round openings on the left side of the iPhone’s charging port. After that, the back case of recent iPhones also has a microphone. This helps to filter the noise from the sounds coming into your iPhone.
2. Where are the iPhone speakers?
The iPhone has two sets of speakers. At the top of the screen is the main one (for calling). This is the horizontal hole on the screen next to the front camera of most iPhones. The other stereo speakers (for music and video) are dotted holes in the lower right corner of the iPhone, to be exact, to the right of the lightning bolt charging port.
3. Best practices for cleaning iPhone speakers and microphones
- Unplug your iPhone from the power cable before starting cleaning. You can also turn it off during the process.
- Avoid using metal objects to scrape off the microphone port and speaker mesh. This can penetrate the mesh and damage the microphone and speakers.
- Do not wash any part of your iPhone with water. Some iPhones are waterproof, but intentional watering of some units can damage them.
- Be careful not to puncture the mesh, even if you are scraping the speaker with a non-metal object.
- We recommend avoiding the use of bleach and cleaners containing hydrogen peroxide.
- Do not immerse your iPhone in the cleaning solution.
Now let’s start cleaning the iPhone speaker and microphone.
How to clean iPhone speaker
If your speakers are dirty or clogged, you may not be able to enjoy music, videos, or calls on your iPhone. I thought it was broken, but I cleaned it up and fixed it. However, the iPhone speaker has a soft mesh cover (which looks like a padded net). Therefore, care must be taken when cleaning this area. But here’s how you can keep up with cleaning it up.
1. Remove debris and lint with a cotton swab
The first thing you want to do is wipe your iPhone speaker with a cotton swab. Useful for cleaning the top speakers at the top of the screen. First, find a dry cotton swab.
- Point the cotton earphones at one end of the speaker.
- Apply light pressure so as not to damage the screen.
- Then slowly rotate the swab back and forth on the mesh.
- The swab may be dirty.
That said, you can try the same process with bottom speakers. However, this time we need more accuracy.
2. Use a toothpick
The toothpick looks sharp to clean the speaker, but it works well. I used it when the bottom stereo speakers on my iPhone were blocked. However, be careful not to puncture the mesh. So please be kind.
The bottom speaker is thinner than the top speaker, so it is recommended that you use this method to clean the bottom speaker. As a result, earphones cannot penetrate the spot and may not be cleaned very often. To do this, gently point the toothpick at each speaker spot. Then slowly roll at each opening and gently rub. Next, prevent it from penetrating the mesh.
3. Use a toothbrush
There are many things a toothbrush can achieve while using it to clean a speaker. After using a cotton swab and a toothpick for the speaker, that was the next thing I tried. The idea is to dust off the remaining debris while rubbing what the toothbrush can do from the speaker. However, be sure to use a soft toothbrush.
Using a toothbrush is easy. Place it on the speaker and lightly rub it back and forth.
4. Remove stubborn dust with painter’s tape
The painter’s tape contains adhesin, which adheres to dirt and dust and is sensitive to pressure. Therefore, this helps to remove clogged dirt from the speakers. Try using this after cleaning with other methods.
To use Painter’s tape method, take a portion of it and attach it to your speakers (this works for both speakers). Apply some pressure to Apple and then peel off the tape all at once to remove any clogging dust or dirt. When you remove the tape, you may notice dirt on the surface of the tape. Repeat this process until there is no dust or dirt.
5. Use air duster / compressed air
Apple warns you not to use compressed air while cleaning your iPhone, but it works if you know how to avoid it. Compressed air helps remove trapped dust that may have entered the interior of the speaker during cleaning. Be careful when applying air duster or compressed air to the speakers (especially top speakers). First, you may want to get an aerosol compressed gas can like Amazon’s Falcon Dust.
Then use compressed air to clean the speakers by following these steps:
- Make sure the compressed air can is upright.
- To clean the top speakers:
- Place the compressed air a few centimeters away from the speakers, pointing to the holes in the mesh instead of the screen.
