Why is my phone only working on loudspeaker?

An issue where a phone can only be used on speakerphone can be very frustrating. There are a few common reasons why a phone may start automatically activating the loudspeaker during calls.

The four main reasons a phone would only work on speakerphone are:

Faulty proximity sensor

Software glitch
Moisture damage
Faulty microphone

This article will examine each of these reasons and provide some troubleshooting steps to fix the issue.

The goal is to supply the reader with the causes and solutions for why their phone is stuck on speakerphone, enabling them to resolve the problem on their own without needing to visit a repair shop in most cases.

Faulty Proximity Sensor

Many smartphones contain a proximity sensor located near the front-facing camera. This sensor detects when your face is close to the phone during a call to turn off the touchscreen display and disable the touch controls. This prevents accidental touches during a call. The sensor also activates the phone’s microphone when you bring it up to your ear so you can hear the caller’s voice. However, if the proximity sensor becomes faulty, it fails to detect when the phone is against your ear during calls or video chats. As a result, the microphone stays deactivated.

Software Glitch

A software issue can sometimes cause the microphone on your Android phone to malfunction. This can happen after a recent software update or if certain apps are interfering with microphone access on your device.

According to this source, an app that is constantly accessing the microphone could potentially cause conflicts that block other apps from utilizing the mic properly. Trying uninstalling recently downloaded apps that use microphone access to see if that resolves the issue.

Additionally, certain Android software bugs are known to disrupt the microphone. For example, this article points out an issue on some Samsung devices where a Bluetooth device pairing bug was causing microphone malfunctions. Updating to the latest Android software version could resolve such bugs.

To troubleshoot, first restart your phone and check for any available operating system updates. If your microphone still isn’t working properly, try using it on safe mode to determine if third party apps are responsible. Factory reset your device as a last resort if the issues started after updating or installing new apps.

Moisture Damage

Moisture exposure is one of the most common causes of a malfunctioning microphone on a mobile phone. Liquids can easily seep into the small openings and components that make up the microphone, leading to corrosion and disruption of the electric signals.

According to How To Get Water Out Of Your Phone Microphone, moisture causes oxidation, which can interfere with the phone’s circuit board and small parts, like the microphone. Rice can help absorb moisture but may not be sufficient for significant water exposure.

The microphone is very delicate and even a small amount of liquid is enough to disrupt its ability to register and transmit sounds properly. Trouble typically arises following direct water exposure, like accidentally dropping the phone in water, but high humidity over time can also lead to condensation and moisture buildup within the microphone housing.

Fixes range from opening the phone to dry out components to replacing the microphone entirely if corrosion is too severe. Avoiding future issues relies heavily on waterproof phone cases and vigilance near sinks, toilets, pools, etc. A disabled microphone after water damage means immediate phone repair or replacement is likely necessary for full functionality.

Faulty Microphone

A faulty microphone is one of the most common issues that can cause a phone to only work on speakerphone. Microphone failures may be caused by physical or liquid damage, software malfunctions, or mic accessibility settings being disabled. Typical symptoms of a microphone issue are callers not being able to hear you, your voice sounding muted on calls, or your phone indicating the mic is in use when you are not speaking.

If your device’s microphone is faulty, try these troubleshooting steps:

Check for phone case issues covering the mic or screen protectors blocking it. Clean or remove accessories and see if it fixes the issue.
Restart your device and clear up system cache. This can fix software issues temporarily blocking the microphone.

Enter Settings > Applications > Application Manager and check which apps have microphone access. Toggle permissions and test if the mic starts working.
Inspect your device for any physical or liquid damage near the microphone port. Take the phone to a technician if you find signs of damage.
Perform a software update or operating system restore to refresh the OS and fix underlying software mic faults.

If after troubleshooting the phone microphone is still not working, it likely requires hardware repair or full replacement to restore proper functionality.

Incorrect Settings

Speakerphone settings can sometimes cause issues with using the phone’s speakers during calls. Here are some things to check related to your device’s settings:

Go to your phone’s sound or call settings and verify that “Speaker” is enabled during calls. There may be a toggle to turn this on.

