Cannot hear on calls, or the other person cannot hear you

Dust in a tiny grille, a Bluetooth device quietly taking the call, or a screen protector over the earpiece cause most call-sound problems.

What you seeCallers sound faint or silent; or they say "hello? hello?" and cannot hear you

1. During a call

• Press Volume Up while on the call. Call volume is separate from ringtone and media volume and can only be changed during a call.
• Look at the call screen: is Mute on? Is the audio going to Bluetooth or Speaker? Tap the audio button and choose Phone.
• Try speaker mode. If you can hear on speaker but not at the ear, the earpiece is blocked or faulty. If the caller can hear you on speaker but not normally, the bottom microphone is blocked.

2. Disconnect Bluetooth

A phone connected to earbuds in their case, a car, a watch or a speaker in another room sends the call there. Turn Bluetooth off and call again. See Bluetooth not pairing.

3. Uncover and clean the grilles

• Screen protector and case. A badly cut tempered glass covers the earpiece slit at the top; a case can cover the microphone holes at the bottom and beside the camera. Remove both and test.
• The earpiece: brush the slit gently with a soft, dry, clean toothbrush. Do not push a pin in: the mesh and the speaker behind it tear easily.
• The microphones: tiny holes at the bottom edge, at the top, and often by the rear camera. Brush across them. Do not blow hard with your mouth or use compressed air at close range.
• A new phone may still have a plastic film over the earpiece.

4. Restart and test

Restart the phone. Then test each part:

• Microphone: record a voice note or use the Recorder / Voice Memos app and play it back.
• Earpiece: play a voice note in WhatsApp and hold the phone to your ear; it switches from the loudspeaker to the earpiece.
• Built-in tests: Samsung Members › Support › Phone diagnostics; dialler code menus on some brands; Apple's support app.

If the recording is clear but callers cannot hear you, the fault is the network or a setting, not the microphone.

5. Network and call settings

• Weak signal causes voices that break up or go silent. See no network. Try from another spot.
• Wi-Fi calling on a poor Wi-Fi network gives choppy sound. Turn it off to compare: Android Settings › Network & internet › SIMs › Wi-Fi calling; iPhone Settings › Mobile Service › Wi-Fi Calling.
• VoLTE / HD calling: toggle it off and on in the same SIM settings.
• Does it happen with every caller? If only one person sounds bad, the fault is at their end.

6. Settings that reduce sound

• Android: Settings › Sound › check Call volume. Settings › Accessibility › Hearing: Mono audio and balance centred; "Hearing aid compatibility" off unless needed. Samsung: Settings › Sounds and vibration › Sound quality and effects › Adapt Sound.
• iPhone: Settings › Accessibility › Audio & Visual: balance slider centred, Phone Noise Cancellation (older models) try off. Settings › Sounds & Haptics › Headphone Safety can lower loud sound in earphones. During a call, Control Centre › Mic Mode › Voice Isolation helps in noisy places.
• Do Not Disturb does not affect call sound, only whether the phone rings.

7. Is an app interfering? (Android)

Call recorders, voice changers and some assistant apps take over the microphone. Start in Safe Mode and make a call. If sound is normal there, uninstall recently added apps. Also check Settings › Privacy › Permission manager › Microphone for apps that should not have it.

8. Update and reset

• Install the latest system update.
• Reset network settings.
• iPhone: Reset All Settings. Android: Settings › System › Reset options › Reset app preferences.
• Last software step: back up and factory reset.

9. Hardware signs

• Sound fails in every test: voice notes, recordings, calls, speaker.
• The trouble began after a drop or water. See water damage.
• Crackling or rattling at any volume.
• The proximity sensor is covered or faulty, so the screen stays on at your ear and your cheek presses Mute or Hold: clean the top of the screen and remove the protector.

Earpieces and microphones are small, replaceable parts.

Calls on WhatsApp and other apps

If normal calls are fine and only one app's calls are silent, check that app's microphone permission (Settings › Apps › the app › Permissions), update it, and test on another network.

For Android phones and iPhones. Written in November 2026 for Android 13 to 15 and iOS 17 and 18. Phone makers rename menus; use the search box in Settings if a name differs. Back up before any reset. This is an independent guide, not connected with Google, Apple, Samsung or any phone maker or operator.