- Blow air several times to remove trapped dust.
To blow off dust spots from the bottom speaker, point the air duster directly at the opening and apply some bust. However, leave some space between the air duster and the mesh.
6. Test the speaker
Once the cleaning is complete, you will be able to play songs and videos to test your speakers. Notice the difference in sound quality before and after cleaning.
How to clean the iPhone microphone
The microphone helps you send sound from you to the receiver during a call. It also receives voice and filters out noise each time you record a voice memo. As with speakers, clogging can affect sound quality.
Follow these steps to clean your iPhone’s microphone.
1. Clean the microphone with earphones or a cotton swab
Earphones have a wide range of tips, but we recommend processing them to a precise tip so that they can penetrate the microphone spot. But don’t worry if you can’t do that. The wide range of tips will continue to work, but you’ll have to roll a little.
To clean the microphone with cotton swap:
Apply light pressure to the opening of each microphone. Then roll the earphones over it. Check that the tip of the cotton swab is clean. Repeat this process with new earphones until the swab is clean.
2. Use microfiber cloth
Microfiber is a soft cloth that won’t damage your iPhone. To clean your iPhone microphone with a microfiber cloth, fold the fleece to create a small edge. Then roll it over each mic spot repeatedly to remove dirt.
3. Clean the microphone with isopropyl alcohol, a toothbrush and earphones
Isopropyl alcohol is a volatile liquid that has the property of dissolving wax. Therefore, because it is a volatile liquid, it dries quickly and does not wet the iPhone microphone. This liquid is available at your local chemistry store.
To clean your iPhone with isopropyl alcohol:
- Pour a small amount of liquid into a small container.
- Gently soak a clean, soft toothbrush or painter’s brush in the liquid.
- Make sure the edge of the brush reaches the mesh.
- Gently rub the brush on the back and bottom openings of the microphone.
Repeat this process as much as possible. When you’re done, use a dry earphone swab to clean the microphone mesh. This will help remove any remaining wax or dirt.
4. Use air duster / compressed air
As with speakers, you can also use an air duster to blow debris from your iPhone microphone. If you haven’t read the previous steps for cleaning your speakers this way, do the following:
Point the opening of the air duster toward the opening of the microphone and apply a few shots of compressed gas to blow the trapped dust out of the microphone.
5. Test the iPhone microphone
Then use the Voice Memos app to record a voice note and test your microphone. Next, check if there is any improvement in recording quality. You can also call your friends and ask if you can hear your voice well.
Use a putty cleaner
Electronic Putty Cleaner is a soft silicone-like material that sticks to the corners and gaps of your device and adsorbs adhered and hidden stains. Putty cleaners help remove dirt from the inaccessible corners of iPhone speakers and microphones. Putty cleaners can be purchased at your local electronics store.
Then pinch a small piece of putty and press it against the speaker and microphone. Then remove it and grab the dirt from the corners of these parts.
Clean iPhone Speakers and Microphones from Apple
There are many Apple Certified Repair Services around the world. However, those locations vary by location and region. These agents are Apple certified and can be trusted. However, some repairers may help you clean your iPhone for free, while others may charge you for it. If the dirt builds up to an unmanageable level, it’s a good idea to take your iPhone to your nearest Apple repair center. To contact Apple Support:
summary
Speakers and microphones are an important part of the iPhone. And if they don’t work, they may blunt you. The method I recommended in the post is a proven method that can be cleaned up to improve performance or make it work again.
That said, keep in mind that your iPhone needs to be cleaned regularly to prevent it from accumulating dirt. Therefore, you can also see how you can clean and disinfect your iPhone. Plus, if you don’t mind the cost, you can invest in this PurePort multi-tool iPhone cleaning kit from Amazon. It has all the tools to clean every part of your iPhone, including speakers and microphones.
Do you have any comments or questions? Please let us know in the comment box below.
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