Picture this: you answer an urgent call on your iPhone only to get dead air. The other person’s words never reach your ears. With 92% of smartphone owners still making voice calls regularly, losing call audio is more than frustrating, no matter if it’s a normal call or a FaceTime Video. It cuts you off from family, friends, or colleagues. You may Google something like “sound on phone not working iPhone” and find a flurry of advice. Avoid the usual jargon! We’ve distilled all the best tips here. We’ll walk through each fix step-by-step, from checking settings and cleaning the speaker to updating or even repairing iOS using a tool to resolve your problem with iPhone sounds.
Causes behind iPhone Sound Not Working During Calls
There are a bunch of usual suspects when your iPhone goes mute during calls. Knowing what might be causing the trouble helps you zero in on the perfect fix!
- Mute switch enabled: The side Ring/Silent switch might be in Silent mode. In that case, your iPhone will stay mute during calls.
- Low volume: The in-call volume slider might be turned all the way down. If the volume is at minimum, you’ll barely hear anything.
- Do Not Disturb (Focus): If Focus or DND is active, incoming call sounds can be silenced until you turn it off.
- Bluetooth or headphones connected: Your iPhone may still be sending sound to a paired Bluetooth headset or thinking wired headphones are plugged in, so nothing comes out of the earpiece.
- Obstructed speaker: A tight case, screen protector, or debris blocking the receiver can muffle sound. A dirty or blocked earpiece grill often cuts call audio.
- Software glitch or outdated iOS: Bugs in iOS updates (or running a very old iOS) can sometimes break audio on calls.
- Third-party app interference: Certain apps (like call blockers or audio enhancers) might hijack your sound settings.
- Hardware damage: Water damage, a drop, or a faulty speaker module can result in no sound at all, requiring repair.
These cover the typical sounds on iphone not working cases. Now, we’ll tackle each one methodically.
Methods to Fix iPhone Sound Not Working During Calls
We’re gonna tackle these fixes one by one, nice and easy. Just try each step, then make a quick test call to see if your sound’s back. Let’s get that voice coming through loud and clear!
Method 1: Make Sure Your iPhone Isn’t on Silent or Low Volume
Alright, before you start freaking out, let’s rule out the super simple stuff first. Sometimes, your phone’s just being shy and stuck on silent or low volume. Let’s check that out:
- If the side Ring/Silent toggle switch is set to silent (you see orange), calls will be silent. Flip it toward the screen so the orange dot disappears. If you have a newer model, press the Ring/Silent switch.
- Raise the volume: during a call, press the Volume Up button on the side to max. You can also swipe down to Control Center and drag the speaker icon volume slider up.
- Do a quick glance at Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringer and Alerts to ensure the slider isn’t all the way down helps. Apple explicitly recommends moving the switch.
After toggling, make a test call. You’d be surprised how often this restores sound: as Apple notes, turning off Silent mode and boosting the ringer volume can immediately fix your call audio.
If the sound returns, great! If not, proceed to Method 2.
Method 2: Turn Off Do Not Disturb (Focus)
Focus features like Do Not Disturb (DND) or scheduled Focus profiles can mute call audio. Apple notes that disabling DND is crucial to restore call sound. After turning it off, place another call. Often, the sound will be back if DND was the culprit. Here are the steps:
- Go to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb and toggle it off.
- Alternatively, open Control Center and tap the Focus icon (crescent moon) to turn off Do Not Disturb.
- With DND off, retry your call.
Once Do Not Disturb is disabled, sounds should ring through normally.
Method 3: Disconnect Bluetooth / Check Headphone Mode
Does it happen to you that you connect to your favorite speakers to play your favorite Boris Breccha techno track and leave the phone connected throughout the day? Your iPhone might still be paired to a Bluetooth device or stuck in headphone mode. When paired, all call audio routes to that device instead of the earpiece. Need steps to fix it? Here we go:
- First, head over to your Settings, tap on Bluetooth, and simply turn it off.
- If you’re using an older iPhone, just try plugging in your headphones and then unplugging them. It often helps.
- Next, switch Airplane Mode on for a few seconds, then turn it back off to refresh your phone’s connections.
- When you’re on a call, tap Audio on the screen and make sure the iPhone is selected as the output.
Doing all this helps your call audio play through the phone’s regular speaker instead of something else.
Method 4: Remove Case / Clean the Earpiece
Sometimes, the issue isn’t some sneaky software glitch but just good old dirt or dust blocking your iPhone’s speaker or receiver. If your phone’s been living in a pocket full of lint or a dusty bag, a little cleanup can work wonders. Here’s how to get your sound back to normal when dirt is the culprit:
- Take off any case and screen guard if you think it’s visibly blocking the sound.
- Use a clean, soft-bristled brush (an old toothbrush or dry paintbrush) to gently clear the receiver grill.
- Reattempt the call with the phone case removed.
By removing obstructions, the receiver can transmit sound clearly again.
Method 5: Restart Your iPhone
If software is acting up, a reboot can clear glitches. To restart:
- Got an iPhone X or newer? Hold down the side button and either volume button. If using an older iPhone, just press and hold the power button.
- A slider will pop up. Go ahead and swipe it to power down your phone. Now, take a short 30-second break (maybe stretch, sip water, contemplate life).
- Press and hold that power button again until you see the Apple logo shining back at you like, “Hey, I’m back!”
- This little reboot gives your phone a fresh start and kicks out any digital cobwebs.
- Once it’s back on, try making a call. Chances are any sound issues just packed their bags and left.
