How do I play WhatsApp audio on speaker?
WhatsApp is an incredibly popular messaging app, with over 2 billion monthly active users worldwide. In the US alone, around 25% of adults use WhatsApp regularly. One of the key features of WhatsApp is the ability to send audio messages to have conversations without typing.
While very convenient, one common issue users run into is trying to get these audio messages to play out loud on speaker. Unlike regular voice calls, audio messages don’t automatically play on speakerphone. You have to change a setting to enable this.
Check Your Phone’s Settings
Before you can play WhatsApp audio messages on speaker, you first need to make sure the speakerphone capability is enabled on your iPhone or Android device. If speaker mode is turned off in your settings, you won’t be able to switch on the speaker during calls or when listening to audio messages.
On an iPhone, open Settings > Sounds & Haptics and make sure ‘Change with Buttons’ is enabled under ‘Ringer and Alerts’. This allows you to toggle the speaker on and off using the volume buttons during a call. You can also go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch and ensure ‘Call Audio Routing’ is enabled.
For Android devices, open your Settings app and go to Sound/Audio settings. Look for options like ‘Also vibrate for calls’ or ‘Phone ringtone’ and make sure they are enabled. You may also need to check if ‘Media volume’ is turned up high enough to hear audio through the speaker. Specific steps can vary across Android models and skins like Samsung, Xiaomi, etc. Refer to your device guide for exact settings.
Once you’ve verified speakerphone is enabled in your settings, you can easily switch between earpiece and speaker modes when listening to WhatsApp audio.
Play Audio in Chat
You can listen to any audio messages you receive directly in the chat window, without having to open the media file separately. Here are the steps to play WhatsApp audio messages in chat on iPhone and Android:
iPhone
To play an audio file in chat on iPhone:
- Open the WhatsApp chat with the audio message.
- Tap and hold the play button on the audio message.
- The audio will start playing directly in the chat.
You can tap the pause button to pause the audio and tap play again to resume playback. Adjust the volume using your iPhone’s volume buttons.
Android
To play audio in chat on Android:
- Open the WhatsApp chat with the audio message.
- Tap the play icon on the audio file.
- The audio will start playing directly within the chat window.
Tap the pause button to pause playback. Tap the play icon again to resume. Use your Android device’s volume buttons to adjust the volume.
This allows you to easily listen to WhatsApp audio messages without any extra steps. The audio will play directly in the chat window for a quick and seamless experience on both iPhone and Android.
Play from Notifications
A handy way to listen to WhatsApp audio messages without opening the app is directly from your phone’s notifications window. Here’s how to do it on iPhone and Android:
iPhone
When you receive a new WhatsApp message with audio, a preview will appear in your Notification Center. Swipe down from the top of your screen to access notifications. Press and hold on the WhatsApp notification, then tap the “play” button to listen to the audio.
You can pause, skip, replay, or dismiss the audio right from the notification window without needing to go into the WhatsApp app.
Android
On Android, open your notification shade and tap on the new WhatsApp notification. This will expand it to show playback controls for any audio messages received. Tap play to listen to the audio directly from notifications.
You can pause, rewind, fast forward, or dismiss the audio as needed. Once done, swipe the notification left or right to dismiss.
Use Hands-Free Mode
WhatsApp’s hands-free mode allows you to record and send voice notes without having to hold your phone. This can be useful if you want to play WhatsApp audio on speaker while multitasking.
To enable hands-free mode on iPhone, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Siri & Search. Toggle on “Listen for ‘Hey Siri'”. Now you can say “Hey Siri, send a WhatsApp message to [contact name]” to record and send voice notes hands-free.
On Android, open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Google Assistant. Toggle on “Assistant” and allow access. Say “OK Google, send a WhatsApp message to [contact name]” to send hands-free voice notes.
Sources:
How to Use WhatsApp Hands-Free with Siri – YouTube
You Can Now Record Video Messages on WhatsApp – Meta
Connect External Speaker
Connecting your phone to an external speaker is a great way to amplify the audio and enable speakerphone mode for hands-free listening. There are a few options for external speakers you can use:
Bluetooth speakers – These allow you to connect wirelessly to your phone via Bluetooth. Popular picks like the Bose SoundLink Flex are portable, waterproof, and provide excellent sound quality.
