The essence of CarPlay’s functionality is its seamlessness.
So, it can be incredibly frustrating when you’re trying to use Siri to dictate a text or give Siri voice commands, and your CarPlay microphone stops working.
If your CarPlay microphone is not working, try resetting your CarPlay connection and re-pair your device. If that doesn’t work, switch to a wireless connection. Also, make sure that you are using the latest firmware for your devices. If none of these solutions work, visit a service center.
In this article, we’ll discuss fixing a malfunctioning CarPlay microphone not working.
Here’s how to fix the problem in 8 easy steps!
1. Ensure That Siri Is Enabled
Siri is required for CarPlay to work. If you haven’t enabled it yet, that could be why your microphone isn’t working.
To enable Siri:
- Go to your iPhone’s settings and tap “Siri & Search.”
- Make sure that the “Listen for Hey Siri” is turned on.
- Once Siri is enabled, try using your CarPlay microphone again and see if it works.
If Siri is already enabled, the next thing to check is your iPhone’s microphone settings.
Note IOS 15 & earlier only: (On the iPhone you use in your car, open Settings > “Privacy & Security.” Next, select “Microphone” and make sure that “CarPlay” is enabled. See if this solves your problem.
2. Check if Your Mic Is Muted
If you’re still having trouble getting your microphone to work, check to see if your mic is muted.
If it is, your device won’t be able to pick up voice commands, even if CarPlay has access to your microphone.
To unmute your microphone, just tap the microphone icon on the screen. Although this can vary, by the model of the car.
3. Clean Microphone Openings
Check the microphone openings on your iPhone and Car infotainment system.
If they’re obstructed by lint, dust, or debris of any kind, your microphone won’t be able to function correctly.
To clean the microphone openings, use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth to lightly brush the openings.
Although it might seem easier, do not use a blower, as this can permanently damage your microphone.
4. Use a Different USB Cable
If your CarPlay microphone isn’t working, it might be because you’re using the wrong USB cable.
Many aftermarket CarPlay systems come with a USB cable, but these cables are not always high quality and don’t work well with Apple’s CarPlay system.
Moreover, a cable can get damaged or wear down over time.
Try using a different USB cable. We recommend using a Mi-Fi certified Apple compatible USB cable, as these cables are guaranteed to work with CarPlay.
See our guide to the best CarPlay lighting cable for more information.
5. Try Connecting Wirelessly Using wifi and Bluetooth
If changing cables doesn’t work, you can try connecting wirelessly using wifi and Bluetooth.
Make sure that your wifi and Bluetooth are enabled beforehand.
If your car doesn’t support connecting wirelessly, you could consider buying a wireless adapter.
Although this would be an extreme solution, that may not even fix the microphone issue.
6. Forget Car and Re-Pair Your Device
*The above image is of my home wifi network, but the principles are the same. It was too cold to go to the car 🙂
Sometimes, the connection between your iPhone and CarPlay can get wonky, and that can cause all sorts of problems, including microphone issues. Here’s how to fix it:
- Go into your car media system’s Settings and unpair your iPhone from CarPlay.
- Press “Forget” so your phone doesn’t automatically connect during the pairing process.
- Once your iPhone is unpaired, restart your iPhone.
- Finally, pair your iPhone with CarPlay again using the pairing process.
You can also “forget” your car’s wifi in your iPhone wifi settings.
7. Update/Restart Your iPhone
If all else fails, there’s still a chance restarting your iPhone will solve the problem.
First, make sure your iPhone is up to date.
To do this, go to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, install it.
If there isn’t an update available, or if the update doesn’t fix the problem, try force restarting your iPhone.
8. Update Your Car Stereo to the Latest Firmware Update
If restarting your iPhone doesn’t solve the problem, there may be an issue with your car’s audio system.
Try troubleshooting your car’s audio system according to your manufacturer’s instructions.
Perhaps your car stereo needs to be updated to the latest firmware to work correctly with CarPlay.
Check your vehicle manufacturer’s official websites for updates and install any, if available.
For reference, when you update your iPhone, it automatically updates CarPlay as it is connected to your phone, but your car’s head unit software that is not by Apple will not.
Conclusion
The steps outlined above should solve most issues related to microphones not working when using CarPlay.
If your microphone still isn’t working, you may need to take your iPhone to an Apple Store or an authorized service provider for further diagnosis.
Although, if this is a car issue, you should take it to your dealership.
