Why can’t I hear calls on my Android?

Check Your Phone’s Volume

One of the first things to check if you can’t hear calls on your Android phone is your phone’s volume levels. Make sure the volume is turned up on your phone itself and not just your headphones. The volume buttons on the side of your Android device control the overall system volume. Try pressing them during a call to turn up the volume (Source).

You can also check your phone’s volume levels in the accessibility settings. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Volume and make sure the in-call volume slider is turned up. If it’s muted, unmute it. The accessibility volume overrides the regular volume controls so check here if adjusting the normal volume doesn’t help (Source).

If you still can’t get your phone’s speaker loud enough during calls, there may be other issues causing problems. But first make sure to thoroughly check your Android’s volume levels using both the volume buttons and the settings.

Check For Obstructions

One common reason your Android phone speakers may not be working properly during calls is if there is some kind of obstruction covering or blocking the speaker. Here are a few things to check:

Make sure there is no debris, dust, lint, or other particles blocking the speaker grills on your phone. Use a can of compressed air to safely blow out any debris that may be lodged in the speakers.1

Carefully examine the phone speaker area and remove any clinging particles with tweezers or a toothpick. Be very gentle so as not to damage the delicate speaker mesh.

Take any case or cover off your phone to see if that is muffling or obstructing the speakers in any way. The case may be fitted too tightly over the speaker grills, dampening the sound.

Check if any stickers, skins, or other decorations are placed directly over the speaker area. Remove them to eliminate any potential sound blocking.

Examine the speaker area under good lighting to see if there are any cracks, gaps, or other damage that could be preventing sound transmission.

Once you’ve ruled out any physical obstructions to the speakers, retest making calls to see if the audio issue is resolved. If the problem persists, move on to investigating other potential causes.

Update Your Software

Using outdated software versions can often lead to bugs or issues with call audio on Android phones. Make sure your phone is running the latest Android operating system and software updates from your carrier. Google and carriers regularly push software updates to fix bugs and optimize performance. According to a Google support thread, some users found updating to Android 14 resolved problems with making and receiving calls.

To check for software updates on Android, go to Settings > System > Advanced > System update. Tap “Check for update” to see if any new updates are available from your carrier. You can also try contacting your carrier directly to inquire about the latest software updates available for your specific device model.

Installing the latest updates can potentially fix bugs causing issues with calls and audio on Android. Software updates often include under-the-hood fixes and improvements not listed in the changelog, so it’s generally a good idea to keep your Android phone up-to-date.

Check Network Connectivity

Weak cell signal can cause call clarity issues. As the signal strength from your carrier’s cell towers decreases, the audio quality of calls will also degrade. This is because weaker signals are more prone to interference and data loss. Try moving to a location with better signal strength, like near a window or outdoors, to see if call clarity improves. You can check the cell signal strength on your phone by looking for the signal strength bars in the notification area.

If your location seems to have poor cell signal in general, this may be an issue with your carrier’s coverage in that area. Consider switching carriers if possible to one with better coverage, or using Wi-Fi calling if your phone supports it. Wi-Fi calling routes calls over Wi-Fi instead of the cellular network when you are connected to a Wi-Fi network, which can improve call quality.

Toggle Audio Source

The issue of not hearing calls may be isolated to one particular audio output on your Android device. Try switching between the handset earpiece, speakerphone, and headphones to see if calls are audible from one source but not another.

To change the audio source on Android 11 and newer:

  • Enable Developer options by tapping Build number 7 times in Settings > About phone
  • In Developer options, enable “Quick settings developer tiles”
  • Pull down your Quick Settings shade and tap on the new Developer options tile
  • Select Audio output and choose between Handset earpiece, Speakerphone, Wired headphones, etc.

This option allows you to toggle between audio outputs during a call to isolate if there is an issue with one specific output. For example, calls may be audible through headphones but not the phone’s earpiece. Toggling sources can help determine where the problem lies.

