You are in the middle of an important call, and suddenly, the other person can’t hear you. Worse, your phone turns completely silent. Well, don’t stress in case you face a smartphone speaker and mic not working.
Such issues are more common than you think. Indeed, many can be solved at home without tech skills and tools. This guide shows you how to fix speaker on phone and resolve mic problems during calls.
In short, you get to learn how to fix sound issues on smartphones, whether you rely on an iPhone or an Android. Let’s troubleshoot your phone.
Signs Your Phone’s Speaker and Mic Aren’t Working
How can you be sure that your smartphone’s speaker or mic acts up? Here are some common indications:
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You can barely hear anything over a call.
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Conversely, the person on the other end can’t hear you.
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The sound appears muffled or crackly.
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Recordings or voice notes remain silent, no matter how high the volume is.
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No audio plays when you use apps or videos.
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Also, your phone does not pick up voice commands.
Your phone’s audio system likely needs attention in case you experience any of the above signs.
Why is My Smartphone Speaker and Mic Not Working?
Several reasons can lead to a speaker or mic not working during calls or at any time. They can be software-related or hardware breakdowns.
By the way, these are the most common causes:
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Accumulated dust or debris blocks the mic or speaker grill.
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Also, tight phone cases can interfere with audio.
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You may not have properly set app permissions.
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Indeed, the Bluetooth connection can route sound elsewhere.
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Outdated software or system bugs can interfere with sound.
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Risks of hardware failure are real if you drop your phone.
You can detect the right fix if you recognise the exact reason.
How to Fix Speaker on Phone
If your phone’s speaker does not send audio, try these troubleshooting ideas:
1. Reboot Your Smartphone
Sometimes, a simple reboot can fix momentary problems. Hold the power button on your phone and then reset the device. For an iPhone, you may have to manually turn the device off and on for a successful reboot. Now, test the speaker again.
2. Clean the Speaker Grills
You can fix sound issues on smartphones if you pay attention to the cleanliness of the gadget. Dirt and lint go inside the speaker grill over time. Before you know it, your phone’s audio gets obstructed.
To solve the problem, you can clean the speaker grill with a soft brush. Ensure you don’t use any sharp objects. Also, you can blow compressed air into the speaker holes from a safe distance to get rid of the dust.
3. Disable Bluetooth Connectivity
If Bluetooth is on, your phone may be sending sound to linked accessories instead of the speaker. Turn off Bluetooth on your phone to resolve sound problems on smartphones.
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From your phone’s control centre or widget, access the Bluetooth shortcut.
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Otherwise, you can access Bluetooth through the Settings app.
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Tap on Bluetooth and switch it off.
Immediately start some music or a movie to check the speaker’s functionality.
4. Inspect Volume and Silent Mode
It may sound obvious, but users likely forget to check the volume level. Make sure you don’t repeat this mistake while facing smartphone speaker and mic not working.
So, press the volume up button. Also, the device must not be in silent or vibrate mode. Otherwise, the speaker won’t work.
On your Android phone, turn up media, call, and notification volumes at once.
5. Try Safe Mode on Android Only
Reportedly, third-party applications are capable of interfering with your phone’s audio. To rule this out, check if a third-party app interferes with the sound.
Here’s how you can make your phone enter Safe Mode:
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Start by holding the Power button down.
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When Power options appear, hold the ‘Power Off’ button until you see ‘Reboot to Safe Mode’.
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Tap it and follow the onscreen instructions.
This hack only works on Android phones, still. Also, Safe Mode allows just system apps to run. Test your speaker now. If it works, then you need to uninstall the apps that you have recently downloaded.
6. Reset Audio Settings
Still can’t figure out how to fix speaker on phones? If the issue is deeply rooted in software, you can reset your phone’s sound settings. However, you need not necessarily erase everything to reset such configurations.
Follow Settings >> System >> Reset Options >> Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth, if it is an Android.
Try Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset All Settings for iPhone.
Test your phone’s speaker. But, don’t forget to configure settings after the reset.
Troubleshooting Mic Not Working During Calls
Now, let’s talk about what to do when you find out the mic not working during calls. Try the following solutions when the microphone fails to perform as expected.
1. Clean the Microphone Hole
Locate the mic hole on your phone. It’s usually next to the charging port or near the bottom edge. Then, softly clean the microphone hole area with a dry toothbrush or a gentle brush.
Make sure you don’t use water or poke the hole with sharp tools.
2. Review Your Phone’s App Permissions
Sometimes, your phone’s microphone is blocked from use. You might have to trigger app permissions to bring back the mic into action.
For an Android phone, you need to:
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Access Settings and thereafter Apps.
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Next, tap your calling app.
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Hit Permissions and enable Microphone from there.
If you own an iPhone, then here’s what you have to follow:
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Go to Privacy through Settings.
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Afterwards, tap Microphone.
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Make sure your native apps, like Phone, FaceTime, and others, are allowed access.
3. Deactivate Noise Cancellation on iPhones Only
Why is my smartphone speaker and mic not working? If it’s an iPhone, then we have a theory. iPhones have a feature that reduces background noise. Also, it can interfere with the microphone.
But, you can disable Noise Cancellation with the steps below:
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Begin by accessing Settings.
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Then, go straight to Accessibility.
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Tap on the menu called Audio/Visual.
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Now, turn off Phone Noise Cancellation.
4. Test Your Phone’s Microphone
Be sure whether the issue is really with the phone’s microphone. For that, utilise the voice recording program or Siri/Google Assistant. Hardware probably has the issue if your phone doesn’t catch sound.
5. Remove Headphones or External Devices
Often, wired or wireless headphones can take over the mic function. So, remove all connected audio devices. Then, test your mic again.
Potential Tips to Fix Sound Issues on Smartphones
Why is my smartphone speaker and mic not working? If you are still facing trouble, the following extra fixes may help.
1. Update Your Smartphone
Attempt to download and install the latest operating system version. Indeed, updates fix bugs that might affect audio performance. Go to Settings, then System or General, then Software Update.
Check for updates. After installing the update, see if it helps fix sound issues on smartphones.
2. Reset Network Settings
Is the mic not working during calls? In that particular case, you can try this solution.
For Android, you must go to Settings → System → Reset → Reset Network Settings.
For your iPhone, try Settings → General → Reset Network Settings.
This doesn’t delete your crucial data. Rather, it resets just network-related settings.
3. Try a Different Calling App
Does your mic fail only during regular calls? Then, you can try testing the mic with WhatsApp, Messenger, or other calls. If the microphone works fine there, then it can be an issue with your phone app or carrier.
Should You Call in a Repair Technician?
If you are still looking for how to fix speaker on phone, then the issue might be with the internal hardware. Hence, watch out for:
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The mic is still not working in all apps.
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Your phone’s speaker is completely silent even after cleaning.
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The crackling or static noise doesn’t go away.
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You come across audio problems after water exposure or dropping the device.
Should issues persist, it is advisable to contact a qualified expert. An experienced professional can check the mic, speaker, audio IC, or the motherboard. This ensures efficient and long-lasting fixes.
Try UrbanClap’s Mobile Repair Services!
If you still struggle with your smartphone speaker and mic not working, don’t replace your device yet. Instead, contact Urbanclap and see if mobile repair experts can fix the problem. From software conflicts to typical hardware damage, they deliver on-point fixes.
