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Microphone not working in Duolingo on Android 12: How to Fix

In this guide, we will show you various methods to fix the microphone not working issue in the Duolingo app on Android 12. When it comes to getting fluent in a foreign language, then there couldn’t be a much better alternative than Duolingo. It makes use of spaced repetition to improve a user’s vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Moreover, there are a plethora of built-in exercises in the form of written translation, reading, and speaking comprehension. However, despite all these goodies, it isn’t free from its fair share of issues either.

As of now, a slew of complaints is lined up across the Duolingo Forum wherein users have voiced their concern that the microphone isn’t working in the Duolingo app on their Android 12 device. Whenever they tap on the Mic button, the app either tells them to try again or suddenly force closes it without recording any bit of audio. If you are also getting bugged with this issue, then this guide will make you aware of various methods to mitigate this problem. So without any further ado, let’s check them out.

Fix Microphone Not Working in Duolingo on Android 12

Microphone not working in Duolingo on Android 12

Do note that there’s no universal fix as such. You will have to try out each of the below-mentioned workarounds and see which one works best in your favor. So with that in mind, let’s get started.

FIX 1: Re-Enable Duolingo Microphone Permissions

First and foremost, you should toggle the microphone permission for Duolingo. Doing so will refresh its underlying microphone permissions and this, in turn, could rectify the underlying issue as well. So refer to the below instructions to try out this fix:

  1. To begin with, head over Settings > Apps > See All Apps.
  2. Then select Duolingo from the list and go to its Permission section.
  3. After that, select Microphone under the Allowed section and choose Don’t Allow.
    Microphone not working in Duolingo on Android 12
  4. Then go back to the Not Allowed section and select Microphone.
  5. Now select Ask every time or Allow only while using the app.
    Microphone not working in Duolingo on Android 12
  6. Check if it fixes the microphone not working issue in the Duolingo app on Android 12.

FIX 2: Delete Duolingo Cache

If a lot of temporary data gets accrued over the due course of the, then it could slow down the entire usability of the app and might also conflict with the app’s functionality. Therefore, you should consider deleting these temporarily stored data, using the instructions given below:

  1. To begin with, head over to the Settings menu on your device.
  2. Then go to Apps > See All Apps and Duolingo from the list.
    Microphone not working in Duolingo on Android 12
  3. After that, go to the Storage section and tap on Clear Cache.
  4. Verify if it fixes the microphone not working issue in the Duolingo app on Android 12.

FIX 3: Add Foreign Language to Default Android 12 Keyboard

Next up, consider adding all the foreign languages courses that you are currently learning via Duolingo to your device’s default keyboard section. You could refer to the below-given instructions to try it out (these steps are for the Gboard, instructions for other keyboard apps might be slightly different).

  1. Head over to Settings > System > Language & Input.
  2. Then go to On-Screen Keyboard and select Gboard from the list.
  3. After that, go to its Languages section.
    Microphone not working in Duolingo on Android 12
  4. Then tap on the Add Keyboard button situated at the bottom.
  5. Now select the desired language from the list.
    Microphone not working in Duolingo on Android 12
  6. Finally, hit the Done button situated at the bottom right.
  7. Check if it fixes the microphone not working issue in the Duolingo app on Android 12.

FIX 4: Delete Duolingo Data

If the app’s data gets corrupted, then its negative consequences will be felt across the app as a whole. In such cases, you have no choice but to delete that app’s data and then let it repopulate the same from scratch. Here’s how it could be done:

  1. Head over to the Settings menu on your device.
  2. Then go to Apps > See All Apps and select the desired app from the list.
  3. After that, go to the Storage section and tap on Clear Data.
    Microphone not working in Duolingo on Android 12
  4. Then tap OK in the confirmation dialog box that appears. Now launch the app and set it up.
  5. Check if it fixes the microphone not working issue in the Duolingo app on Android 12.

FIX 5: Reset App Preferences

In some cases, creating and implementing rules for an app might have an adverse impact on other apps installed on your device. So you should consider reverting all the app preferences to their default state.

Doing so will reset the rules related to disabled and default apps as well as all the restrictions put in place (it will not wipe any app data) and will give you the stock settings to work upon. So let’s put this fix to the test and check out the results.

  1. Head over to the Settings > System menu on your device.
  2. Then go to Reset Options and tap on Reset App Preferences.
    Microphone not working in Duolingo on Android 12
  3. After that, tap on the Reset Apps button in the confirmation dialog box.
  4. Check if it fixes the microphone not working issue in the Duolingo app on Android 12.

FIX 6: Reinstall Duolingo

If the app’s configuration and settings file get corrupted, then simply deleting the app’s data and cache might not be enough. In such cases, you will have to completely remove the app from your device and reinstall its fresh build. Here’s how it could be done:

  1. To begin with, head over to the Settings menu on your device.
  2. Then go to Apps > See All Apps and select Duolingo from the list.
  3. After that, tap on Uninstall followed by OK in the confirmation dialog box.
    Microphone not working in Duolingo on Android 12
  4. Now go to Play Store and download and install the latest version of Duolingo.
  5. Verify if it fixes the microphone not working issue in the Duolingo app on Android 12.

FIX 7: Downgrade Duolingo to Earlier Version

In some instances, the developer might roll out a buggy update, which could end up breaking the app’s entire functionality. Though they are usually quick to release a subsequent patch, that rollout could still take around 3-4 days to arrive. And this is quite a long time frame.

So it’s better to downgrade the app to the earlier stable version and reman on that build until the issue has been resolved. Likewise, you should also disable the auto-update feature of that app. Otherwise, Play Store will update the app back to the latest build which would end up nullifying the fix. All this has been explained below, try it out right away.

  1. To begin with, head over to the Settings menu on your device.
  2. Then go to Apps > See All Apps and select Duolingo from the list.
  3. Now scroll to the end and tap on App Details. You will now be taken to that app’s Play Store page.
    Microphone not working in Duolingo on Android 12
  4. Tap on the overflow icon situated at the top right and uncheck Enable Auto-updates.
  5. Once that is done, go back to Apps > See All Apps and select Duolingo from the list.
  6. Now scroll to the end and note out its version number somewhere.
    Microphone not working in Duolingo on Android 12
  7. After that, tap on Uninstall followed by OK in the confirmation dialog box.
  8. Once done, head over to a trusted third-party site and download an older version of that app.
  9. Finally, install the downloaded APK file (enable Installation from Unknown Sources, if asked). That’s it.
    Microphone not working in Duolingo on Android 12

With this, we round off the guide on how you could fix the microphone not working issue in the Duolingo app on Android 12. We have listed seven different methods for the same. Do let us know in the comments section which one worked out in your favor.

As far as the official stance on this matter is concerned, the developers are aware of this issue, but they haven’t given out any ETA for the rollout of a fix. As and when that happens, we will update this guide accordingly. In the meantime, the aforementioned workarounds are your best bet.


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