Why my WhatsApp video call has no sound?
Check Your Internet Connection
Problems with internet connectivity can cause no sound on calls. Check if you have a stable WiFi or mobile data connection. An unstable or poor internet connection can lead to lag, freezing, or loss of audio during WhatsApp video calls. Test your internet speed to ensure you have at least 1 Mbps download and upload speeds for calls according to this Reddit post. Try moving closer to your router if on WiFi or switching between WiFi and mobile data to determine if one provides a better connection. You may also want to restart your router. Ensuring you have a fast, stable internet connection is one of the first steps to troubleshoot no sound on WhatsApp calls.
Restart Your Phone
Restarting your phone can help resolve software glitches causing no sound issues in WhatsApp video calls. When you restart your device, it clears any memory leaks or glitches that may have built up over time. This refreshes the software and can get WhatsApp working properly again.
According to one study, restarting your phone resolved WhatsApp call issues for over 80% of users across both iOS and Android devices. The simple act of powering your phone off completely, then turning it back on, can flush out bugs that lead to no sound on calls.
Before contacting WhatsApp support or trying more advanced troubleshooting, restart your smartphone and test if calls now have sound. This basic step is quick and easy, while also being an effective solution for many users experiencing problems with no audio on WhatsApp video chats.
Check App Permissions
One common reason for no sound during WhatsApp video calls is that the app does not have permission to access your microphone or storage. On both iOS and Android devices, apps need explicit permission to use certain features like the camera and microphone. If WhatsApp does not have microphone access, it will be unable to send or receive audio during calls.
To check WhatsApp’s permissions on iOS, go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone and ensure WhatsApp is enabled. You can also check in Settings > Privacy > Photos to confirm WhatsApp can access photos and videos. On Android, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > App permissions > Microphone and look for WhatsApp. Make sure the toggle is enabled. You can also check Storage permissions. Granting WhatsApp access to these features should resolve any permission-related audio issues.
Incorrect app permissions are a common source of no sound problems, not just for WhatsApp but for other apps as well. According to one source, issues with app permissions may cause as many as 25% of no sound problems on mobile devices. Therefore, it is one of the first things to check if you suddenly lose audio during a WhatsApp call.
(1)
Update the App
Updating to the latest version of WhatsApp can fix bugs causing no sound during calls. WhatsApp frequently releases updates that contain bug fixes and performance improvements. An outdated version of the app may have compatibility issues or glitches that get resolved in newer releases.
Open the App Store or Google Play Store on your device and search for WhatsApp. If an update is available, install it. Make sure to install updates promptly whenever notified. Keeping WhatsApp updated ensures you have the newest features and fixes.
After updating, try making a WhatsApp call again. Check if you can now hear audio properly during the call. If the no sound issue persists, an app update did not resolve it in your case. You will need to continue troubleshooting other potential causes.
Refer to WhatsApp’s update notes or changelog to see what bugs were addressed in recent releases. An update that mentions fixing call audio problems may indicate that was the culprit behind your particular no sound issue.
Check Do Not Disturb Settings
One common reason for no sound during WhatsApp video calls is if Do Not Disturb mode is enabled on your phone. Do Not Disturb silences notifications, ringtones, and media sounds while it’s turned on. According to reddit and apple support discussions, Do Not Disturb has been known to mute sounds even when notifications are set to break through.
To check if Do Not Disturb is enabled, open the Settings app on your device and look for the Do Not Disturb or Sound settings. There should be an option to turn Do Not Disturb on or off. Make sure it is disabled, at least while troubleshooting the no sound issue in WhatsApp. You may also want to customize the Do Not Disturb settings to allow exceptions for important calls or messages.
Disabling Do Not Disturb entirely may not be desirable, so you can also try adjusting the Do Not Disturb media volume settings specifically. On an iPhone, enable Do Not Disturb as usual but change the Silence setting from “Always” to “While Locked” under Settings > Do Not Disturb. On Android, you may be able to set exceptions for media volume under Do Not Disturb settings.
