Android 16 may introduce system-wide audio input switcher

Android 15 has already been launched, and now leaks and rumors about the upcoming version are starting to surface. A new report suggests that Android 16 could soon allow users to switch audio input for all apps from a single, system-wide menu.

Currently, if you want to use an external microphone instead of your phone’s built-in mic, you have to do it within each individual app, if the app even supports this option. However, Android 16 may solve this problem by adding a system-wide audio input switcher to the existing media switcher dialog, which was first introduced in Android 11.

This feature will be beneficial for users who want to record high-quality audio from an external microphone. Some apps like Camera and Recorder already allow users to choose audio input via the Media Recorder API.

However, several apps set the phone’s built-in microphone as default without providing the option to switch. This can be an issue for anyone trying to make professional recordings using an external mic.

Android users can currently change audio output devices, such as Bluetooth speakers or wired headphones, through the media switcher. However, there has been no similar option to manage audio input devices.

The new system-wide audio input switcher could provide a simpler way to select which microphone to use across all apps with Android 16.

Thanks to MishaalRahman (via AndroidAuthority) for spotting the code for this new feature in Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3. There is hope that the system’s wider audio input switcher feature will also be available on smartphones when Android 16 is released in mid-2025