When your Sony Xperia 1 VI's microphone stops picking up your voice, it can turn simple phone calls, video chats, or voice notes into a frustrating experience. The issue could be a simple software hiccup, a blocked microphone port, or a settings misconfiguration. Let's start by figuring out exactly which microphone is affected.
A fast way to narrow this down is a browser based microphone test. If the meter responds when you talk, the mic itself is fine and the problem sits in software or settings.
Test Your Xperia 1 VI Microphones
The Xperia 1 VI has multiple microphones for different tasks. The main one for calls is at the bottom, but there are others for noise cancellation and video recording. Open your Voice Recorder app (it's a Sony pre-installed app) and make a quick recording. Speak normally and play it back. Is the audio muffled, full of static, or completely silent?
Next, try a phone call or a video recording with the main camera app. If the issue is only in one app, like WhatsApp or Google Meet, that points to a permission or app-specific bug. If it's across the board, we need to look deeper.
Remove the Case and Check for Blockages
This is the easiest fix and often the culprit. Take off any case or skin you have on the phone. Some cases, especially rugged ones, can partially cover the tiny microphone pinholes.
With the case off, take a close look at the bottom edge of the phone. You'll see the USB-C port and a small pinhole next to it, that's a primary microphone. There are also microphones at the top and near the camera module. Use a can of compressed air to gently blow out any lint or dust. A dry toothpick can also carefully dislodge any packed-in debris.
Disconnect Bluetooth Accessories
If you have wireless earbuds, headphones, or a smartwatch connected, your phone might be routing all audio through them. Swipe down from the top of your screen to open the Quick Settings panel and tap the Bluetooth icon to turn it off temporarily.
Now test your microphone again. I've seen this fix more calls than you'd think, especially if you use Sony's own WF or WH series headphones that connect seamlessly.
Restart Your Phone
A simple reboot clears out temporary glitches that can affect hardware like the microphone. Press and hold the power button until the power menu appears, then tap "Restart." If your phone is unresponsive, you can force a restart by pressing and holding the Power button and the Volume Up button together for about 10 seconds, until you feel it vibrate and see the Sony logo.
Check App Permissions
Android 14 gives you tight control over what apps can access. If your microphone works in the phone app but not in Instagram or Zoom, you likely denied permission by accident. Go to Settings > Apps, select the problematic app, and tap Permissions.
Find "Microphone" in the list and make sure it's set to "Allow." While you're there, you can also check if the app has any pending updates in the Google Play Store, as bugs are often patched.
Close and Reopen Problem Apps
For app-specific issues, force stopping it can help. Go back to Settings > Apps, select the app, and tap Force stop. Then open the app fresh and try the microphone again. This clears the app's temporary data from your phone's memory.
Check for System Updates
Sony releases software updates that can fix hardware-related bugs. Since the Xperia 1 VI runs Android 14, it's important to stay current. Go to Settings > System > System update and tap "Check for update."
If an update is available, install it. Make sure your phone is charged above 50% or plugged into a charger, using a 30W USB-PD 3.0 charger will speed this up considerably.
Reset App Preferences or All Settings
This is a stronger step that won't delete your personal data. It resets all your app permissions, notification settings, and default apps. Go to Settings > System > Reset options.
Tap Reset app preferences. This will revert all app settings to their defaults, so you'll need to re-grant permissions for things like microphone access. If the problem persists, you can try the more comprehensive Reset all settings from the same menu, which also resets network and sound settings.
Boot into Safe Mode
Safe Mode temporarily disables all third-party apps. If your microphone works perfectly in Safe Mode, you know a downloaded app is causing the conflict. To enter Safe Mode, open the power menu by pressing the Power and Volume up buttons together (on Samsung phones, the Side and Volume down buttons) or by tapping the power icon in the quick settings panel, then touch and hold Power off and tap Safe Mode or OK.
Then, press and hold the "Power off" option on your screen. A prompt will ask if you want to reboot into Safe Mode. Tap "OK." Test your microphone with a voice recording. To exit, just restart your phone normally.
Consider a Factory Reset
This is your last resort before looking at hardware. A factory reset will erase everything on your phone, so you must back up your photos, messages, and app data first. Use Google's backup service or Sony's Xperia Transfer tool.
Once backed up, go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset). Follow the prompts. After the reset, set up your phone as new initially and test the microphone before restoring your backup, to rule out corrupted data.