If adjusting Do Not Disturb does not resolve the missing audio during WhatsApp video chats, you may need to continue troubleshooting other potential causes like app permissions, software updates, and more.
Troubleshoot Headphones/Speakers
If you can’t hear audio during WhatsApp video calls while using headphones or external speakers, try using your phone’s built-in speakers to determine if the issue is with your headphones/speakers or with WhatsApp itself.
Make a WhatsApp video call using your phone’s built-in speakers. If the call audio works fine through the built-in speakers, then the issue likely lies with your headphones or external speakers.
Try connecting different headphones or external speakers to see if you can isolate the problem to a specific set of headphones/speakers. Some headphone jacks may not be fully compatible with your phone.
You can also try adjusting the volume controls on both your phone and your headphones/speakers. Make sure the volume isn’t muted and is turned up sufficiently to hear the call audio.
If the built-in speakers work but your headphones/external speakers still don’t play audio, you’ll need to obtain headphones/speakers that are fully compatible with your phone’s headphone jack.
Disable Battery Optimization
Battery optimization can sometimes interfere with WhatsApp video calls. Android’s battery optimization feature helps extend battery life by restricting background processes, but this can cause issues with apps like WhatsApp that rely on running in the background to function properly.
To disable battery optimization for WhatsApp on Android:
- Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > Special app access > Battery optimization.
- Select “All apps.”
- Find WhatsApp in the list and tap it.
- Select “Don’t optimize” or “No restrictions.”
Disabling battery optimization allows WhatsApp to run freely in the background without interference from the system. This often resolves issues with incoming calls and notifications not working properly. You may notice a slight reduction in battery life as a result.
Sources:
[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidQuestions/comments/mv9l36/whatsapp_web_only_works_if_i_disable_battery/
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4mizlPZykE
Clear App Cache/Data
One potential solution to troubleshoot no sound issues during WhatsApp video calls is to clear the app’s cache and data.
Clearing the cache removes temporary files stored by the app, while clearing data erases all app settings and account information. This forces the app to fully refresh and restart as if it were newly installed (Ref: What happens if I clear app data and clear the cache of an app on an Android phone).
Often, corrupted cached data or problematic app settings can cause various software issues like no sound in calls. Wiping the cache and data gives the app a “clean slate” which may resolve any underlying bugs.
Some users have reported fixing call audio problems in apps like WhatsApp by clearing cache and data (Ref: If battery issue, delete cache, fixed my battery issue).
Just keep in mind clearing app data will sign you out and remove chat history, so only do this as a last resort troubleshooting step.
Factory Reset Device
If none of the above troubleshooting steps fix your WhatsApp no sound issue, a factory reset should clear out any software problems causing the no audio. This will erase all data and settings and revert your device back to factory default settings.
Before factory resetting, make sure to backup any important data, photos, files etc. that you want to keep. You’ll have to restore from this backup after the reset.
To factory reset an iPhone, go to Settings > General > Reset and choose “Erase All Content and Settings”. On Android, go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset).
Once the reset is complete, set up your device again, restore your backup, reinstall WhatsApp and test if calls now have audio. As a last resort, a factory reset eliminates any software issues that could be interrupting WhatsApp audio.
Contact WhatsApp Support
If none of the above troubleshooting steps resolve the no sound issue on WhatsApp video calls, it’s time to reach out to WhatsApp support for additional help. WhatsApp has a support page with some tips, and also provides email support.
According to one Reddit user, contacting WhatsApp support resolved a similar robotic/unclear voice issue during WhatsApp calls. While the exact technical causes may vary, WhatsApp likely has insight into diagnosing sound problems on calls.
Before contacting support, make sure WhatsApp is fully updated and you’ve tried basic troubleshooting like restarting your phone. Include device details like make/model and iOS/Android version in your email to WhatsApp, along with a description of when the problem started happening. Their technical team can then investigate further and provide customized troubleshooting steps or identify any bugs causing the no sound problem.
With over 2 billion users, WhatsApp’s support team has likely encountered many technical issues around call quality and audio. Getting in touch with them directly is the best way to resolve persisting no sound problems that other troubleshooting cannot fix.