How do I turn off auto speaker on Android?

What is Auto Speaker?

Auto Speaker is a feature on Android phones that automatically switches the audio output to the device’s speakerphone when making or receiving calls. It activates the loudspeaker so you can talk hands-free without needing to hold the phone up to your ear.

The feature works by detecting when you are in a phone call and then routing the call audio to the loudspeaker. This allows you to hear the other person on the call without needing to hold the phone to your ear. Many Android phones have Auto Speaker enabled by default.

Auto Speaker is convenient for hands-free talking but can be problematic in some situations, like when in public places. By default, it is activated whenever you make or receive a phone call on your Android device. The audio is automatically played through the phone’s loudspeaker without requiring you to manually enable speakerphone on the call screen.

When Auto Speaker is Problematic

Auto speaker can cause issues in certain situations, primarily related to privacy concerns. For example, when receiving a phone call in the car while using Android Auto, the audio is automatically routed through the car speakers. This means any passengers in the vehicle can hear both sides of the private conversation.

Many users have voiced complaints about this on forums and social media. As this Reddit user describes: “My main concern is privacy. I don’t want passengers hearing my private phone conversations.” [1]

Auto speaker can also be problematic in noisy environments like busy roads. With audio automatically playing over the car speakers, it can be difficult to clearly hear the phone call. This forces users to manually switch to phone speaker or earbuds in order to properly carry on a conversation.

Additionally, some users simply prefer to hear calls through their phone’s speaker rather than car speakers. But Android Auto doesn’t provide an easy option to disable auto speaker and route audio to the phone instead.

Many have called for more customization options and privacy controls around Android Auto’s auto speaker function. Until better solutions exist, users looking to avoid auto speaker must take manual steps to disable it.

Checking if Auto Speaker is Enabled

The first step is to check if auto speaker is already enabled on your Android device. The location of the setting varies slightly depending on your phone’s manufacturer and Android version.

On Samsung Galaxy phones running Android 9 or later, go to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing enhancements and look for “Auto speakerphone.” If the toggle is on, auto speaker is enabled.

On Pixel phones with Android 10 and higher, go to Settings > Sound > Advanced > Auto speaker. If the switch is in the on position, the feature is turned on.

For other Android skins like OxygenOS on OnePlus, MIUI on Xiaomi, etc., head to Settings > Accessibility or Sound and search for “Auto speaker” to locate the option. There may also be a dedicated toggle under Call settings.

If you cannot find the setting anywhere in your phone’s software, it likely doesn’t have the feature built-in natively. You’ll need to use third party apps which we’ll discuss later.

Once you confirm your Android version does have auto speaker capability, you can move on to turning it on or off based on your preference.

Turning Off Auto Speaker Globally

The easiest way to disable auto speaker on Android is to change the setting in your Settings app. This will turn off auto speaker for all calls and notifications.

Here are the steps to disable auto speaker globally on Android:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
2. Scroll down and tap on ‘Sound & vibration’ or ‘Sounds and vibration’.
3. Tap on ‘Phone ringtone’.
4. Under ‘Also vibrate for calls’, tap on ‘Call audio routing’.
5. Select ‘Phone earpiece’ or ‘Wired Headset’ instead of ‘Automatic’.

This will force your Android device to use the phone earpiece or wired headphones instead of automatically routing sound through the loudspeaker.

Here’s what the settings screen looks like on Android 9 Pie:

And this is what it looks like on Android 10:

That’s it! With auto speaker disabled in the Settings app, your Android phone will no longer automatically use the loudspeaker for calls or notifications.

Disabling Auto Speaker Per App

You can disable auto speaker for specific apps instead of turning it off globally. This allows auto speaker to still work for apps you want, while disabling it for problem apps.

For Samsung devices, use the Sound Assistant app. Go to Individual App Volumes, tap the + sign to add the app you want to control, and set that app’s volume to zero to mute it (source).

On Pixel and other Android phones, try App Volume Control. It lets you individually set volumes per app from 0% to 100%. Setting an app to 0% mutes it (source).

For apps like Phone and Skype, go into the app’s settings and look for options to disable auto speaker or change audio output. You may need to dig into advanced settings.

As a last resort, try fully force stopping problem apps before using auto speaker. This prevents them from stealing audio focus (source).

Using Headphones to Avoid Auto Speaker

One simple way to prevent your phone from automatically enabling the speaker during calls is to use wired or wireless headphones. When headphones are connected to your device, the audio will automatically be routed through the headphones rather than the external speaker.

