Photo: Getty
Apple’s recent updates to iOS have left some owners of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus speechless… because the microphone is disabled. The company confirmed the issue is plaguing some devices in >internal documents obtained by MacRumors.
Starting with the release of iOS 11.3 and still present in subsequent versions of the operating system, a handful of iPhone users have been hit with the bug that makes it impossible to communicate while making phone calls or video chats on FaceTime. Affected devices may show the speaker button grayed-out during the calls.
Apple is also giving the service technicians at authorised vendors and at Apple Genius Bar locations the ability to request exceptions for the issue on phones that are no longer covered by warranty, allowing them to make the necessary fixes no matter what. There is no clear indication if the repairs will be made for free, but that seems to be the implication.
It’s believed that the problem is not widespread, but that hasn’t stopped owners of affected devices from taking to social media to air their grievances about the bug. Posts noting the issue have appeared on Reddit, Twitter, and in Apple’s own support forums.
Hi, Apple. I really need your help! Last night my iphone 7+ underwent a software update for iOS 11.3.1 and ever since, my microphone feature hasn’t been functioning. No calls, voice memos, voice record. I’ve hard reset already and no change. Please help.
— melody (@MLDZZZ) May 2, 2018
iOS 11.3 seems to have introduced a very sensitive proximity sensor. No matter what app you’re in or state it’s in (e.g., using speaker/mic) the screen will dim when anything comes near the sensor housing.
— Bryan Haggerty ✍️ (@bhaggs) April 9, 2018
@AppleSupport after ios 11.3 update, iphone 64 gb mic is not working properly. Restarted, noise cancellation is ON
— sushrut shaha (@drsushrutshah) April 14, 2018
One iPhone 7 owner brought up the issue on the r/ios subreddit and said that it has been plaguing their device since the initial release of iOS 11.3:
Ever since I updated to iOS 11.3 (the day it came out), my mic stopped working. I can no longer use Siri (like I ever used it anyways), no voice memos (can’t even play old ones), can make calls but both parties hear nothing, video recording record without the sound.
Unexpected bugs happen, but the recent versions of iOS have been plagued by seemingly avoidable issues that Apple has to dedicate additional time to address in future updates. The company just had to issue a fix in iOS 11.3.1 to a problem it created in iOS 11.3 that made third-party touchscreens stop working.
The game of bug wack-a-mole has gotten so tedious for Apple that the company is reportedly opting not to push out new features and is instead working to improve stability and stomp out existing issues.