Sometimes your phone’s microphone might not work in speaker mode; it will work fine in handset mode but not in speaker mode.
In this article, we’ll look at what’s causing your phone’s microphone to stop working in speaker mode.
Why Your Phone’s Microphone Doesn’t Work In Speaker Mode?
Your phone’s microphone might not work in speaker mode for several reasons.
Common reasons include software issues, lack of permission, conflicting connected audio devices, blocked mics, and damaged mics.
We’ll explain these issues and how to resolve them in the following sections.
Software Issues And Lack Of Permission
You might have muted your phone’s microphone on the call app, and if so, unmute the mic and check whether it solves the issue.
Also, temporary software issues can prevent your phone’s microphone from working in speaker mode. First, you should close the phone app and then open it again. If that doesn’t fix the issue, you should restart the phone and see whether the mic is working.
Permission issues can also disable your phone’s microphone in speaker mode, so check whether your call app has permission to use the microphone.
In Android, you can check the microphone permissions as follows. (Exact steps might slightly differ in different phone models)
- Tap Settings
- Tap Apps & Notifications
- Tap Permission Manager
- Tap Microphone
In iOS, you can check the microphone permissions as follows.
- Tap Settings
- Tap Privacy
- Tap Microphone
Conflicting third-party apps might also disable the microphone in speaker mode. If you suspect this, you can find third-party apps with microphone permission on Android and iOS, as we explained above, and then uninstall the conflicting apps and see whether it solves the issue.
Your phone’s noise and echo cancellation settings can also affect the microphone’s operation, so check whether you still have this issue after turning on noise cancellation. If the noise cancellation is already on, turn it off and see whether the microphone works in speaker mode.
You should also update your phone’s OS to the latest version; the latest updates can fix most issues with microphones and other audio settings.
If none of the solutions above work, you can factory reset your phone and see whether it resolves the issue.
Conflicting Connected Audio Devices
Other connected audio devices, such as wired headsets and Bluetooth audio devices, can disable your phone’s microphone.
So disconnect any wired or wireless audio devices from your phone and see whether the microphone works in speaker mode.
Blocked Microphones
Most smartphones have multiple microphones, and the number of microphones and their locations depend on the phone model.
Your phone’s speaker mode might use a different microphone than the one used in handset mode, and it’s possible to block the microphone responsible for the speaker mode without blocking the mic used in handset mode. In this case, your phone’s microphone will only work in the handset mode and won’t work in the speaker mode.
There are a few ways you might accidentally cover your phone’s microphones.
Incompatible phone cases can cover one or more mics, and you might also install the phone case incorrectly. So, remove your phone case and check whether the microphone works in speaker mode.
Some phones also ship with a protective plastic film on the back, which might cover the rear microphone, so remove the protective film and check whether the mic works in speaker mode.
Similarly, if you are using a screen protector, it might cover the microphone next to the earpiece.
Also, dust, dirt, and animal fur can clog your phone’s microphones, so use a soft brush to unclog them.
Damaged Microphones
Most smartphones now have multiple microphones, so one mic can be faulty while others work fine.
Use your phone’s default sound recorder app and a few other apps like Google voice typing, Facebook messenger, Skype, and WhatsApp to record your voice. If possible, switch between different mics and see which mic is not working.
If the microphone is damaged, it won’t work with any of these apps, and you need to send your phone in for repair.
Conclusion
Your phone’s microphone might not work in speaker mode for several reasons.
The most common reasons include software issues, lack of permission, conflicting connected audio devices, blocked mics, and damaged mics.
Try the fixes we explained in this article and see if the mic works in speaker mode.
