How to Fix Samsung S20 Whatsapp Microphone Not Working

If the WhatsApp microphone is not working on your Samsung Galaxy S20 (whether you’re unable to take calls or record voice messages), the problem could be that WhatsApp doesn’t have permission to access your smartphone’s microphone, or the app isn’t accessing the mic properly. 

Fortunately, this is a software-related issue and can be fixed by applying the correct solutions. In this guide, we will walk you through them to troubleshoot and fix it. Let’s get started!

Note: Solutions in this guide will work on any Samsung Galaxy S20 model (S20, S20 Plus, S20 Fe, and S20 Ultra models.)

Editor’s note: We created these instructions using a Samsung Galaxy S20 running Android 12. Depending on your device’s software version, some steps and menu positions may look slightly different.

Fix 01: Check MIC Permission in Whatsapp App Settings

App permissions are basically the features of your phone that an app can access. For example, if an app has permission to use your Galaxy S20’s microphone, it can record audio. 

However, if an app like WhatsApp doesn’t have the necessary permissions to do that, it won’t function correctly.

In this case, if WhatsApp doesn’t have permission to use your phone’s microphone, you won’t be able to make calls or record voice messages. Here’s how you can check and enable the mic permission for WhatsApp on your Galaxy S20:

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Scroll down and tap on Apps.
3. In the list of apps, find and tap on WhatsApp.
4. Tap on Permissions.

4. Look for the Microphone permission. If it’s not enabled, toggle the switch to On.

Fix 02: Clear Whatsapp App Cache

Your Whatsapp app may not function correctly if its cache is corrupted. The cache holds important data so future requests for that data can be served faster. 

If this cache becomes outdated or corrupted, it could lead to issues like the microphone not working.

Clearing the Whatsapp app cache can potentially resolve this issue, as it forces the app to create a new one. 

Note: Clearing the cache will not delete any important messages or media.

Here’s how to clear the Whatsapp cache on your Samsung Galaxy S20:

1. Open Settings, go to Apps, and tap on Whatsapp.
2. Now, tap on Storage.

3. Tap on Clear Cache.

After following these steps, restart your device and check if the microphone issue on WhatsApp has been resolved.

Fix 03: Update WhatsApp App

The microphone not working issue on WhatsApp could also be due to bugs within the app itself. If this is the case, Updating the Whatsapp app can fix these underlying issues, ensuring the correct functioning of all features, including the microphone.

To check for updates and install them, follow these steps:

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Tap on the profile icon located at the top left corner of the screen.
3. Select “Manage apps and device”.

4. Then select “Manage” and tap on “Updates Available” button on top.

5. Here, you’ll see a list of all the apps that have updates to be installed. Look for WhatsApp in this list. If it’s there, it means an update is available.
6. Now tap on Whatsapp and then tap on “Update” to install the latest version.

Fix 04: Clear Google Play Services Cache

Many apps and services on your device rely on Google Play Services to function correctly. If there’s a conflict between these services, it could result in issues like the mic of your device now working on WhatsApp. 

Clearing the cache of Google Play Services will resolve these conflicts and potentially fix the issue.

Here’s how to clear the Google Play Services cache:

1. Open the Settings on your Galaxy S20.
2. Scroll down and tap on Apps.
3. In the list of apps, find and tap on Google Play Services.

4. Now, tap on Storage.
5. Tap on Clear Cache.

Fix 05: Re-install WhatsApp

If none of the above solutions have worked for you, the final option you can try is to uninstall and reinstall the Whatsapp application. 

However, please note that uninstalling Whatsapp will remove all of your chat history as Whatsapp uses end-to-end encryption, which means your messages are only stored on your device, not on Whatsapp’s servers.

Therefore, before you proceed with uninstalling, make sure to back up your chats. You can do this by going to Whatsapp Settings > Chats > Chat Backup (all the data will be backed up to Google Drive).

Here are the steps to uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp:

1. Go to your Galaxy S20 home screen and find the Whatsapp application.
2. Long press on the Whatsapp icon until a menu pops up.
3. Tap on “Uninstall”. Confirm the uninstallation if prompted.
4. Once the app is uninstalled, go to the Google Play Store and install WhatsApp again.
5. Once the app is installed, open it and verify your phone number.

After reinstalling WhatsApp, enter your number, restore the backup you made, and then check to see if the microphone issue is resolved.