Are you an iPhone user who frequently makes outside calls, only to hear complaints about the background noise? A simple setting change on your iPhone can significantly improve call quality.
Apple introduced Automatic Microphone mode with the iOS 18 update, building on earlier microphone modes like Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum, which debuted with iOS 15 for FaceTime calls and expanded to voice calls in iOS 16.4. These modes adapt to different environments to enhance audio clarity during calls.
To adjust your microphone mode, swipe down from the top right corner to open the Quick Settings panel, tap the microphone icon, and choose from the available options based on your needs.
Automatic mode works for the most part
If you have an iPhone running iOS 18, make sure the microphone mode is set to automatic. Depending on the sound, the microphone will switch between noise isolation, wide spectrum, or standard mode. It’s also for those who don’t like playing around with settings to get the best possible output. When you select a standard mode, the microphone insists on capturing both the user’s voice and external noise, without overpowering each other.
If you’re outdoors, enable noise isolation mode
If you are calling outside your home or office, in a noisy environment, enable Voice Isolation mode. It suppresses external noise, making conversations clear and uninterrupted.
If you’re in a meeting or group call, enable Wide Spectrum mode
The wide spectrum microphone mode on the iPhone is in stark contrast to the isolation mode, where it allows all surrounding sounds to be heard, a useful feature when two or more people are having a conversation on a single device.
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