If your iPhone Voice Memos app is not working after iOS 17 update, here are the steps you can take to troubleshoot and fix the problem.
With the Voice Memos app (located in the Utilities folder), you can use iPhone as a portable recording device to record personal notes, classroom lectures, musical ideas, and more. If your iPhone Voice Memos app isn’t working at all — or the recording it’s capturing is muffled, fuzzy, or unclear — that can lead to a lot of frustration. Here are the most common methods you can employ to resolve problems with your iPhone Voice Memos not working.
10 Ways to Fix iPhone Voice Memos App Not Working in iOS 17
There’s no direct way to determine why your iPhone’s Voice Memos app is not working after iOS 17 update. So, here are some troubleshooting options to help you get to the root of the problem.
1. Close Any Apps That Have Access To Microphone
If Voice Memos is not working after iOS 17 update, there’s a good chance that an app which has access to Microphone is causing the problem. That app may have crashed, or Microphone may be active within the app. You can see which apps have access to Microphone by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone.
Closing the apps that have access to microphone including the Voice Memos app, can sometimes fix these minor software glitches.
First, bring up the app switcher by double-pressing the Home button (iPhones without Face ID) or swiping up from the bottom to the center of the screen (iPhones with Face ID). Then, swipe app up and off the top of the screen to close it.
Now, reopen the Voice Memos app and see if the problem you are facing has been fixed. If the Voice Memos app is still not working on your iPhone, keep reading!
2. Disconnect any audio accessories
It’s possible that the Voice Memos app is trying to use the microphone in an accessory like a headphone, earbuds, or portable speaker rather than the mic built into the iPhone, and that’s why the recordings are distant or muffled. The easiest way to eliminate this possibility is to make sure no accessories are plugged into your iPhone and to turn off Bluetooth.
To access control center on an iPhone SE, and iPhone SE (second generation) and newer, swipe up from the bottom of your screen. If you have iPhone XR or newer, swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen. Tap the Bluetooth icon to temporarily disable the Bluetooth radio on your iPhone.
3. Restart Your iPhone
Restarting your iPhone can fix a minor software issue that’s preventing the Voice Memos app from working properly. This gives the apps and programs running on your iPhone a chance to shut down naturally, allowing them to start again fresh when your iPhone turns back on.
To restart an iPhone with Face ID, press and hold either volume button and the side button at the same time until slide to power off shows up on the display. If your iPhone doesn’t have Face ID, press and hold the power button until slide to power off shows up on the screen.
Drag the power icon from left to right to shut down your iPhone. Wait about 20 seconds to give your iPhone a chance to completely shut down. Then, press and hold the side button (iPhones with Face ID) or the power button (iPhones without Face ID) until the Apple logo shows up on the center of the display.
4. Make sure the iPhone microphones are clear of any blockages
Are you using a case that might block your iPhone’s microphones? Take a minute to check this. If you find that the microphone slots at the bottom of the device, next to the camera, or inside the top earpiece are blocked by the case, you should remove the case.
5. Clean the iPhone Microphone Grills
It’s easy for your iPhone’s microphones to get partially or completely blocked by all sorts of things, including dirt, dust, and pocket lint which is why the Voice Memos app is not recording sound.
Carefully use a soft cloth to remove the dirt and other gunk from the microphone grills. Don’t use any metal object like a needle or wire as these may cause serious damage. If you are still experiencing issues, tap or click here to learn how to fix microphone problems on iPhone.
6. Turn on Voice Memos in iCloud on your iPhone
With the Voice Memos app and iCloud, your audio recordings appear and are kept up to date automatically on your iPhone and other Apple devices. If you want to sync voice memos across your Apple devices, you’ll need to turn on the settings.
To turn on Voice Memos in iCloud on your iPhone, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Show All, then turn on Voice Memos.
7. Update Your iPhone
Keeping your iPhone up-to-date makes it run smoothly. A software update can also potentially fix software problems within native apps like Voice Memos, as they can only be updated when a new version of iOS is released.
Start the Settings app on your iPhone and go into General > Software Update. Tap Download and Install or Install Now if an iOS update is available.
8. Make Sure Your iPhone Isn’t Stuck in Headphone Mode
In rare situations, your iPhone can get stuck in headphone mode, making your device believe headphones are plugged in even when they’re not. When this happens, the on-device microphones may not work because your iPhone is trying to use your non-existent headphone microphones instead.
You can quickly get your iPhone out of headphone mode by simply unplugging or disconnecting your headphones. After getting out of headphone mode, your iPhone Voice Memos should start working again.
9. Delete And Reinstall The Voice Memos App
If your iPhone Voice Memos is still not working, delete the app and download it again.
Press and hold the Voice Memos app on the Home Screen or App Library until the quick action menu opens. Tap Remove App > Delete App > Delete.
Once the Voice Memos app has been deleted on your iPhone, launch the App Store, and tap the Search tab in the lower right-hand corner of the screen. Type “Voice Memos” into the search box at the top of the screen.
Once you’ve found the Voice Memos app in the App Store, tap the Cloud button to its right. The Voice Memos app will download and reinstall on your iPhone.
Now launch the the Voice Memos app and check if it’s working. If it’s still not working, move on to the next step!
10. Contact Apple Support
If you’ve followed the steps above and the Voice Memos is still not working on your iPhone, it’s time to discuss repair options. There could be an issue with the microphone any other hardware issue on your iPhone.
Visit official Apple support page to get help online, over-the-phone, or in-person. You can also chat with Apple online. Make sure to make a Genius Bar reservation before visiting your local Apple Store to avoid waiting in line!
Easily Fix iPhone Voice Memos Not Working Issue
You’ve fixed the problem with the Voice Memos app and you can now use your iPhone as a portable recording device to record personal notes, classroom lectures, musical ideas, and more! Next time Voice Memos is not working on your iPhone, you know what to do. Drop a comment below if you have any other questions about your iPhone.