How do I put my Android phone on speaker during a call?

Putting a call on speaker on an Android phone allows you to have a hands-free conversation without having to hold the phone up to your ear. This can be useful in a variety of situations where you might need your hands free during a call, such as when you’re driving, cooking, cleaning, or doing other tasks.

Using speakerphone mode allows everyone nearby to hear and participate in the conversation. It transforms your phone into a speakerphone device, amplifying the volume so more people can clearly hear the call. Speaker mode is ideal for group conversations or conference calls.

Overall, putting your Android phone on speaker allows you to go hands-free, lets others join in the conversation, and enables you to multitask more easily during phone calls. It’s a convenient feature that most smartphones have these days.

Prerequisites

To put an Android phone on speaker during a call, there are a few prerequisites:

First, you need an Android phone. These steps will only work on devices running the Android operating system, such as phones from Samsung, Google, LG, Motorola, and other manufacturers. iPhones operate differently and do not have the same functionality.

Second, you need to already be on a phone call. You cannot enable speakerphone otherwise. Make sure you have dialed the number and are actively in a call before trying to turn on speakerphone.

As long as you meet those two requirements, you should be ready to turn on speakerphone on your Android phone during a call.

From the Phone Screen

The easiest way to turn on speakerphone during a call on an Android phone is directly from the call screen. When you are on a phone call, look at the bottom of the screen and you should see a number of icons, including a speaker icon. Tapping this speaker icon will instantly turn on speakerphone, allowing you to talk hands-free.

The speaker icon typically looks like a little speaker or megaphone. When speakerphone is off, the icon will be unfilled or grayed out. Once you tap it during a call, the icon will become filled in or turn a bright color to indicate that speakerphone is now activated.

Using the on-screen speaker icon to toggle speakerphone is the fastest and simplest way to go hands-free during a call on an Android phone. Just remember to tap it again at the end of your call to turn off speakerphone before hanging up.

Using the Volume Buttons

One of the easiest ways to enable speakerphone on your Android phone during a call is by using the physical volume buttons on the side of your device. Simply press and hold either the volume up or down button during a call, and the call audio will automatically switch over to speakerphone mode. This allows you to converse hands-free without having to touch the screen at all.

According to forums on Android Central, holding down the volume buttons is one of the most convenient ways to quickly enable speakerphone during a call on many Android devices [1]. The volume buttons act as a toggle, so pressing and holding them during a call will turn on speakerphone, while doing so again will turn it back off.

This volume button method works whether you’re receiving or making a call. As soon as you press and hold the up or down volume button while the call is connected, you’ll notice an audio cue that indicates the call has switched over to speakerphone mode. The other party’s voice will now come through the speaker instead of the earpiece.

The volume buttons on most Android devices default to controlling media volume, but they can be set to control call volume in the device settings. Regardless of which volume type they are set to, holding the volume buttons will enable speakerphone during a call. This provides a quick hands-free way to activate speaker mode at any time without hanging up.

With Google Assistant

One convenient way to turn on speakerphone during a call on your Android phone is by using a voice command with Google Assistant. Google Assistant is the virtual assistant built into many Android phones that can respond to voice prompts to complete tasks on your device. To turn on speakerphone with Google Assistant:

1. Make sure you have the latest version of the Google app and Google Assistant enabled on your Android phone. You can check for updates in the Play Store.

2. Once you’ve initiated a phone call, say “OK Google” or “Hey Google.” Your phone will listen for your command.

3. Say a command like “Turn on speakerphone” or “Switch to speakerphone.” Google Assistant will automatically enable speakerphone during your current call.

4. To turn off speakerphone, you can say “OK Google, turn off speakerphone.”

This hands-free method allows you to quickly toggle speakerphone on and off without having to remove your phone from your ear during a call. Just make sure Google Assistant is set up correctly and listening for the right voice commands. With some practice, it becomes a seamless way to manage calls through voice prompts alone.

From Quick Settings

One of the quickest and easiest ways to turn on speakerphone during a call on your Android phone is by using the Quick Settings panel. Here’s how:

Swipe down from the top of your screen to open Quick Settings. If you only see a few icons, swipe down again to expand the Quick Settings menu. Look for the speaker icon in the Quick Settings – it’s represented by a little speaker symbol. Tap the speaker icon to toggle speakerphone on or off during a call. The icon will have a small phone handset next to it when speakerphone is enabled.

