Previously, users making WhatsApp calls in noisy environments had to awkwardly switch to the Control Center to activate voice isolation. This workaround is now eliminated – the iPhone microphone modes are now directly integrated into the call screen.
WhatsApp is currently rolling out new iPhone features in rapid succession; most recently, the app received a green dot to indicate online contacts. The latest change utilizes an iPhone system function: Microphone mode can now be switched directly from within an ongoing call, instead of via the Control Center. In a country where WhatsApp is the most widely used messaging app, this affects a large portion of daily phone calls.
What changes on the call screen
Previously, microphone modes could only be accessed via the Control Center. Now, a "More" button will appear at the bottom of the call interface, allowing you to open the "Microphone Mode" option. From there, you can go directly to the system menu, where you can choose between the four modes offered by Apple. iOS applies the selection immediately, without interrupting or ending the call. The chosen setting remains in effect and applies to future calls until a different mode is selected. This change was noticed by WABetaInfo, a service specializing in WhatsApp betas.
What the four microphone modes do
Apple offers four modes that apply during a call or recording. "Auto" automatically selects the appropriate option - for example, voice isolation when holding the device to the ear and standard mode for speakerphone use. "Standard" uses conventional speech processing. "Voice Isolation" emphasizes the user's voice and filters out ambient noise, which can make all the difference on a crowded train or next to a construction site. "Wide Spectrum" takes the opposite approach, allowing the environment to pass through unfiltered - useful, for example, when multiple people are speaking on one device or when the other person needs to hear the sounds of a concert.
Requirements and Availability
Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum require at least iOS 15 and work on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and newer models. The "Automatic" mode requires iOS 18 or later. This means the feature is available to the vast majority of active iPhones - especially since WhatsApp is currently raising its minimum system requirements anyway. As is typical with WhatsApp, the rollout is gradual, so the change won't appear immediately for everyone.
Why the change in everyday life matters
Microphone modes are among the lesser-known call features of the iPhone, which also includes call forwarding. By bringing the selection from the Control Center into the call itself, WhatsApp brings a practical function closer to the situation in which it is needed – in the middle of a conversation, when it gets loud. (Image: Shutterstock / BigTunaOnline)
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