A restart (soft reset) refreshes the system. Once it boots up, try your call again. In many cases, this fixes temporary bugs that caused your call sound issue.
Method 6: Update iOS
Outdated or buggy software can break audio unexpectedly. If you had trouble after a recent iOS update, a newer update may address the bug. Update your iOS like a pro using these steps:
- Pop into your Settings, tap on General, then hit Software Update to see if there’s a new update waiting for you.
- If you see one, tap Download and install and let your iPhone do its thing.
- Once the update is done, restart your phone for good measure.
- Try a call afterward. Sometimes, those tiny updates fix big, annoying bugs like sound issues.
Suggested Read: How to Recover Data from iPhone After iOS Update?
Method 7: Reset All Settings
If nothing’s worked so far, don’t chuck your phone across the room just yet. There’s still hope! You can reset all settings without touching your photos, apps, or playlists. This wipe clears out things like Wi-Fi networks, sound settings, and privacy preferences. Basically, it gives your iPhone a fresh start without deleting your stuff. Yes, you’ll need to re-enter your Wi-Fi passwords and tweak a few things afterward, but it’s a small price to pay if a sneaky glitch was behind the no-sound drama. Alright, deep breath! Here’s how to do it:
- Open Settings, then tap General, and choose Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Select Reset All Settings and confirm when asked. Don’t forget your passcode if it pops up.
- Your iPhone will restart and load up with fresh default settings.
- After it boots back up, try making a call to see if the sound’s back.
This usually clears out any setting that might have been muting your calls.
Method 8: Use Stellar Toolkit for iPhone
If you’re still stuck after all that, your iPhone’s iOS might be acting up or corrupted and needs a quick tune-up. The good news? There are handy repair tools out there that can reinstall iOS without messing with your photos, apps, or files. One amazing tool is Stellar Toolkit for iPhone. It’s like a tech wizard that fixes your phone’s software without deleting anything important. Here’s how you can give it a try:
- Download Stellar Toolkit for iPhone on your Mac or Windows PC and connect your iPhone to the system using a USB cable.
- Select Repair iPhone module from the software’s launch screen.
- On the Repair iPhone screen, click the Next button.
- Click on the iPhone icon.
- Click the Download button to download the latest iOS version of the firmware file. If you have already downloaded the firmware before, select Import.
- After downloading the firmware file, click the Repair button to start repairing.
- Once you receive the message, the repair process of the selected iOS device is completed. Click OK.
- Restart your iPhone and then check if the sound problem of the device is fixed.
Once it finishes, restart your iPhone. This reinstall often clears deep software glitches causing problems with iphone sound. Try a call and your audio should now work as before. Once the repair completes, close the software and disconnect your iPhone, power it on and test your call audio again.
Method 9: Check App Conflicts and Audio Routing
Sometimes, those suspicious third-party apps like call blockers or funky equalizers can force your calls to the wrong output, such as a speaker or headphones. To fix this little audio mix-up, follow these simple steps below:
- Remove or disable any unusual audio apps (call filters, etc.) and test again.
- In Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Call Audio Routing, ensure “Automatic“ is selected.
- Retry the phone call with these changes.
These tweaks remove hidden obstacles to hearing calls on your iPhone’s speaker.
Method 10: Perform a Factory Reset (Last Resort)
If you’ve tried everything and your iPhone is still acting up, it might be time to pull out the big guns: a full factory reset. This wipes your phone clean and gives it a fresh start, like it just rolled off the assembly line. It’ll tackle pretty much any software glitch, including those stubborn sound troubles. Just remember, this is the last resort because it erases everything, so only go for it if all other fixes have thrown in the towel. Ready to go all the way? Here are the steps:
- Backup your iPhone in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud or via computer.
- Erase the phone: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
- Set up as new or restore your backup.
Once reset, this clean slate should clear any hidden faults. If your calls are still silent after a full reset, it’s almost certainly a hardware issue.
Warning: This erases all data, so first backup your iPhone via iCloud or iTunes.
Suggested Read: Does Factory Reset Delete Everything on iPhone?
Method 11: Seek Professional Service
If you’ve gone through all the fixes and still get nada on your calls, chances are it’s a hardware hiccup. Maybe your speaker or receiver is giving up on you. In fact, Apple admitted that a tiny batch of iPhone 12 and 12 Pro phones had this exact problem because of a faulty receiver and they offered free repairs for those. Whatever model you have, the smartest move now is to reach out to Apple Support or swing by an Apple Authorized Service Provider. They’ve got the tools and know-how to figure out what’s wrong and swap out any faulty parts, if needed.
If the speaker or audio chip is faulty, professional repair or replacement will be required. In Apple’s own words, if sound issues persist, “you might need service”. Getting it looked at can ultimately resolve hardware failures that software fixes can’t.
Conclusion
Not hearing anything during a call on your iPhone can drive you up the wall but don’t worry, most of the time it’s totally fixable. We’ve walked through everything from the easy stuff (like checking the mute switch, cranking up the volume, and turning off Do Not Disturb or Bluetooth) to the heavier hitters. Usually, just toggling a switch or giving your phone a quick restart is all it takes to get your audio back. If a pesky software bug is causing trouble, updating iOS or resetting settings usually smooths things out. And when things get really stubborn, tools like Stellar Toolkit for iPhone can dive deeper to fix system glitches without wiping your data. If none of that does the trick, it’s probably a hardware issue and Apple’s pros can step in to help. Follow these steps, and soon enough, your “no sound” days will be behind you with calls sounding crystal clear again!
