Why am I not able to hear voice in my phone during calls?
Check Your Phone’s Volume
One of the most common reasons you may not be able to hear voice during calls is if your phone’s volume or media volume is set too low or muted. To fix this:
On an iPhone, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and make sure that the Ringer and Alerts volume slider is turned up and not muted. You can also use the volume buttons on the side of the iPhone during a call to increase the call volume 1.
On an Android phone, press the volume buttons during a call to turn up the in-call volume. You can also go to Settings > Sound and vibration > Volume and drag the media volume slider to increase it. If it’s muted, tap the icon to unmute it 2.
Making sure your ringer, media and in-call volumes are turned up is often all you need to restore sound during calls. Check this first before trying other troubleshooting steps.
Check Any Accessories
One common issue that can cause problems with hearing voice audio during calls is Bluetooth accessories. Bluetooth headphones, speakers, or other audio devices connected to your phone can sometimes interfere with the phone’s microphone picking up your voice during calls.
Try disconnecting any Bluetooth audio accessories like wireless headphones or speakers that are paired to your phone. Make a test call with the Bluetooth device turned off or unpaired from your phone to see if your voice comes through properly without the accessory connected. This advice is recommended by both Apple user forums and Reddit threads troubleshooting call audio issues.
Bluetooth audio issues don’t always affect every device paired to your phone, so you may need to disconnect each one individually and test to find the problematic accessory. Once identified, check the connected device’s settings or instructions to troubleshoot why it could be causing disrupted microphone audio over Bluetooth when paired to your phone during calls.
Restart Your Phone
One of the simplest fixes for audio issues during calls is to restart your phone. This powers down the device completely and then boots it back up, resetting any software glitches that may be preventing voice audio from working properly. It essentially gives your phone a fresh start.
To restart your iPhone, press and hold the side or top button until the power off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off the phone. After 30 seconds or so, press and hold the side or top button again until you see the Apple logo to boot your phone back up. For Android phones, press and hold the power button until the power off options appear. Tap restart and the phone will reboot.
Restarting your phone resets the software, closes all open apps, and cycles power to components like the microphone that could have frozen up. This simple fix can clear up a lot of minor glitches that prevent you from hearing audio during calls. Try making a test call after restarting to see if the audio issue has been resolved.
Update Your Phone Software
One of the most common reasons for issues with call quality is having outdated phone software. Phone manufacturers regularly release software updates that include bug fixes, performance improvements, and new features. Often these updates will specifically target improving call functionality.
For example, Apple recently released iOS 16.3.1 which has enhancements to improve call quality and reliability. And Google’s Pixel phones have a “Clear Calling” feature in Android 13 that uses machine learning to filter out background noise on calls.
It’s highly recommended to install the latest OS updates on your phone as soon as they become available. Keeping your phone software up-to-date ensures you have all the latest optimizations for performance and call quality. Updates also provide important security patches.
You can check for and install system updates through your phone’s Settings app. Just go to the About section to see if any software updates are available. Installing updates is simple and usually only takes a few minutes.
Updating to the latest OS version can often resolve microphone and call issues. It’s one of the easiest troubleshooting steps to try if you suddenly experience problems with call quality.
Check Signal Strength
Weak cellular signal is one of the most common reasons for voice dropout during phone calls. As you move away from a cell tower, the signal strength diminishes, which can lead to choppy audio, static, or dropped calls. If you are experiencing issues predominantly in certain locations, it likely indicates insufficient signal strength in those areas.
Try moving to a spot with better reception, such as closer to a window or outside, and check if the call quality improves. You can install apps like OpenSignal to view real-time signal information from your carrier in your location. If the issue persists across various locations, even with adequate signal bars displayed, there may be an underlying network or device problem.
According to research by Dialpad, distance from cell towers is a major factor in dropped calls. As you travel further from a tower, the signal weakens and disconnections become more likely. [1] This is especially common in rural areas, basements, elevators or other enclosed spaces. A weak signal can manifest as problems during calls even if you still have signal bars displayed.
If you consistently experience call issues in the same areas despite indicating adequate signal strength, contact your carrier to investigate potential local network problems. They can check if nearby towers need maintenance or if a signal booster is required in the region.
