Samsung Galaxy S22 microphone is quiet, muffled or not working

The checks in more detail

Video recordings use the microphones beside the camera module, so a recording that is clear while calls are poor says that the bottom microphone is the weak one, and the other way round. Record a clip of yourself counting aloud and play it back through headphones to hear the difference. If it is only video calls, open the app's settings and look for a noise-cancelling or voice isolation option, and check in Settings, Apps, the app, Permissions that the microphone is allowed. If it is only the assistant, check the Bixby or Google voice settings and the Hey Google voice model, and retrain it.

A phone that has been on a bathroom shelf or in a rainy pocket can have moisture on the membrane, which muffles sound until it dries; leave it in a dry place for a day, without rice or heat. Samsung's Members app has a diagnostics test under Phone, Interactive checks, Mic that records and plays back, so run it to get a verdict on each microphone. Restart the phone, install any update, and boot into Safe mode to see whether a third-party app is holding the microphone.

If the diagnostic reports a fault or the recording stays faint in Safe mode, the part has failed, and Samsung or a repair shop should replace it. Back up first, and ask about resealing the water resistance afterwards. Keep notes for the repairer: the exact moment the voice thins, the app, whether speakerphone is better than the handset, and whether a headset microphone works normally. If the headset microphone works and the phone's own does not, the fault is in the phone's microphones and not in the app or the network, which saves a diagnostic fee. Mention any drops, water exposure and past repairs, because each changes which part is replaced.