Why my phone has no sound during calls?

Check Your Phone’s Volume Settings

The first step is to go through your phone’s volume controls and make sure nothing is muted or set too low. This includes the volume for your ringtone, media playback, notifications, and system sounds. On an iPhone, you can adjust these in Settings > Sounds & Haptics. On Android phones, look in Settings > Sound. Make sure that none of the volume sliders are set all the way to the left at zero volume.

If your ringer volume is set low or muted, calls may seem quiet even if call volume is turned up. It’s important to check all volume levels, including increasing ringer volume as needed. According to this guide, speaker blockage can also cause call volume issues, so cleaning your speakers may help if volume settings do not resolve it.

Try a Different Headset or Speaker

One way to troubleshoot no sound during calls is to rule out issues with a specific headset, headphone, or speaker accessory. Test using the built-in speakerphone on your phone, or switch to a different wired headset or Bluetooth device if you normally use one.

If the sound works properly when using the phone’s speakerphone or a different accessory, then the issue is likely isolated to your original headset/headphone. Try cleaning the headset jack and headphone contacts. Also check for obstruction, damage, or malfunction with that specific accessory.

However, if you still experience no audio through multiple accessories, then the underlying cause is likely an issue with your phone’s software, settings, or hardware. Continue troubleshooting by toggling airplane mode, restarting your phone, checking for app interference, and updating your phone software.

Sources:

[1] https://www.cellphonerepair.com/how-to-fix-phone-sound-issues

[2] https://www.verizon.com/support/troubleshooter/audio-issues/

Check for Blocked Numbers

One potential cause of no sound during calls could be blocked or anonymous phone numbers. Many smartphones come with settings to automatically block calls from certain numbers or unidentified callers. When a blocked number tries to call you, the call may go directly to voicemail without ringing or producing any notification sounds.

To check if this is the issue, go to your phone settings and look for options like “Blocked numbers”, “Call blocking”, or “Anonymous call blocking”. See if any numbers are added to the blocked list. You can try removing a blocked number and calling it again to see if the sounds now work.

Additionally, anonymous and private caller ID numbers may be muted by default on some devices. You can toggle these anonymous call blocking settings and test if calls from private numbers can now ring with sound.

Toggle Airplane Mode On and Off

One solution that often resolves call audio issues is to toggle Airplane Mode on and off. Airplane Mode disables all wireless connections, including cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC, and more. Turning Airplane Mode off re-enables all of these connections and essentially resets your phone’s ability to make calls.

To toggle Airplane Mode on and off:

1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
2. Locate and tap on the Airplane Mode option.
3. Switch on Airplane Mode. You should see a plane icon in your status bar indicating it is now on.
4. Wait about 10-15 seconds, then go back into Settings and turn Airplane Mode off.
5. Make a test call to see if audio issues are resolved.

Toggling Airplane Mode essentially reboots your phone’s cellular radio and can clear up any temporary glitches that are interfering with call audio. If the problem persists after trying this, move on to some of the other troubleshooting steps. Some Reddit users report this simple fix resolving call problems attributed to erroneous Airplane Mode triggers.

Restart Your Phone

Restarting your phone is one of the simplest fixes that can resolve sound issues during calls. A reboot helps clear out any temporary software glitches that may be preventing the audio from working properly. As recommended in an r/GalaxyS7 reddit thread, restarting was the only way to fix an issue where the phone thought it was on a call even when it wasn’t, causing no audio during actual calls (Source). Restarting your device essentially provides a fresh start for the operating system and can clear up any corrupted settings or processes disrupting your call audio.

To restart your phone, hold down the power button for at least 10 seconds until you see the power off prompt. Tap “Restart” and wait for your phone to completely power down and boot back up. This should only take 1-2 minutes. Once restarted, try making a call to see if sound returns during calls. A simple reboot is an easy first step to troubleshoot call audio problems before trying more complicated solutions.

Check for App Interference

Some apps can disrupt call audio when running in the background. This happens when an app is using audio resources or trying to play audio at the same time as an ongoing call.

To identify if this is the case, try closing all other apps before making a call and see if that resolves the audio issue. Some common culprits include music streaming apps, video apps, and navigation apps that provide voice guidance.

