How To Connect A USB Mic To iPhone

Anyone can create movies, slideshows, podcasts, and other visual material on their iPhones thanks to tools like Adobe Story and iMovie.

Despite the fact that the camera has significantly improved over time, iOS devices still lag behind in the audio department.

The built-in microphone isn’t terrible, but if you want to make videos with good audio, you must add an external microphone.

This article will describe the simplest method for how to connect a USB mic to iPhone and the best tools for the job.

Key Takeaways

• 🎤 Choose Your Mic: Select between plug-and-play or professional USB mics.
• 🔌 Connection Gear: Use a lightning to USB adapter and a powered USB hub.
• 📱 Setup & Test: Connect, set up, and test the mic with your iPhone app.

Choosing The Right Microphone

Before you connect a USB microphone to your iPhone, you need to choose the right one.

You have two options when it comes to deciding on an external microphone.

Option 1

Some of the greatest iOS condenser microphones on the market right now are the Shure MV51 and Audio-Technica AT2020USB+.

They arrive pre-equipped with all the essential USB and lightning cables and don’t need batteries or additional USB hub power.

Taking into account user reviews, choose a plug-and-play microphone that you think will best suit your needs.

04/28/2025 10:17 am GMT

Option 2

Suppose you already have a high-quality USB microphone for your PC or Mac, like Blue Yeti. In that case, you can save some money on an iOS compatible microphone and connect your existing desktop microphone.

To do this, you’ll need a powered USB hub and a lightning to USB adapter (not the cable).

How To Connect With Option 2?

With your powered USB hub and lightning to USB adapter, you can now connect your external microphone for your iPhone.

You can also use this method to connect your microphone to other iOS devices, such as your iPad or iPod.

Step 1

Using the included USB Type B cable, attach one end of the Apple Lightning to USB converter to the Lightning port on your iPhone or iPad and the other end to the powered USB hub.

Step 2

Connect the hub to the outlet using the power adapter cord.

Step 3

Connect the external USB microphone to one of the hub’s available ports using the same USB cable you used to connect the microphone to the desktop computer.

What To Do If It Doesn’t Work?

Remove the iOS device’s lightning adapter and listen to the recording again if you are having trouble hearing the audio.

You can use the headphone jack on your external desktop microphone to listen to the sound coming from your iOS smartphone while recording it.

Be aware that while a lightning-to-USB connection can be used to connect an iOS device directly to a USB microphone, your iPhone is likely to display an error message that reads, “Cannot utilize device – The connected device requires too much power.”

How To Connect Using A Charger And Adapter?

Most USB condenser mics should charge quickly on the majority of fast phone chargers.

For this method, you will need:

• An iPhone charger with enough output power to charge the phone and run the mic simultaneously.
• A lightning to USB-A 3.90 adapter with both the USB-A and lightning charging ports.
• Miscellaneous cables for the connection.

Step 1

Connect your iPhone to the USB-A 3.0 adaptor.

Step 2

Use your phone’s charging cable to connect your charger to the adapter’s matching connector after plugging it into the wall.

Step 3

Connect the USB cable from the microphone to the adapter’s USB-A port.

Step 4

Unlock your iPhone and follow the on-screen instructions to finish the setup.

Step 5

Open any of the programs you want to use the microphone with, and give it a test run to make sure it functions properly.

How To Connect Using A Power Bank?

This method is the ideal choice if you want a portable solution to power the USB mic while still having the freedom to move around.

The advantage of this approach is that you can power your iPhone and use it without running out of battery life.

For this method, you will need:

• A fully charged power bank or portable charging device.
• A lightning to USB-A 3.90 adapter with both the USB-A and lightning charging ports.

Step 1

Connect your iPhone to the USB-A 3.0 adaptor.

Step 2

Connect the power bank to the adapter’s charging port using the charging cord from your phone.

Step 3

Connect the adapter’s USB-A port to the microphone’s USB cable.

Step 4

Unlock your iPhone and follow the on-screen instructions to finish the setup.

Step 5

Open any of the programs you want to use the microphone with, and give it a test run to make sure it functions properly.

Conclusion

And that’s it!

After following the instructions listed above, you can open an app, such as iMovie, and begin recording yourself on your iPhone using your newly connected external microphone.

Connecting a USB microphone to an iOS device is straightforward, and the results are outstanding.

It can be used to record instruments, podcasts, vlogs, and vocals. Furthermore, you can use it to enhance your Zoom meetings’ sound.

Whichever method you use, you’ll be recording high-quality audio on your iPhone in no time.

All you need are a few extra accessories and cables, and you’ll be ready to begin!