How to Use an External USB Microphone With Your iPhone

Dec 19, 2023

You can dramatically improve the quality of your audio recordings by connecting an external USB mic to your iPhone. We'll teach you how to set one up.

Using your USB microphone with your iPhone seems like an excellent way to work on the go, but it's easy to wonder whether this combination is possible at all.

Luckily, USB microphones can pair with iPhones—and it only takes a few simple steps to start recording. You can learn all about the process below.

You can connect a USB microphone to your iPhone using a Lightning to USB adapter, which serves as a necessary intermediary between the two devices, as it provides the USB microphone with enough power and a compatible port to connect to.

It's recommended that you purchase an official Lightning to USB adapter directly from Apple rather than opting for a third-party adapter. You can rest assured that a first-party adapter will work exactly as intended. Other adapters and Lightning cables may degrade over time, potentially causing connectivity issues.

If you're set on purchasing a third-party adapter, you should shop around until you find one that is MFi-certified. This certification guarantees that the product meets Apple's standard for quality.

Apple sells two first-party adapters that are suitable for connecting an external USB microphone. An adapter with one USB port can connect an external USB microphone to your iPhone, but using the microphone with this setup will cause your phone's battery to drain quickly.

An adapter with a USB-A and USB-C port (the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter) is much more suitable because you can power your iPhone and microphone simultaneously as you work. You can purchase them both directly from Apple.

Once you own a Lightning to USB adapter, you're ready to connect your USB microphone to your iPhone. Aside from the adapter, you will need to gather a USB cable to connect your microphone and a USB-C cable to power your devices. Next, follow these steps to connect your iPhone and USB microphone:

After connecting your USB microphone to your iPhone, you should be all set to begin recording. You should navigate to the recording settings in your app of choice and verify that the USB microphone is in use instead of the built-in microphone.

Alternatively, you can record a small clip and tap on the microphone to check if it is the device being recorded from. You may need to troubleshoot your iPhone's microphone connection if it fails to record correctly.

An iPhone connected to an external USB microphone makes an excellent mobile workstation for podcasters and voice actors. The best part of this pairing is that you only need an adapter and a few cables to set it up.

If you want to make the most of your new microphone setup, you should look for a powerful app that offers all the features you need to edit and process audio anywhere.

Hannah is a contributing writer at MakeUseOf. She currently attends Eastern New Mexico University as a computer science major. She focuses on writing about Linux and other subjects in technology because she believes in making technology accessible for all.