Here are some tips for making sure headphones are accessible to bypass the auto speaker:

• Keep headphones plugged in or paired to your phone whenever possible. This ensures the audio will default to the headphones.
• Invest in wireless Bluetooth headphones that can quickly and easily pair to your device. Having wireless headphones on standby means you can access them quickly to avoid the auto speaker.
• Consider wearing wireless headphones around your neck when expecting calls. This makes them fast and convenient to use.
• Set your wired headphones in an easily reachable spot near your phone if keeping them plugged in isn’t convenient.
• Customize your phone case or add a headphone wrap to keep wired headphones attached to your device.

As long as your headphones are connected before answering a call, you can prevent auto speaker from kicking in. Stay prepared with easy access to headphones for bypassing that disembodied amplified voice.

Using Accessibility Settings

One way to override auto speaker is by using your Android device’s accessibility settings and services. Accessibility features are designed to assist users with disabilities, but they can also be used to disable auto speaker.

On Motorola devices, you can go to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing aids and turn on Hearing aid compatibility. This will route all audio through the hearing aid compatibility mode rather than through your speakers.

On Samsung devices, go to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing enhancements. Enable Hearing aids support and this will also route audio away from your phone’s speakers.

You can also try enabling TalkBack, an accessibility service that provides spoken feedback. This may override your phone’s auto speaker as audio will be routed through TalkBack instead. Go to Settings > Accessibility > TalkBack and toggle it on. You can then adjust the TalkBack settings like speech volume to meet your needs.

The key with using accessibility services is that they take priority in terms of audio routing, overriding your phone’s default auto speaker settings. Explore the different options to find one that works for you.

Trying Third Party Apps

There are several third party apps on the Google Play Store that can give you finer control over your Android Auto speaker settings.

Some recommended apps include:

• Car Launcher Pro – Allows you to customize auto speaker and other audio settings.
• CarWebGuru Car Launcher – Gives options to control media volume and auto speaker.
• VIVID Car Launcher – Provides settings to turn auto speaker on/off.

These launcher apps replace the default Android Auto interface, allowing you to fully customize the audio experience. You can tweak auto speaker settings to enable/disable it for calls, media playback, notifications and more.

The apps also let you set automatic rules, like enabling auto speaker only when connected to Bluetooth or disabling it at night. You can tailor the audio settings to match your preferences.

To use these apps, simply install them on your Android device and launch Android Auto. You will see the customized interface which provides easy access to the auto speaker settings. Play around with the different options to control auto speaker as needed.

With these third party apps, you have greater flexibility over the auto speaker functionality in Android Auto.

Automating and Triggering Auto Speaker

There are a few different apps and methods for automating the enabling of auto speaker in certain contexts on Android devices:

One popular app for Android automation is MacroDroid. MacroDroid allows you to set up custom macros and triggers to automate various actions on your device. You can use it to automatically enable speakerphone in certain situations, like when connected to Bluetooth or when receiving a call from certain contacts.

Another option is using the Automate app which provides robust flowchart-based automation. You can set up flows to enable speakerphone automatically in a wide variety of contexts.

Some examples where automatically turning on speaker can be helpful include when driving and the phone is mounted, when you are cooking and your hands are messy, or when you are busy with another task and want to multitask. The automation ensures you don’t have to manually toggle the speaker each time.

Apps like MacroDroid allow setting up triggers like connecting to car Bluetooth, opening certain apps like Google Maps for navigation, or receiving a call from a specific contact. When the trigger occurs, the macro automatically toggles the speakerphone on.

Automating speakerphone allows hands-free usage when convenient and can simplify workflows. Just be conscious of your surroundings when enabling auto speakerphone.

Summary and Final Tips

To recap, there are several methods covered to disable or customize the auto speaker feature on Android devices:

Globally turning off auto speaker can be done through the device’s Settings app. Go to Sound > Advanced and toggle off the Auto Speaker option.

The auto speaker behavior can also be controlled on a per app basis. In the app’s settings or permissions menu, disable the Microphone permission to prevent auto speaker from activating when receiving calls or messages within that app.

Using wired headphones is another simple way to avoid having audio play automatically through the external speaker. With headphones plugged in, audio will be routed through the headphone jack rather than the built-in speaker.

For users with accessibility needs, the Audio & On-Screen Text section in Settings provides additional options like toggling Mono Audio and Audio Balance that can customize auto speaker behavior.

Third party apps like SpeakerMode provide advanced customization like automatically switching between speaker modes based on conditions like being connected to Bluetooth or detecting motion. However, exercise caution with unknown third party apps.

Looking ahead, future versions of Android Auto may offer more built-in ways to customize auto speaker operation. The Android for Cars platform continues to evolve with user experience in mind (Android for Cars overview).

With the various options covered, you should now have several methods to take control over your device’s auto speaker functionality. Don’t hesitate to experiment to find the right settings for your usage needs and preferences.