WiFi speakers – These connect directly to your WiFi network, allowing you to play audio from anywhere in your home without needing to be in Bluetooth range.
Speakers with auxiliary input – These allow you to connect directly to your phone’s headphone jack using an AUX cable. This gives you a wired connection for lag-free audio.
When shopping for an external speaker, consider sound quality, portability, and connectivity options. Checking user reviews can help narrow down the best picks. With an external speaker connected, you can freely play WhatsApp audio messages and calls on speakerphone.
Use Headphones
Using headphones is recommended for personal listening of WhatsApp audio messages at a comfortable volume. Headphones allow you to listen privately without disturbing others around you. They also provide better sound quality than smartphone speakers.
However, it’s important to be cautious about listening at excessively high volumes for prolonged periods. According to research, the average decibel level of smartphone audio playback ranges from 70-100dB depending on the device and volume setting [1]. Sounds above 85dB can damage hearing over time [2]. To protect your hearing, keep the volume at a moderate level and avoid continuous high volume use.
Adjust the volume appropriately for your surroundings and comfort. Take breaks periodically from headphone use. Following safe listening practices will allow you to enjoy WhatsApp audio messages clearly without negatively impacting your hearing health.
Set Media Volume
The system media volume on your iPhone affects the playback volume for apps like WhatsApp when listening to audio messages and voice notes. This master volume control can be found in your iPhone’s Settings under Sounds & Haptics. Here you can drag the volume slider left or right to decrease or increase the volume.
When playing WhatsApp audio through your iPhone’s built-in speaker, you’ll want to turn the volume up enough to hear it clearly. However, you’ll also want to avoid maxing out the volume unnecessarily to prevent distortion or damage to your speaker over time.
To adjust volume specifically for speaker playback in WhatsApp:
- Open WhatsApp and play an audio message.
- Press the volume up/down buttons on the side of your iPhone while the audio is playing to adjust the volume.
- Set the volume to a comfortable level where you can hear it clearly without distortion.
This allows you to customize the playback volume for speaker mode in WhatsApp, while keeping your overall system media volume at a moderate level for other applications and notifications.
Troubleshooting
If you are unable to hear WhatsApp audio messages or the audio is very low when playing on speaker, here are some troubleshooting tips:
First, make sure the volume on your phone is turned up sufficiently. Go to your phone’s settings and raise the media or ringtone volume. You may also need to check that the WhatsApp volume slider in settings has not been lowered.
Clean any debris that may be blocking the speakers and microphone. Gently use compressed air or a soft brush to remove dust or lint blocking the ports.
Check that no headphones are connected to your phone. Having headphones plugged in can disable the external speaker. Unplug any wired headphones or disconnect Bluetooth headsets.
Restart the WhatsApp app by closing it completely and re-opening. This resets any software glitches that may be preventing speaker playback.
Try rebooting your phone if the steps above do not resolve the problem. Powering your phone off and then back on can clear up app and audio issues.
Make sure you have the latest WhatsApp update installed. Navigate to your phone’s app store, search for WhatsApp, and install any available updates.
As a last resort, reinstall WhatsApp. This will completely remove the app data and cache and reinstall a fresh version which may resolve persistent sound issues.
If you still cannot get WhatsApp audio messages to play on speaker, contact WhatsApp support or your phone manufacturer for further troubleshooting assistance.
Recap & Summary
This article has outlined several ways to play WhatsApp audio messages on speaker.
The key methods discussed include:
- Enabling speaker mode in your phone’s accessibility settings
- Tapping the play button in chat to play audio messages out loud
- Using hands-free mode in WhatsApp to automatically play audio on speaker
- Connecting your phone to an external Bluetooth speaker
- Using headphones connected to your phone’s headphone jack
- Adjusting your phone’s media volume settings
By enabling speaker mode, tapping the play button, using hands-free mode or connecting an external speaker, you can easily play WhatsApp audio messages with speaker sound. Adjusting volume settings can help optimize audio playback.
Following the tips in this guide, you can seamlessly play WhatsApp voice notes and audio messages on speaker. This allows you to listen hands-free and share the audio with others nearby.