How do I turn off microphone on Android?

There are a few reasons why Android users may want to turn off or restrict microphone access on their devices. Some common reasons include:

Privacy – Many users are concerned about apps listening in or recording them without consent. Disabling the microphone access can prevent this.

Security – Restricting microphone access makes it harder for malicious apps to spy on users. This adds a layer of protection.

Battery life – Having the microphone on constantly can drain battery faster. Turning it off when not needed can help conserve battery life.

Focus – Some users want to avoid distractions and disable features like “OK Google” detection. Microphone access is required for that.

Control – Users simply want more control over what apps can access. Disabling the microphone gives users more say in app permissions.

Peace of mind – For some, it gives reassurance knowing the microphone isn’t active when not needed.

Check App Permissions

The first step is to check which apps have been granted permission to use the microphone on your Android device. To do this:

Open the Settings app and select Apps or Application Manager. On some devices this may be under Apps & Notifications or Permissions [1]. You can then select a specific app to see what permissions it has been granted.

Look for the Microphone permission and check which apps have it enabled. Apps that have access to the microphone will show “Allowed” or “Granted” next to this permission.

This will allow you to see which apps can currently use the microphone on your device. You can then choose to disable or restrict microphone access for specific apps if desired.

Disable Microphone for Specific Apps

You can disable the microphone permission for specific apps on your Android device. This will prevent those apps from accessing your microphone, while still allowing other apps to use it.

To disable the microphone for a specific app, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > App permissions > Microphone. Here you will see a list of apps that have requested microphone permission.

Tap on the app you want to disable the microphone for. On the next screen, toggle off the “Allow” switch for Microphone. The app will no longer be able to access your device’s microphone.

You can repeat this process to revoke microphone access for any apps you don’t want having access to your microphone. Leaving the microphone permission enabled for trusted apps will still allow them to use your microphone as normal.

Disable Microphone System-Wide

You can disable microphone access for all apps at the system level in Android. This will prevent any app from accessing the microphone unless you explicitly grant permission again.

To disable the microphone system-wide:

Go to Settings > Apps > Advanced > App Permissions > Microphone.

Toggle the switch next to Microphone off. This will disable microphone access for all apps.

With microphone access disabled at the system level, apps will not be able to access your microphone to record audio or listen in. You can selectively re-enable access for specific apps if needed. But this allows you to block microphone access completely across all apps if desired.

Source: https://www.lifewire.com/turn-off-microphone-on-android-5184533

Use Airplane Mode

One simple way to disable the microphone across all apps on your Android device is to turn on Airplane Mode. When Airplane Mode is enabled, it cuts off all wireless connections including cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC, etc. This effectively disables the microphone system-wide.

To turn on Airplane Mode on Android:

Open the Settings app.

Tap on the “Network & internet” option.
Toggle the “Airplane mode” switch to the on position.

You’ll see the airplane icon in the status bar indicating Airplane Mode is now active. With the microphone disabled in this mode, no apps can access it which prevents spying or unwanted recording. Just remember to turn Airplane Mode off again when you want to re-enable the microphone for normal use.

Some key points about using Airplane Mode to mute the mic:

Disables microphone completely across all apps.
Also disables other wireless radios like cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth.

Easy to toggle on/off in Settings when needed.
Works on all Android devices.

Restart in Safe Mode

One way to troubleshoot microphone issues is by restarting your Android device in safe mode. Safe mode loads the device with only the original software and apps. This allows you to determine if the microphone issue is being caused by a third-party app.

To restart in safe mode, press and hold the power button until the power off options appear. Then tap and hold “Restart” and select “OK” to confirm restarting in safe mode. You can then test if the microphone works properly without any third-party apps running.

If the microphone functions normally in safe mode, it likely indicates a problematic app is causing the issue. You can then begin disabling apps one-by-one to identify the problematic app. Be sure to restart your device in normal mode after testing in safe mode. If the microphone still does not work in safe mode, it may be a deeper system issue.

For more details, refer to Samsung’s guide on troubleshooting microphone problems by using safe mode.

Factory Reset

As a last resort, you can reset your Android device to its factory settings to reset all app permissions to default. This will erase all data and settings on your device and restore it to the state it was in when you first purchased it.

To factory reset your device, go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset). You will be prompted to confirm that you want to erase all data on your device. Be sure to back up any important data before proceeding, as it will all be deleted.

After the factory reset completes, your device will reboot and you will have to set it up again from scratch. All apps will need to request microphone permission again. This ensures no apps have access to the microphone without your knowledge. However, this should only be done as a last resort, as it is an inconvenience to have to completely reset the device.

Adjust Recording Settings

You can customize which apps on your Android device are allowed to record audio by adjusting the app permissions in your settings. Here’s how:

Open the Settings app on your Android device.
Select “Apps & notifications”.

Tap “App permissions”.
Select “Microphone”.
You will see a list of apps that have requested microphone access. For each app, you can toggle the switch on or off to allow or deny microphone access.

Toggle off microphone access for any apps you do not want to be able to record audio.

By customizing microphone permissions on a per-app basis, you can control which apps have access to your device’s microphone to record audio. Be sure not to disable microphone access for apps like Voice Recorder that need it to function properly.

Additionally, in your device settings you may be able to customize the microphone volume level or toggle an option to disable microphone access system-wide if desired. Refer to your device manufacturer’s support documentation for details.

Use Physical Mute Switch

Some Android devices have a physical mute switch or button that allows you to easily turn the microphone on and off. For example, many headphones have an in-line mute button that lets you quickly mute the mic during a call. Some mobile devices also have a dedicated mute switch, like the iPad’s side switch, that disables the mic ¹.

If your Android device has a physical mute switch, toggle it to the mute position when you want to turn off the microphone. Toggling the switch again will turn the mic back on. A physical mute switch provides a convenient way to instantly mute your mic without having to dig through software settings. Just remember to toggle the switch back on when you want to unmute the mic and be heard again.

Conclusion

In summary, there are various ways to disable or restrict microphone access on Android devices. The easiest options are to toggle off microphone access for specific apps in the Settings menu, or enable Airplane mode to disable all radios including the microphone. For a more comprehensive approach, users can factory reset their device or restart it in Safe Mode, which will disable all apps and permissions. Adjusting privacy settings in the App Permissions menu is another option to selectively disable the microphone system-wide or per app.

To recap, the main options covered for disabling the microphone on Android include:

Disabling microphone access for individual apps in Settings
Turning on Airplane mode

Restarting the device in Safe Mode
Performing a factory reset
Adjusting app permissions for microphone access

Using physical mute switches if available

With the right settings adjustments, Android users can control microphone access for improved privacy and security.