If your phone speaker works for music and videos but not during calls, or if callers can’t hear you unless you use headphones or speaker mode, you’re dealing with one of the most common phone audio issues. The good news is that most call audio problems can be fixed at home without needing a technician.
This guide explains why your speaker might not work during calls and provides step-by-step solutions to restore your phone’s audio.
1. Restart Your Phone
A simple restart fixes temporary audio glitches, stuck audio drivers, and software bugs that affect call audio.
Try this:
- Hold the Power button
- Select Restart or Reboot
If the earpiece speaker works after restarting, the issue was temporary.
2. Check the Volume Settings
Many users don’t realize their call volume is set to the lowest level.
Fix:
- Make a call
- Use the volume buttons
- Adjust “Call Volume” or “Earpiece Volume”
Call volume is separate from media volume, so increasing YouTube volume doesn’t fix call volume.
3. Turn Off Bluetooth
If your phone is connected to a Bluetooth device (earbuds, speaker, smartwatch), audio may be routed away from the earpiece.
Fix:
- Turn off Bluetooth
- Forget unused devices
- Retry the call
If you suddenly hear sound again, Bluetooth was redirecting the audio.
4. Clean the Earpiece Speaker
Dirt, dust, or lint can block the small earpiece speaker and cause low or no sound during calls.
Clean it gently:
- Use a soft toothbrush
- Brush the earpiece grille gently
- Use a dry cotton swab if needed
- Avoid liquids
A blocked earpiece is one of the most common causes of low or no call audio.
5. Disable Noise Reduction / Noise Cancellation
Noise reduction sometimes malfunctions and reduces the caller’s voice or cuts sound entirely.
Fix:
- Open Settings → Call Settings
- Disable “Noise Reduction” or “Noise Cancellation”
If call audio improves, the feature was interfering with your earpiece.
6. Test Your Phone in Safe Mode
Some apps—especially recording apps, call managers, and equalizer apps—can interfere with call audio.
Enter Safe Mode:
- Hold the Power button
- Tap and hold “Power Off”
- Select “Reboot to Safe Mode”
If sound works during calls while in Safe Mode, a third-party app is the problem. Uninstall suspicious apps one by one.
7. Reset Network Settings
Corrupted network or audio routes can cause call audio failures.
Steps:
- Settings → System → Reset
- Select “Reset Network Settings”
This resets call, Bluetooth, cellular, and WiFi settings without erasing your data.
8. Check If Headphones Mode Is Stuck
If your phone thinks headphones are plugged in (even when they’re not), call audio will not play through the earpiece.
Fix:
- Plug in headphones and unplug them again
- Clean the headphone jack with a toothpick
- Restart your device
If the headphone icon disappears, the issue is resolved.
9. Turn Off “Hearing Aid Compatibility”
Some phones have a hearing-aid mode that alters call audio routing.
Fix:
- Settings → Accessibility
- Turn off “Hearing Aid Compatibility”
This mode can accidentally block call audio on some devices.
10. Update Your Phone and Apps
A system update may fix sound bugs or audio driver issues that cause silent calls.
Fix:
- Update your system in Settings → Software Update
- Update all apps in Google Play Store
- Restart your phone after updating
11. Try Speaker Mode or a Call Recording App
Testing different audio modes helps identify whether the problem is the earpiece or the main speaker.
Try this:
- Make a call
- Tap “Speaker”
- If you hear sound, the bottom speaker is fine
If speaker mode works but the earpiece doesn’t, the earpiece speaker is likely the problem.
12. Factory Reset (If Software Causes the Problem)
If none of the software fixes work, a corrupted system file might be interfering with call audio.
Fix:
- Back up your data first
- Go to Settings → System → Reset
- Select “Factory Reset”
If call audio works normally afterward, the problem was software-related.
13. When to Visit a Repair Shop
If you tried everything above and your speaker still doesn’t work during calls, you likely have a hardware problem.
Common hardware issues:
- Damaged earpiece speaker
- Water exposure
- Dust inside the earpiece
- Loose internal audio connector
- Motherboard audio IC (sound chip) failure
Typical repair costs:
- Earpiece replacement: €20–€50
- Audio IC repair: €40–€120
Most repairs take less than one hour.
Final Thoughts
If your phone speaker doesn’t work during calls, the issue is often caused by low volume, Bluetooth interference, dirt in the earpiece, or corrupted settings. By following the steps in this guide, you can usually restore call audio without needing a professional.
However, if the problem started after dropping your phone or water exposure, or if the earpiece works intermittently, it may require hardware repair. Luckily, most earpiece speaker repairs are affordable and fast.