The iPhone includes several phone call options such as the ability to mute a call, place a person on hold or add another caller. The call interface also lets you activate the speakerphone. Once activated, your call transmits to your iPhone’s external speaker, greatly increasing the call’s volume. This comes in handy when you need to talk hands-free or additional people need to hear the call. If your iPhone doesn’t switch to speakerphone when you press the speaker button during a phone call, then it’s time to troubleshoot. In this article, I’ll explain why speakerphone is not working on your iPhone and show you how to fix the problem for good!
Why is my iPhone speakerphone not working during calls?
Software glitch
A lot of the time, a minor software glitch is the reason why speakerphone is not working on your iPhone. Thankfully, most software problems can be fixed at home. Unfortunately, the hardware is a different story.
Hardware problem
The iPhone speaker is one of the most damage-prone components on iPhones. Speakers make sound waves when a very thin piece of material vibrates very, very quickly. If the material is damaged in any way, your iPhone speakerphone can stop working entirely.
How do I fix my iPhone speakerphone?
Verify that your iPhone speakerphone is not working
Start by making sure your iPhone loud speaker is not working during calls.
- Make or accept a phone call on your iPhone. The call options open on the screen.
- Tap the "Speaker" icon to activate speakerphone. If the speaker is not available, tap Hide button.
- When you tap the speaker icon, does the audio still play through the earpiece, or does it disappear entirely?
- If the audio disappears entirely, that means there’s probably an issue with your iPhone’s speaker and you should take a look at our article on how to fix iPhone speaker issues.
- If audio still plays through the earpiece after you tap the speaker icon, then there’s probably a software issue causing the problem. The steps below will help you troubleshoot a software problem on your iPhone.
- If iPhone loudspeaker volume is low, follow the steps above and press the volume up button to increase the volume.
Close And Reopen The Phone App
It’s possible that speakerphone is not working on your iPhone because the phone app is experiencing a minor glitch. Closing and reopening the Phone app allows it to "shut down" and start again, which can sometimes fix a software glitch.
To close the Phone app, double-press the Home button. If your iPhone doesn’t have a Home button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to the center of the screen.
This opens App Switcher, which displays all the apps currently running on your iPhone. Use your finger to swipe up on the Phone app. You’ll know the Phone app is closed when it no longer appears in the App Switcher.
Restart your iPhone
If the software is malfunctioning, your iPhone may not be sending the proper signals to the speaker, so the speakerphone doesn’t work at all. Restarting your iPhone will shut down all of its programs and functions normally, which can usually resolve minor software problems.
The process for restarting your iPhone depends on which model you have:
- iPhone 8 and earlier models: Press and hold down the power button until you see _slide to power off _appear on the display. Swipe the power icon from left to right to shut down your iPhone. Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the power button again to turn your iPhone back on.
- iPhone X and later models: Simultaneously press and hold either volume button and the side button until slide to power off appears on the display. Then, swipe the power icon left to right to turn off your iPhone. To turn your iPhone back on, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
Check for software updates
If you’re not running the latest version of iOS, it could be the reason why your iPhone speakerphone is not working during calls. Software updates might not seem important when your phone is functioning properly, but they help prevent a host of problems and even improve performance.
Here’s how to check for an update on your iPhone and install it:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap on General.
- Tap on Software Update. Your iPhone will now start searching for the latest iOS update.
- If an update is available, tap Update Now.
Take your iPhone in for service
If you still can’t get your iPhone speakerphone to work, it’s pretty likely that your phone has a hardware problem. You should contact Apple or go to an Apple store for service.