- If people can’t hear you on your iPhone during phone or FaceTime calls, they are simple steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem.
- The first step to fixing the problem is identifying the cause.
- Then, you can take steps to troubleshoot.
Why can’t anyone hear me when I call on my iPhone?
poor cell reception
It’s possible you are going through an area with poor cell reception. For example, if people can’t hear you when you call on your iPhone while you are inside your home or office, but can hear you whenever you go outside, there’s a good chance the building is impeding your signal.
It’s also common that crowds such as concerts, music festivals, or even downtown areas with major events in town can create stress on the wireless towers, limiting the cell signal on your iPhone.
Your iPhone microphone is malfunctioning
If people can’t hear you when you call on your iPhone, your iPhone’s microphones may be malfunctioning. For example, if your iPhone’s microphone is covered or dirty, people will have trouble hearing you during phone or FaceTime calls.
How do I fix my iPhone when people can’t hear me when i call?
Move to a location with a better cell signal
If people can’t hear you when you make a phone call on your iPhone, move to an open area with a better cell signal and then dial again. If you’re in an open area and still can’t get good reception, try moving away from tall buildings, trees, and anything else that could cause interference. If you’re in a rural area, try moving to a higher elevation.
Perform a signal refresh
Typically, your iPhone requires a simple signal refresh when it’s fighting to establish a stable connection from a nearby cell tower. There’s no need to stress; this process is easy. All you need to do is shut down your iPhone entirely and then start it back up. Here’s how:
- iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15, : Press and hold the side button and the volume down (or up) button together until the “slide to power off” screen appears. Drag the slider to turn off the iPhone. Wait 30 seconds. Then press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.
- Other iPhone with a Home button models: Press and hold the power button (sleep/wake button, it can be on the top or right side) until the power off slider appears. Move the slider from left to right. Then wait for your iPhone to turn off. And press and hold the power button until the Apple logo appears.
Check for iOS update
If you are running an older version of iOS, you should update to the latest version. Perhaps, the new updates may include a fix for a bug involving this problem. You can update your iPhone by going to Settings > General > Software Update. This will check for updates. And if there is an update, follow the onscreen instructions to complete the update process.
Disconnect any audio accessories
It’s possible that your iPhone is trying to use the microphone in an accessory like a headphone, earbuds, or portable speaker rather than the mic built into the iPhone, and that’s why people can’t hear you on calls. The easiest way to eliminate this possibility is to make sure that your phone is not connected to a wired or wireless headset.
- Unplug any accessory connected to your iPhone.
- Swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to bring up the Control Center and then tap the Bluetooth icon to temporarily disable the Bluetooth radio on your iPhone.
Check for coverage issues in your area
Of course, it could be nothing to do with you at all. So before you drive yourself nuts trying all these steps, reach out to your carrier and ask if there are any coverage issues such as a downed tower or one under maintenance in your immediate area. You could also try your carrier’s Twitter account to see if others are experiencing similar issues.
Make sure your microphone isn’t blocked
Ensure that your iPhone’s microphone is not covered or dirty. Here is what you can do:
- Try removing the phone case to see if that helps improve call quality.
- Clear any debrCs from the openings of your iPhone. Use a compressed air can to blow air carefully into the microphone. This will remove any small debris that may be blocking the sound.
- Make sure that your fingers don’t block the microphone when you’re on a call.
Test the microphone
Sometimes, your iPhone microphones can be at fault, so test them to see if they are working properly.
Test the microphone for phone and FaceTime calls: Open the Voice Memos app and record a short memo, talking into the microphone at the bottom. Play it back and see if it sounds clear.
If the audio is unclear, it’s likely you have a hardware problem with your iPhone, so contact Apple’s customer support for additional service.
Test the speakerphone mic. Open the Camera app and record a selfie video while speaking into the mic at the top of the iPhone. Play it back and see if it sounds clear.
If the audio is unclear, it’s likely you have a hardware problem with your iPhone, so contact Apple’s customer support for additional service.
Reset your network settings
If you are still experiencing this problem, try resetting your network settings. Note that by doing so, you’re also resetting Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and VPN and APN settings, so you’ll have to re-enter any previously stored Wi-Fi passwords.
- Open the Settings app and tap General.
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset.
- In the pop-up menu, tap Reset Network Settings and then confirm this is what you want to do.
Contact Apple support
If all else fails, contact Apple Support to figure out the problem.