Factory Reset Phone

Resetting your Android device to factory settings can help resolve call issues as a last resort if other software troubleshooting steps don’t work. Before resetting, make sure to backup any important data, photos, files, etc. that you want to keep. A factory reset will wipe your device back to its out-of-the-box state, removing all settings, apps, accounts, and data in the process.

According to Google Support, you can reset most Android devices to factory settings through the Settings app (source). Go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset). Tap Reset phone and then Erase everything. Your device will reset and reboot. You’ll need to go through the setup process again. If you can’t open Settings, you may be able to reset using hardware keys – press and hold the Power and Volume down buttons until the device restarts.

A factory reset wipes the phone’s memory and restores it to default settings, which can eliminate any software bugs causing call issues. However, only use it as a last resort troubleshooting step after trying other options, since you’ll lose all device data in the process.

Inspect For Hardware Damage

Drops or accidents may have physically damaged your phone’s speakers or microphone, preventing you from hearing calls properly. If your phone has been dropped, exposed to liquids, or experienced other impacts, the delicate hardware inside can become damaged.

One way to check for hardware damage is to run hardware diagnostic tests on your device. You can enter special codes in the Phone app to access diagnostic features and test the microphone, receiver, and speaker [1]. This can help pinpoint any hardware components not functioning properly.

Another option is to visit a phone repair shop and have them inspect your device. Experienced technicians can diagnose hardware issues by opening up the phone and examining the internal components. They may find loose connectors, damaged solder joints, or other problems preventing proper audio functionality.

If a hardware problem is confirmed, you will likely need to replace the faulty component or module. While affordable, DIY repairs are possible for advanced users, you may want to have a professional handle any internal repairs to avoid further damage.

Rather than continuously troubleshooting a persistently problematic device, it may be worth considering a replacement phone if the issue stems from hardware damage beyond economical repair.

Disable Battery Saver

Battery saver modes on Android phones can sometimes limit volume and call clarity by reducing performance to save power. The phone app relies on sufficient processing performance for clear call audio, so limiting this can degrade call quality.

To prevent battery saver from interfering with calls, try adding the phone app to the battery saver exception list. This will allow the phone app to run at full performance even when battery saver is on. Some guides for adding app exceptions:

Disable battery optimization for the Phone app on Samsung Galaxy phones

Exclude apps from battery optimization on Galaxy S21

With the phone app excluded, battery saver shouldn’t affect call volume or clarity. If issues persist, disabling battery saver mode entirely may be required.

Clear App Cache and Data

Over time, built up cache and data from apps on your Android device can cause performance issues. The dialer and phone apps in particular can be affected, potentially leading to problems receiving calls. Try wiping the cache and data for any dialer or phone apps on your device to see if that resolves the issue.

To clear an app’s cache and data on Android:

  1. Go to Settings > Apps & notifications
  2. Select the app and tap Storage & cache
  3. Tap Clear cache and Clear storage to wipe both the cache and app data

This forces the app to reload entirely fresh next time it’s opened, which can fix problems caused by outdated cache/data. Be aware this will sign you out of the app and delete any offline data. After clearing the dialer app cache/data, check if you can now receive calls normally on your Android device.

Sources:

https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-clear-the-cache-on-your-android-phone-or-tablet-and-why-you-should/

Contact Your Carrier

If you’ve tried all the troubleshooting steps and your Android phone still can’t make or receive calls, it’s time to reach out to your carrier for support. There may be a network configuration issue on their end that is preventing calls from connecting properly.

Contact your carrier’s customer support line and explain the issue. They can run diagnostics on their network, check your account settings, and determine if there’s a problem on their end. According to Google Support, your carrier is often the best place to get help for some phone issues.

Be prepared to provide your account information and any details about when the issue started occurring. The carrier can check recent network updates or outages in your area that may be related to your calling problems. If it’s determined the issue is on their end, they can resolve it for you.

In some cases, the carrier may need to replace your SIM card or update your plan if that is contributing to the problem. Or they may recommend you bring your phone into a store for inspection if they think the issue is device-related. But reaching out to carrier support is an important troubleshooting step before exploring repairs or replacements.

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