When the microphone on your Nothing Phone (2) stops picking up your voice, it can turn simple phone calls, video chats, or voice notes into a frustrating experience. The issue might be with the main mic, the one used for calls, or the one for video recording. Let's start by figuring out exactly which one is acting up.
Test Your Phone (2) Microphones
Your phone has multiple microphones. The primary one for calls and voice commands is at the bottom, next to the USB-C port. There's also one at the top for noise cancellation during calls and others for video recording. A quick test in the Voice Recorder app is the easiest way to check. Open the app, tap the red record button, and speak for a few seconds. Play it back to see if your voice is clear or muffled.
You can also test with Google Assistant. Press and hold the power button to activate it, or say "Hey Google." Ask a simple question like, "What's the weather?" If it doesn't respond or consistently mishears you, there's likely a microphone problem. For video, open the Camera app, switch to video mode, record a short clip with narration, and check the audio.
Remove the Case and Check for Blockages
This is often the quickest fix. Some cases, especially rugged ones with thick lips, can partially cover the microphone holes. Take the case off and test your microphone again. While the case is off, take a close look at the small grilles, particularly the one at the bottom of the phone.
Dust, lint, or pocket debris can easily get packed in there. Use a soft, dry toothbrush or a can of compressed air to gently clean the openings. Be very careful not to push anything further inside. I've seen this resolve more microphone issues than you might think.
Disconnect Bluetooth Accessories
If you have wireless earbuds, headphones, or a smartwatch connected, your Phone (2) might be routing all audio through them. This includes the microphone input for calls and recordings. Go into your quick settings panel and tap the Bluetooth icon to turn it off temporarily, or go to Settings > Connected devices and disconnect specific audio devices.
After disconnecting, try making a quick call or using the voice recorder again. If the microphone suddenly works, you know the issue was with audio routing. Some apps also have their own audio output settings, so check within apps like Discord or WhatsApp if the problem is isolated there.
Check App Permissions
Android and Nothing OS require apps to ask for permission to use the microphone. If you accidentally denied this permission, or if a recent app update reset it, the app won't be able to hear you. Go to Settings > Apps > See all apps.
Find the app giving you trouble (like Phone, Google Meet, or Instagram) and tap on it. Select Permissions and look for the Microphone permission. Make sure it's set to "Allow" instead of "Deny." You can also manage all microphone permissions from Settings > Privacy > Permission manager > Microphone.
Force Restart Your Phone
A simple reboot can clear out temporary software glitches that might be affecting the audio subsystem. Press and hold the power button on the right side of your Phone (2) for about 10 seconds, or until you see the Nothing logo appear and the phone restarts.
This is different from just turning the screen off and on. A full force restart reloads all the core software processes. After it boots back up, test the microphone immediately in a core app like the phone dialer to see if the issue is resolved.
Update Nothing OS
Software bugs can occasionally cause hardware components like the microphone to malfunction. Nothing regularly releases updates that include stability fixes. To check, go to Settings > System > System update.
Tap "Check for update." If an update is available, make sure your phone is charged above 50% and connected to Wi-Fi before installing it. An update might contain a specific patch for audio or calling issues that appeared after a previous update.
Investigate Sound and Accessibility Settings
Some features designed to improve audio can sometimes interfere. Go to Settings > Sound & vibration. Look for any settings related to call audio or noise suppression and try toggling them off to test.
Also, check the accessibility settings. Navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing aids. If "Hearing aid compatibility" or similar audio routing options are enabled, try disabling them, as they can alter how the microphone functions during calls.
Clear the Cache for Problem Apps
If the microphone only fails in one specific app, that app's stored data might be corrupted. Go to Settings > Apps > See all apps and select the problematic app. Tap on Storage & cache.
First, tap "Clear cache." This deletes temporary files without affecting your login or personal data in the app. Test the microphone. If it still doesn't work, you can try "Clear storage" or "Clear data," but be warned this will reset the app to its default state, erasing any settings or accounts within it.
Reset All Network Settings
This can help if the issue is specifically related to phone calls over cellular or Wi-Fi calling, as it resets Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and mobile data configurations. Go to Settings > System > Reset options.
Tap "Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth." You'll need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords and re-pair Bluetooth devices afterward, but it can resolve conflicts that affect call audio. Your personal files and app data will remain safe.
Perform a Factory Reset
If every other step has failed, a factory reset is the last software fix. This will erase everything on your phone, so it's crucial to back up your photos, messages, and app data first. Use Google One backup or manually transfer files to a computer.
Once backed up, go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset). Follow the prompts to confirm. After the reset is complete, set up your phone as new and test the microphone immediately before restoring your apps. If it works now, a third-party app you installed was likely the culprit.
