iPad Air microphone issue with SKYPE

Question

iPad Air microphone issue with SKYPE

Here's a perplexing one: My new iPad Air (M2) works fine except when I make a call using SKYPEout to call anyone (including the SKYPE Echo Testing Service) -- I can hear the person or service I call, but they cannot hear me UNLESS I WHISPER or talk very, very quietly. As soon as I use normal speech levels, the microphone gets cut off.

And even when the person can hear me, it's not clear and if my voice increases just a bit in sound level, the microphone is cut-off. Just incredible.

I've tested the microphones (front and rear) by recording voice memos and doing videos - The microphones work PERFECTLY.

I've turned-off NOISE REDUCTION in the SKYPE settings. I've done everything I can think of (or others have told me via YouTube) other than do a reset. Trying to avoid that because I think this is a SKYPE issue - however SKYPE and MICROSOFT no longer give support via a living human being; nor via chat. Just a billion FAQ's.

And my iPhone 13 Pro running iOS 18.1 works perfectly with SKYPE as does my Mac Mini running Sonoma via SKYPE App for Mac.

If anyone has had this issue (I never did with my iPad Pro 2017 - too bad that died 2 months ago -- the reason for the new iPad Air) please reply here.

Thanks!

Best regards,

Steve Schulte

Sat 16 Nov 2024

iPad Air, iPadOS 18

Posted on Nov 16, 2024 9:28 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 24, 2024 2:12 AM in response to Johnathan Burger

Just a quick update and then likely (if I continue to have little or no feedback here) I'll just end this post (or not reply to it any longer if we can't delete a post).

Getting a new iPad Air (returning my current one) as the microphone issue has not been resolved -- it seems quite a few others are having the same issue so we may be seeing iPadOS 18.1.1.1 soon!
I'll try resetting and re-initiating my iPad Air prior to returning it tomorrow to see if I can solve this.

I want to mention that Apple Support has been more than eager and has come up with a solution to another (unrelated but present) problem and even come up with a workaround (temporary) via an external mic. As a MacONLY kinda guy since 1989 -- I am so pleased with this fantastic support and camaraderie!! Thanks, Apple - we will solve this!

Best regards,

Steve Schulte

Sun 24 Nov 2024

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Answer 2

Nov 16, 2024 9:54 AM in response to Stephen Schulte1

You are correct, it is a Skype issue.

Skype is a Microsoft product so you need to report the bug to them and see what they tell you.

All we can tell you to do is delete the app, restart your iPad and install it again.

If that doesn’t fix it, Microsoft will have to fix their app.

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Answer 3

Nov 16, 2024 11:56 AM in response to Johnathan Burger

I don't think this is a SKYPE issue now. Why? First because if it were an iOS issue then why does my iPhone with iOS 18.1 work perfectly. AND now just trying to set-up FaceTime on my iPad Air and the SAME PROBLEM OCCURS - I call someone and hear them fine, but they can't hear me (again, maybe just a whisper). So something is not good on this iPad Air -- some setting or ???

Appreciate any comments but the fact that both SKYPE and FACETIME are not working in this fashion with my iPad Air really makes me think it is an iPad Air settings issue.

Not sure what to do…

Best regards,

Steve Schulte

Sat 16 Nov 2024

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Answer 4

Nov 17, 2024 4:15 AM in response to Johnathan Burger

I think I replied to myself instead of to you… Let me copy that here in case you didn't see it. And want to say much appreciated!!

I don't think this is a SKYPE issue now. Why? First because if it were an iOS issue then why does my iPhone with iOS 18.1 work perfectly. AND now just trying to set-up FaceTime on my iPad Air and the SAME PROBLEM OCCURS - I call someone and hear them fine, but they can't hear me (again, maybe just a whisper). So something is not good on this iPad Air -- some setting or ???

Appreciate any comments but the fact that both SKYPE and FACETIME are not working in this fashion with my iPad Air really makes me think it is an iPad Air settings issue.

Not sure what to do…

Best regards,

Steve Schulte

Sat 16 Nov 2024

AND A COMMENT ON 17 NOV 2024: I'm hearing that BlueTooth must be turned OFF for the microphone to work on FaceTime and SKYPE. I tried that once - didn't help but I'll try it again. Also I did a reset and it did not help - but gave me 2 hours of work re-setting my iPad… Won't do that again if I don't have to!!

Steve

Sunday 17 November 2024

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Answer 5

Nov 18, 2024 12:06 PM in response to Stephen Schulte1

So an hour ago I spend 30 minutes on the Apple Support Chat about this microphone issue. The "advisor" didn't seem to know anything about an iPad Air. You could see the person was just reading from a checklist. "Did you remove the protective plastic from the iPad?" (There is no longer any protective plastic on an iPad). "Did you use external headphones?" (This is a microphone issue, not a headphone issue) and it got worse… "Does FaceTime show in Settings/Privacy & Security/Microphone?" I had to explain to the advisor that Apple Apps don't appear there as they are automatically authorized to access the microphone. ("Oh, thanks, the advisor replied…")

Really incredible!

OK so next steps are to get on the phone with someone and then probably return the iPad Air - not sure how that works - they may have to "repair" it (but I'm almost certain this is NOT a hardware issue…)

Frustrating to say the least. It's a great iPad if you don't want to use FaceTime and SKYPE!!

Best regards,

Steve Schulte

Mon 18 Nov 2024

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Answer 6

Nov 19, 2024 12:21 PM in response to Stephen Schulte1

Well after a frustrating chat with Apple Support on 18 Nov 24 - I had 90 minutes of hands-on telephone discussion with several levels of support from Apple Ireland today! Fascinating! They don't know what the issue is but it's moved-up 3 levels today - it'll be on Tim's desk by Friday I think!

Seriously I was very impressed and hopefully this is resolved by engineering within a week.

I also wonder why they don't just have me send my iPad back and send me a new one. (That may happen). That said - if this is a software / conflict issue then wouldn't the same thing happen again if I just uploaded my backup from the iPad Pro 2017 that I uploaded to initialize this iPad Air? I may do a total hard reset and then try FaceTime & SKYPE to see if they work. If so - then I'll just (carefully) load apps and info -- testing each time -- certainly is not an easy one to solve!

Be great to hear from y'all out there!

Best regards,

Steve Schulte

Tue 19 Nov 2024

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