If you don’t see the speaker icon in your Quick Settings panel, you can edit Quick Settings to add it:

Swipe down fully on the Quick Settings and tap the pencil icon at the bottom. This will open editing mode. Find the speakerphone icon in the list of available options and drag it up into the main Quick Settings view. You can now easily toggle speakerphone on/off right from Quick Settings.

Sources:

https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-use-customize-quick-settings-android-phone/

https://support.google.com/android/answer/9083864?hl=en

Using Bluetooth

Connecting your Android phone to a Bluetooth device like a speaker or headphones is a convenient way to enable speakerphone during calls. When connected via Bluetooth, the audio from your calls will automatically be routed through the external Bluetooth speaker rather than your phone’s built-in speaker.

To pair your phone with a Bluetooth device, first ensure Bluetooth is enabled on your Android phone by swiping down from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings and tapping the Bluetooth icon. Your phone will then search for nearby Bluetooth devices – select the device you want to pair with and follow the on-screen prompts to complete pairing. Most Bluetooth devices only need to be paired once, and will automatically connect to your phone when in range after that.

Once paired and connected, any calls you make or receive will automatically play through the Bluetooth speaker rather than your phone’s speaker. This turns the Bluetooth device into a speakerphone. The other caller will be able to hear you through your phone’s microphone as normal. You’ll get the benefit of a louder, higher quality speaker for the call audio while still using your phone’s mic.

Some tips when using Bluetooth for speakerphone calls:

– Make sure to choose a speaker with a built-in microphone for best call quality, rather than Bluetooth headphones without a mic.

– Position your phone appropriately so the microphone can still clearly pick up your voice over the Bluetooth speaker.

– Monitor call volume and adjust as needed either on your phone or using controls on the Bluetooth device.

With Headphones

By default, plugging in either wired or wireless headphones to an Android phone will automatically switch the audio output from the speaker to the headphones (1). This is because headphones act as the audio output priority, so when they are detected as being plugged in, the audio routing switches from the built-in speaker to the headphones.

There are a couple ways headphones can be detected on an Android phone:

Wired headphones – The phone detects the physical connection via the headphone jack.
Wireless bluetooth headphones – The phone detects the bluetooth pairing and connection.

In some cases, even if headphones are plugged in, audio may still try to route to the speaker. This can happen if the headphone jack or bluetooth connection is faulty. Some troubleshooting steps include:

Check that the headphone plug is fully inserted in the jack.
Check bluetooth is properly paired and connected if using wireless headphones.
Try an alternate pair of headphones to rule out any issues with the headphones themselves.

Check the phone’s audio settings to confirm the default audio output is set to headphones.

If after troubleshooting the phone still does not automatically switch audio to headphones when plugged in, there may be an underlying hardware issue that requires further inspection (2).

Troubleshooting

If you are experiencing issues with muffled or low sound quality on your Android phone speaker during calls, here are some troubleshooting steps you can try:

First, check if the phone volume is turned up high enough by using the volume buttons on the side of the phone. Press the volume up button during a call to increase the speakerphone volume if it is too low.

You can also try going into your phone’s Settings app, choosing Sound/Audio settings, and increasing the Media volume and Call volume sliders. This will increase the maximum volume allowed for the speaker.

Additionally, inspect your phone’s speaker to see if there is any debris, dust, or lint covering the speaker grille. Gently brush or blow away any particles blocking the speaker.

If the phone speaker still sounds muffled, it may help to restart your Android device, as a reboot can clear any software bugs affecting the speakerphone.

As a last resort, you can attempt a factory reset of your device, which will erase any problematic settings and restore the original software. Just make sure to backup your data first.

If none of these basic troubleshooting tips restore clear call quality, then there may be an underlying hardware issue with the speaker, in which case you’ll need to contact the device manufacturer or a repair shop for further assistance.

Conclusion

There are several different ways to activate speakerphone during a call on an Android phone. The easiest methods are tapping the speaker icon on the call screen, using the volume buttons, or asking Google Assistant to turn on speaker. Speaker can also be enabled through Quick Settings or Bluetooth settings if you’re connected to a Bluetooth device. Some headphones have a dedicated button to activate speaker as well.

In summary, the main options covered in this guide include:

Tapping the speaker icon on the in-call screen

Pressing the volume up or down buttons during a call
Using a voice command like “Ok Google, turn on speaker”
Toggling speaker on in Quick Settings

Enabling speakerphone in Bluetooth settings if connected to a Bluetooth device
Using a dedicated button on headphones that support speakerphone

With several quick and easy ways to enable speaker on Android, you can effortlessly turn on speakerphone during any phone call.