Since iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, Apple has added a small but remarkably useful feature for audio input. From now on you can decide which microphone your iPhone or iPad uses when recording audio or during phone calls. This gives you more control over the sound quality, especially when using external accessories.
Previously, iOS automatically switched between available microphones, such as those on your iPhone or a connected headset. That usually worked fine, but offered little flexibility. With this new setting you can choose which microphone is used by default, which is especially interesting for content creators, podcasters or users who often call with AirPods or other Bluetooth accessories.
Select different microphone on iPhone or iPad
This handy feature makes it easy to set a preferred microphone. This works with both wired and wireless microphones, as long as they are compatible with iOS or iPadOS.
- Open ‘Institutions‘ on your iPhone or iPad
- Go to ‘Hearing and feeling‘
- Tap ‘Import‘
- Select a desired microphone
On a Mac this was already possible via ▸ System Settings ▸ Sound ▸ Input.
Once you make a selection, your device will use this microphone by default for supported apps and features. Of course you can also choose ‘Automatic’. In that case, iOS or iPadOS will automatically use the best available microphone, such as that of your AirPods when you use them or an external microphone when connected.
When is this useful?
Manually choosing a microphone is especially useful in situations where sound quality is important or when you use multiple audio devices:
- While recording video or audio with an external microphone
- For telephone calls via AirPods or a Bluetooth headset
- For interviews or podcasts with a specific microphone
- When the automatic selection does not choose the desired microphone
Pay attention to compatibility
Not all apps support this setting directly. Some apps manage their own audio settings and may override system preference. In addition, the external microphone must be properly connected via Bluetooth or cable to be visible in the list. If you use AirPods or another wireless headset, they will automatically appear as an option once they are connected. This makes it easy to quickly switch between different input sources.