How do I put my Samsung phone on speakerphone?
What is Speakerphone?
Speakerphone allows you to talk hands-free on phone calls by using your phone’s built-in speakers instead of holding the phone up to your ear. When speakerphone mode is enabled, your voice is picked up by the phone’s microphone and the other caller’s voice comes out of the speakers, so you don’t need to use headphones or hold the phone during conversations. This can be convenient for having longer calls without needing to hold your device, making calls while doing other tasks, or for allowing more than one person to be part of the conversation.
Speakerphones have been around since the early days of landline phones, but are now a standard feature on most mobile devices as well. Using the built-in speaker and mic allows for a hands-free experience without any additional equipment needed.
When to Use Speakerphone
Speakerphone allows for hands-free phone conversations, which can be useful in many situations. The most common uses for speakerphone include:
- Driving – Speakerphone enables drivers to talk on the phone hands-free, which is safer than holding the phone to your ear. However, hands-free does not mean risk-free, and drivers should minimize phone conversations.
- Cooking and cleaning – Speakerphone provides a convenient way to talk while keeping your hands free for tasks like cooking, doing dishes, cleaning, etc.
- Working – Professionals often use speakerphone for conference calls or when they need their hands to take notes or work on a computer.
- Multitasking – Speakerphone just makes life easier when you need both hands free, whether you’re juggling kids, pets, hobbies, etc.
The key advantage of speakerphone is the ability to talk hands-free. This allows people to conveniently and safely continue tasks that require hand use while on a call.
Activate Speakerphone on Samsung Phone
The easiest way to activate speakerphone on a Samsung phone during a call is to press the speaker button. This button is usually located on the bottom of the screen near the end call button, and has an icon that looks like a speaker or megaphone.
To activate speakerphone during a call on a Samsung phone:
- Make or answer a call as you normally would by dialing a number or accepting an incoming call.
- Once you are on the active call screen, look for and press the speaker button on the bottom of the screen. On Samsung Galaxy models, this button typically shows a speaker/megaphone icon.
- The call audio will switch from the earpiece speaker to the main speakerphone speaker. The speaker button icon will be highlighted to indicate speakerphone is now active.
To switch back to the private earpiece speaker, simply press the speaker button again to deactivate it. The speaker icon will go back to its normal appearance.
Activating speakerphone by pressing the dedicated button is by far the easiest and quickest way to enable hands-free calls on Samsung Galaxy models and most other Android phones. Just tap it once during a call to quickly switch between earpiece and speakerphone mode as needed.
Via Call Screen
One of the easiest ways to turn on speakerphone is directly from the call screen when you are already on a call. Simply tap the speaker icon on the call screen to toggle the speakerphone on and off. The speaker icon typically looks like a little speaker or megaphone.
When speakerphone is enabled during a call, the speaker icon will display highlighted or filled-in. This provides a visual indicator that speakerphone mode is currently active. Tapping the icon again will disable speakerphone and revert back to the standard earpiece.
Using the call screen to activate speakerphone allows you to quickly turn it on without navigating menus or using voice commands. As soon as you see the speaker icon on an active call, just tap it to send the phone audio through the speaker.
According to Samsung’s support article “How to activate Speaker while making Voice call in Samsung Galaxy Grand2 (SM-G7102)” [1], this method works for enabling speakerphone during calls on Samsung Galaxy phones like the Grand 2 model.
From Phone App
Another way to activate speakerphone on a Samsung phone is directly from the phone app before placing a call. Here are the steps:
- Open the phone app on your Samsung device.
- Tap on the keypad icon to bring up the dialer.
- Enter the phone number you want to call.
- Before tapping the call button, select the “Speaker” icon in the bottom right corner of the screen. It looks like a little speakerphone icon.
- With the speaker mode now activated, tap the green call button to place your call.
- The call will now take place through your phone’s speakerphone instead of the regular earpiece speaker.
Selecting the speaker option in the phone app before dialing allows you to quickly activate speaker mode each time you make a call. This saves you the step of having to turn it on after the call connects. It ensures your Samsung phone call instantly uses speakerphone.
With Voice Commands
You can activate speakerphone on your Samsung phone by using voice commands with Bixby or Google Assistant. This allows you to turn on speakerphone completely hands-free, which is useful when driving or otherwise occupied.
To enable speakerphone with Bixby, Samsung’s built-in voice assistant, simply say “Hi Bixby, turn on speakerphone.” You can also say “Hi Bixby, speakerphone on” or other variations. Bixby will respond confirming speakerphone is now activated. To turn it off, say “Hi Bixby, turn off speakerphone.”