You can also check your phone’s app settings or permissions to restrict apps from using microphone or audio resources while a call is active. On an iPhone, go to Settings > Phone and toggle off “Allow Calls on Other Devices” to prevent other paired devices from interfering with call audio.

As a last resort, you can try uninstalling apps one by one to pinpoint the problematic app. Reinstall apps afterward if removing them worked. Some apps require additional configuration changes to prevent interfering with calls. Refer to the app developer’s instructions for more help if needed.

Source: Troubleshooting audio issues in the RingCentral apps

Update Your Phone Software

Outdated operating systems can have call audio bugs that cause issues with hearing the other person during calls. Phone manufacturers regularly release software updates to fix bugs and improve performance. If your phone is not up to date, updating to the latest OS version may resolve microphone and speaker issues during calls.

For example, some Samsung Galaxy users experienced audio problems during calls after a recent update, as noted in this Samsung community forum thread: Sounds and Audio not working after software update. Updating to the latest software version can often correct these kinds of issues.

Check if any OS updates are available for your phone by going to Settings > System > System Update. Install the latest update and restart your device. Test making calls afterwards to see if your call audio is restored. Keeping your phone’s software up to date can help prevent and fix microphone/speaker problems during calls.

Reset Network Settings

Resetting your phone’s network settings can help resolve issues with no audio during calls by clearing any corrupt data that may be causing problems. This resets all network settings, including Wi-Fi, mobile data, and Bluetooth, to their factory default state (Source: https://www.sony.ie/electronics/support/articles/SX670101).

On an iPhone, go to Settings > General > Reset and tap Reset Network Settings. This will reset all network settings while retaining all other data and settings. On an Android device, go to Settings > System > Advanced > Reset Options and tap Reset Network Settings. Confirm to reset all network settings to factory defaults.

Resetting network settings can help resolve any conflicts or corrupt data that may be interfering with cellular network connectivity and call audio. It clears out issues without losing personal data or customized settings. After resetting network settings, power cycle the phone and test if call audio works properly. If the problem persists, further troubleshooting may be needed.

Check for Hardware Damage

Issues like a damaged speaker, microphone, or antenna can disrupt call sound. If you’ve recently dropped your phone, especially in water, it may have caused physical damage that interferes with audio transmission during calls.

Carefully inspect your phone for any cracks, dents, or other signs of external damage. Use a flashlight to peer into the charging port, headphone jack, and speaker grill for debris, moisture, or damage. If your phone has been dropped in water, corrosion may have occurred internally even if you can’t see it.

Try tapping firmly near the microphone or speaker to see if that temporarily restores sound. Pressure on damaged hardware can sometimes get it working temporarily. However, this is just a temporary fix. If tapping restores sound, it likely indicates hardware damage is the root cause.

You may need to take your phone to a repair shop to have the speaker, microphone or antenna replaced. In some cases of water damage, the problem can persist until the whole mainboard is swapped out. Getting prompt repairs can prevent further issues from developing.

Some options are to visit an authorized service provider, mail your phone to the manufacturer for repair, or file an insurance claim if you have coverage for accidental damage. Addressing hardware issues is key to restoring sound during calls.

Contact Your Carrier for Support

If you are still experiencing no sound during calls after trying the troubleshooting steps above, your next step is to contact your wireless carrier’s technical support team. Cellular network issues like poor signal strength, network congestion, or configuration problems could be preventing call audio from working properly on your phone.

Carrier tech support agents have specialized tools and knowledge to diagnose and fix network-specific audio issues. They can check if your line has any provisioning problems, test your signal strength in your area, reset network settings remotely, and potentially resolve software bugs that are preventing call audio.

Make sure to contact your carrier’s support number listed on your monthly bill or website. Be prepared to provide your name, wireless number, and device details. Describe the no sound issue in detail and when it occurs. The agent can then walk through troubleshooting and pinpoint the root cause.

If it turns out to be a problem with your cellular network or service, your carrier’s tech support should be able to get your call audio functioning properly again. This direct line to your wireless provider is an important resource when you have ruled out device-specific issues.