[1] https://www.dialpad.com/blog/dropped-calls/
Try a Different Phone
One way to test if the issue is with your phone or the network is to try making calls using a different phone. Borrow a friend or family member’s phone and attempt to make calls. If you are able to make calls with the other phone, then the issue likely lies with your device. However, if you encounter the same problems, then there may be a problem with your carrier or SIM card. Trying out a different phone can help isolate whether the calling issues stem from a problem specific to your device, or if it is something on the network side.
Sources:
https://www.verizon.com/support/troubleshooter/i-cant-make-calls/
Inspect Phone Microphone
One of the most common reasons for not being able to hear the other person on a phone call is an issue with your phone’s microphone. Here are some tips for inspecting and troubleshooting your phone’s microphone:
First, check that the microphone opening is clean and not blocked by dirt, dust or debris. Use a soft brush or compressed air to gently clean the microphone port. Avoid inserting anything into the port to prevent damage.
Next, open up an audio recording app and do a test recording. Speak into your phone’s microphone from a few different distances and angles. Play back the recordings to check if your voice is clearly audible. This will verify if the microphone is actually functioning.
According to Device Checker, you can also use online tools like their microphone test to analyze issues by comparing your phone’s input levels to a reference track.
If the microphone seems to be in working order but calls are still muted, the problem may lie in the phone’s software settings. Try resetting app permissions and toggling access to the microphone on and off to see if that fixes it.
As a last resort, consider getting your phone serviced to check for hardware issues with the microphone module. A phone repair technician can fully inspect the mic and surrounding components for faults.
Reset Network Settings
One troubleshooting step that can help resolve issues with calling is resetting your phone’s network settings back to their defaults. This will erase all network settings on your device and reconfigure them from scratch. According to Apple Support, resetting network settings can help if you can’t make or receive calls on an iPhone (https://support.apple.com/en-il/HT204027).
Resetting network settings returns settings like Wi-Fi networks, cellular networks, bluetooth connections etc. back to their factory default state. It does not delete any data or reset anything else on your phone. To reset network settings on an iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. On Android, go to Settings > General Management > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
Resetting network settings has resolved calling issues for many users, across iPhones and Android devices. It essentially gives your network connectivity a fresh start which can clear up underlying problems. Make sure to toggle airplane mode on and off after resetting as well. Overall, resetting network settings is an easy troubleshooting step worth trying if you can’t make or receive calls reliably.
Contact Your Carrier
If no other troubleshooting steps have resolved your issue, it’s time to reach out to your mobile carrier’s technical support team. Most major carriers such as Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint have dedicated technical support teams to help diagnose and resolve network-related issues that could be causing problems with call audio quality.
You can typically find your carrier’s technical support phone number on their website. For example:
- Verizon Wireless: 1-800-922-0204
- AT&T Wireless: 1-800-331-0500
- T-Mobile: 1-800-866-2453
- Sprint: 1-888-211-4727
When you call your carrier’s tech support line, be prepared to provide your account information and describe the issues you’re experiencing in detail. The representative can run diagnostics to check for network problems in your area, reprovision your device on their network, or suggest other steps to resolve call audio problems.
If the issue appears to be network-related, they can open a trouble ticket and escalate it to their engineering team for investigation. Be patient as it may take some time to fully resolve network problems. But engaging your carrier’s technical experts is the best way to get quality assistance tailored to your specific needs.
Get Your Phone Serviced
If you’ve tried all the troubleshooting steps and your phone still can’t make or receive calls properly, it’s possible there is a hardware issue with your device. The microphone is one component that commonly fails over time and can prevent your phone from picking up audio during calls.
According to Verizon experts, hardware damage is one of the top reasons an Android phone may not be able to make or receive calls (source). The microphone and earpiece speaker are particularly susceptible to damage from drops or other impacts.
If inspection reveals no obvious external damage, the issue could be with the internal microphone or related components. In that case, you’ll likely need to take your phone to a repair shop for diagnosis and servicing. Technicians can open up the device, test the microphone hardware, and replace any damaged parts.
For severe hardware issues, the repair cost may exceed the value of an older phone. You’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of investing in a repair versus replacing your phone entirely. Most phone manufacturers and carriers offer repair options directly or through authorized service partners.
Hardware issues can’t be resolved through software resets. Phone servicing is the only solution when physical components like the microphone are damaged and preventing calling functions.