If available, disable any settings like “Only use speaker when phone is not close to head” or “Automatic earpiece mode.” These can prevent the speaker from working properly.
Check that your phone’s volume and media volume are turned up sufficiently high.
Make sure no accessories like Bluetooth headphones or headsets are connected. If so, temporarily disconnect them to test the speakers.

Try toggling between the different audio options during a call, like switching from speaker to headphone jack and back again.
Restart your phone to clear any software glitches related to audio settings that could be causing speaker issues.

Reference: https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/android-phone-speaker-fixes/

If adjusting these speaker and call audio settings does not resolve your issue, it’s likely due to another cause covered in this guide.

Outdated Software

Keeping your phone’s software up-to-date is crucial for optimal performance and security. Outdated software can lead to a variety of issues with your phone only working on speaker, including:

Performance and battery problems – Older software versions often have bugs and inefficiencies that drain your battery faster and can cause slowdowns or freezes.

Missing features and optimizations – Software updates include new features, improvements, and optimization that will be missing if you use outdated software.
Security vulnerabilities – Without the latest security patches, your phone is more vulnerable to hackers, malware and other digital threats.

Regularly check and install any available software updates for your device. You can find system updates in your phone’s Settings app. Keeping your operating system and apps fully updated will help prevent problems stemming from outdated software.

According to ifixscreens.com, one of the most common phone software issues is slow performance, which can often be resolved by installing pending system and app updates that include speed enhancements. They recommend checking for updates at least once per month.

Physical Damage

Physical damage from cracks, liquid, or missing components can break the microphone and cause issues with using the phone on loudspeaker (Check for Physical Damage). Cracks along the frame or screen can damage the wiring and connections from the microphone to the phone’s internal components. Liquid damage from water, beverages, or humidity can short circuit the microphone or its connections. Missing buttons, ports, or flex cables due to drops or improperly opening the phone for repair can disconnect the microphone entirely.

Specifically, cracks on the screen near the top edge where the microphone is located are likely to damage the microphone connections. Liquid damage in the microphone port or other ports can short the connections. Drops that cause components like the microphone or charging port to come loose can disconnect the microphone. Inspect your phone thoroughly for any cracks, liquid damage, or missing components, especially near the top microphone. If physical damage is present, this is likely the cause of microphone/loudspeaker issues.

Third-party Accessories

Using third-party accessories that are not approved by the manufacturer of your phone can potentially cause issues with functionality. Non-original equipment manufacturer (non-OEM) accessories may not be designed properly or fully compatible with the phone’s hardware or software.

Some common problems that can occur when using unauthorized third-party accessories include:

Connectivity issues – Chargers, cables, headsets, or other accessories may connect intermittently or stop working altogether due to incompatibility.
Software glitches – Cases, screen protectors, batteries or other accessories can cause apps to freeze or crash if they interfere with sensors or other components.
Physical damage – Poorly designed cases may not adequately protect the phone from drops. Improperly designed batteries can overheat and damage internal components.

As noted on Samsung’s website, “some products like protective films, various accessories, and software provided by third parties that have no relationship with Samsung may adversely affect the normal operation of your device.” Using non-OEM accessories essentially voids the phone’s warranty if damage occurs.

When to Seek Repair

If your phone’s loudspeaker is the only thing malfunctioning, you may be able to continue using the phone with headphones or speakerphone for a while. But there are a few reasons to seek professional repair:

If troubleshooting steps have not solved the issue, it’s best to have a technician inspect the device for possible causes.

If the issue is due to physical damage or moisture exposure, the problem may continue degrading over time or make the phone vulnerable to further issues.

If you rely on the loudspeaker for hands-free use, the loss of function can be quite inconvenient. Getting the issue repaired right away eliminates frustration.

In the long run, paying for a repair now can be more affordable than buying a replacement phone. And repairing extends the lifespan of your current device.

Seek out a reputable repair shop that offers quality parts and service guarantees. Diagnostic fees are often applied toward the final repair cost.