Speakerphone won’t work on your iPhone and you’re not sure why. You tapped the speaker button during your phone call, but something went wrong. Here are the most common methods you can employ to resolve problems with your iPhone speakerphone not working.
Why wont my iPhone turn on the speakerphone?
iPhone not turning on speakerphone problem usually come from two main sources: hardware problems, like physical damage from drops or moisture that messes up the speaker parts, or dust blocking the speaker grille, and software issues, such as bugs in iOS.
Let’s start with a quick check: When you tap speaker on your iPhone, does the audio disappear completely or does it continue playing through the earpiece?
If the audio disappears entirely, it’s likely there’s a problem 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 speaker, then there’s probably a software issue causing the problem. The steps below will help you troubleshoot a software problem on your iPhone.
How to Fix iPhone Speakerphone not working
Turn Your iPhone Off And Back On
A lot of the time, a minor software glitch is the reason why speakerphone is not working on your iPhone. You can fix this by restarting your iPhone. If you have an iPhone with Face ID, press and hold the Side button and either volume button to get to the “slide to power off” slider. Swipe the red and white power icon from left to right to shut down your iPhone. Wait 30–60 seconds, then press and hold the Side button again until the Apple logo appears on the center of the screen.
If you have an iPhone with Home button, press and hold the power button until the “slide to power off” slider appears on your iPhone’s screen. Swipe the small power icon from left to right to turn off your iPhone. Wait 30–60 seconds, then press and hold the power button to turn your iPhone back on.
Close And Reopen The Phone App
It’s possible speakerphone is not working on your iPhone because of an issue with the Phone app. Closing and reopening the app can fix a minor software glitch.
First, open the app switcher by swiping up from the very bottom of the center of the screen (iPhones with Face ID) or double-pressing the Home button (iPhones without Face ID). Then, swipe the Phone app up and off the top of the screen.
Open the Phone app again and try making a call through speakerphone. If speakerphone still doesn’t work, move onto the next step.
Update Your iPhone
It’s possible speakerphone is not working on your iPhone because the device is running an outdated version of iOS, the software of your iPhone. Some iOS updates include bug fixes, which have the potential to fix the problem when speakerphone is not working on your iPhone.
Open Settings and tap General -> Software Update to check for an iOS update. If an update is available, tap Update Now.
Reset Network Settings
If speakerphone is still not working on your iPhone, try reseting the network settings. When you reset network settings, all of your iPhone’s Cellular, Wi-Fi, APN, and Virtual Private Network settings will be restored to factory defaults. This step can potentially fix issues with the Phone app, especially if a software file is malfunctioning or has become corrupted.
Note: Make sure you write down all of your Wi-Fi passwords before reseting the network settings. You’ll have to enter them again after the reset is complete.
To reset network settings on your iPhone, open the Settings app and tap General -> Transfer or Reset iPhone -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings. You’ll be asked to enter your iPhone passcode, then confirm your decision by tapping Reset Network Settings. Once the reset is complete, your iPhone will restart.
Speakerphone Works, But The Person On The Other End Can’t Hear Me!
Test the microphone
It’s easy to test your iPhone’s mics to see if they’re working normally:
- Test the mic for phone calls. Start 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.
- Test the speakerphone mic. Start the Camera app and record a video while speaking into the mic at the top of the iPhone. Play it back and see if it sounds clear.
If your voice sounds muffled on calls, it’s likely you have a hardware problem with your iPhone, so contact Apple’s customer support for additional service.
Make sure the microphones are clear of any blockages
It’s easy for your iPhone’s microphones to get partially or completely blocked by all sorts of things, including dirt, dust, and pocket lint. Similarly, phone cases and screen protectors will sometimes cover microphones and muffle your voice when you’re try to talk to someone using speakerphone. Your iPhone should have three microphones, so check each one for any possible blockage. If needed, remove your case or screen protector if it’s getting in the way.
Not sure where all the mics are? You should have one at the bottom of the phone (look for the series of small holes), one at the top next to front camera, and the third is on the back of the phone — the small pinpoint-sized hole near the camera lenses.
In particular, if the front microphone is obstructed or damaged, it could be the reason why the person you’re calling on speakerphone can’t hear you.
Conclusion
Your iPhone speakerphone is fixed and you can start talking to your contacts again. We encourage you to share this article on social media to help your friends and family when their iPhone speakerphone is not working on calls. If you have any other questions, leave a comment down below!