If using Google Assistant, you can likewise say “Hey Google, turn on speakerphone” or “Hey Google, activate speakerphone.” Say “Hey Google, speakerphone off” when you want to disable it. Google Assistant will confirm when speakerphone is on or off.
Make sure you have set up and enabled Bixby or Google Assistant on your Samsung device first. You may also need to allow access to calls and adjust relevant permissions. Additionally, check that the phone’s speaker is not muted.
Using voice commands is a quick, convenient way to toggle speakerphone during a call without needing to interact with the touchscreen at all. Just speak to Bixby or Google Assistant to easily make calls hands-free.
Sources:
https://forums.androidcentral.com/threads/using-voice-commands-can-speakerphone-be-activated.304617/
https://www.samsung.com/sg/support/mobile-devices/what-is-bixby-voice-and-how-to-set-up-and-activate-it-in-samsung-mobile-device/
Adjust Speakerphone Volume
One easy way to adjust the speakerphone volume on your Samsung phone is to use the physical volume buttons located on the left side of the device. Press the top volume button to raise the speakerphone volume, and press the bottom volume button to lower it. The volume level will be displayed on screen as you adjust it. This lets you quickly turn the speakerphone volume up or down as needed during a call.
You can also go into Settings > Sounds and vibration > Volume to manually drag the “Call volume” slider left or right to control the speakerphone volume. This menu allows you to fine tune the exact speakerphone volume you want.
If your speakerphone volume seems abnormally low even at the highest settings, there may be an issue with your particular device. Try rebooting your phone or inspecting the speakers for blockages. You can also run diagnostics in the Members app to test speaker functionality. See Samsung’s support article here for more troubleshooting tips.
Speakerphone Tips
When using speakerphone, keep in mind some tips to ensure the best call quality:
- Place your phone on a flat, hard surface so the speaker and microphone are not covered. Cupping the phone in your hand or placing it on a soft surface like a couch can muffle the sound.
- Avoid covering the microphone with your hand or other objects. Make sure the mic is pointed up and has a clear path for capturing your voice.
- Speak directly facing the phone from around 1 foot away. Turning your head away from the mic or speaking from a distance can make you harder to hear.
- Reduce background noise when possible by closing windows or doors and turning off music/TV.
- Alert any others around you that you are on speakerphone so they avoid interrupting.
- Consider using a headset instead of speakerphone when in public places to avoid disrupting others.
Following these tips will help ensure your voice comes through clearly on both ends of the call when using speakerphone.
Troubleshooting
If you are having issues with the speakerphone on your Samsung device not working properly, here are some troubleshooting steps to try:
First, check the volume on your device. Go to Settings > Sounds and vibration > Volume and make sure the in-call volume is turned up. You can also try using the volume buttons on the side of the device during a call to increase the speaker volume.
Next, check the positioning. The bottom of your device where the speaker is located should not be obstructed or covered. Make sure you are not accidentally covering the speaker with your hand when on a call.
Look for obstructions. Remove any phone cases or accessories that may be blocking the speaker. Also clear any dirt, dust, or debris that may be obstructing the speaker.
As recommended in the Samsung troubleshooting guide, you can also try blowing air into the speaker to clear any internal obstructions.
If the issue persists, you may need to have the phone serviced for hardware issues with the speakerphone.
Additional Speakerphone Features
Samsung phones offer some useful additional features that enhance the speakerphone experience:
Conference Calls
The speakerphone on Samsung phones allows you to include multiple people on the same call. This makes it easy to hold conference calls right from your mobile device without any extra equipment. Be sure to let everyone on the call know you have them on speakerphone whenever you activate it.
Voice Recording
Many Samsung models include a voice recorder app that can record both sides of a phone conversation when speakerphone is enabled. This allows you to capture discussions and play them back later for review or sharing. Just be sure to get permission from the other party before recording any calls.
HD Voice
Select Samsung phones support HD Voice, which provides enhanced audio quality on speakerphone calls. This results in clearer, more natural sounding voices that reduce background noise.
Dual Audio
On some models, Samsung’s Dual Audio feature lets you connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously when using speakerphone. This allows you to pair wireless headphones in addition to an external speaker for great sound.
With these built-in tools, the speakerphone on Samsung Galaxy devices becomes an invaluable asset for calls with multiple attendees or those you need to document and reference later.