Why can't people hear me on phone calls?
Most often the microphone opening is blocked by a case, a screen protector or lint, or the problem is a temporary network or software glitch. Take off the case, clear the opening gently, restart the phone and test your voice with a recording. If it only happens after a drop or liquid exposure, or survives all of that, the microphone needs a repair.
Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.
By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished
Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.
Step by step
Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.
Step 1: Remove the case and film
Take off any screen protector, film or case that could cover the microphone openings.[1]
Step 2: Clear the openings
Clear any debris from the openings of the phone.[1] Use a dry, soft brush; never push a pin or needle into the hole.
Step 3: Record your voice
Record a voice memo or voice note while speaking at the bottom of the phone, then play it back to check that your voice comes through clearly.[1]
Step 4: Test speakerphone separately
If people only fail to hear you on speakerphone, record a short video while speaking at the top of the phone and listen to it.[1]
Step 5: Restart the phone
Restart the phone, then make a test call.[2]
Step 6: Check app permissions
If only one app cannot hear you, open Settings, Privacy and Security (or the app permissions on Android) and make sure microphone access is on for that app.[1]
Step 7: Try a different place and contact
Call a second person from a different spot, because network coverage and surroundings cause many one-off cases.[3]
Rule out the easy causes first
If people cannot hear you, the cause is often something simple: a temporary external factor rather than an issue with your phone.[3] Network conditions, the other person's connection or a case sitting over the microphone are the usual suspects.
The quick split is whether it happens once or every time. If it happens only in one place or at one moment, end the call and try again, or move to a different location and try again.[3] If it happens on every call, to every contact, in every room, the phone itself is more likely at fault and the checks below apply.
Clear the microphone openings
The microphone is located at the bottom of your phone.[2] Pocket lint, dust and a case that does not quite line up can cover it. Remove any screen protectors, films, or cases from your iPhone.[1] The same applies to Android phones: some cases or accessories may block the microphone and affect your voice during calls.[3]
Then clear any debris from the openings.[1] A dry, soft brush or a quick puff of air is enough. Do not poke the hole with a pin, and do not use liquid; the microphone element sits right behind a very small opening and is easy to damage.
Test the microphone without a caller
Do not rely on a friend to tell you whether it is fixed. Record yourself. Tap the Record button, speak at the bottom of your phone, then stop the recording,[1] and play it back. Your voice should come through clearly. If it is faint, muffled or silent, the problem is the phone, not the network.
If people only fail to hear you on speakerphone, test the other microphone. Record a video while speaking at the top of your iPhone,[1] once with each camera, and listen to both. Android phones differ by model, but a voice recorder app and a short video give the same two tests.
Software causes
Restart first. Restarting may simply solve your problem.[2] If the fault began after you installed an app, especially a calling or messaging app, remove it and test again.
Samsung describes a further check: start the phone in Safe mode. If there is no problem in Safe Mode, it may be a problem caused by an installed third-party app on your phone.[2] Uninstall recently added apps, newest first, until the voice returns.
If only one app cannot hear you, it is a permission problem rather than a hardware one. Go to Settings, tap Privacy & Security, then tap Microphone, then make sure that the app is enabled.[1] On Android the equivalent is the app's permissions screen.
When it is a repair
If you still sound unclear during calls, recordings, or apps, you might need service.[1] A microphone that fails the recording test with nothing blocking it needs a technician to inspect it, and that means opening the phone.
A drop or water makes this more likely: if the phone was dropped or exposed to liquid, this may affect the microphone.[3] Ask for a quote that names the part, the warranty and what happens if the fault is not fixed.
Stop and call a pro if
- The recording is silent or muffled with the case off and the opening clear. The microphone or its board has failed and needs a repair.
- The problem began after a drop or after the phone got wet. Power it down and read what to do if you drop your phone in water before using it further.
- The phone is under warranty or covered by a protection plan. Check that before paying a shop; see whether a third-party repair shop is safe to use.
- You would have to open the phone. Opening a phone is a job for a repair business, not a home fix.
Getting help in Virginia
More guides are in phone and tablet repair answers, and Loclis lists local repair businesses under phone speaker and microphone repair. If a cracked display is part of the story too, see how much a phone screen replacement costs in Virginia.
When you are ready, describe the problem once and local repair businesses quote it.
Common questions
- Why can people hear me on speakerphone but not normally?
- A phone has more than one microphone. The one used when you hold the phone to your ear sits at the bottom edge, and the one used for speakerphone and video is near the top. Apple has you test them separately: a voice memo while speaking at the bottom, and a video while speaking at the top. If only one fails, that opening is blocked or that microphone is faulty.
- Could a case or screen protector really cause this?
- Yes. Samsung says some cases or accessories may block the microphone and affect your voice during calls, and Apple lists removing screen protectors, films and cases as the first step. Take everything off before you test.
- Can an app be the cause?
- Sometimes. Samsung says that if the microphone works in Safe Mode, an installed third-party app may be the cause. A recently installed calling or messaging app is the first suspect, and per-app microphone permissions are worth checking too.
- It started after I dropped the phone or got it wet. What now?
- Samsung notes that a drop or liquid exposure may affect the microphone. Stop troubleshooting at that point: power the phone down if it was wet and have it looked at. Our guide to what to do after dropping a phone in water covers the first hour.
- Is it my phone or the other person's?
- Call a second person. If everyone else hears you clearly, the first person's phone or signal is the likely problem. If nobody does, and your voice memo is also faint or silent, the fault is on your phone.
Sources
- [1] If the microphones on your iPhone aren't working, Apple Support. Checked October 28, 2026.
- [2] Galaxy phone microphone not working during calls, Samsung Electronics. Checked October 28, 2026.
- [3] The person you are calling cannot hear you on your Samsung Galaxy phone, Samsung Electronics. Checked October 28, 2026.
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