Why I can’t hear phone calls on iPhone?

iPhone no sound on calls – how can you fix the issue?

iPhone users are sometimes reporting that – iPhone no sound on calls or there is no sound on iPhone.

‘iPhone sound not working on calls’ or ‘iPhone can’t hear caller’ is a problem mostly reported by iPhone 6 and 7 users though this issue may be faced by the users of new models also at times. I also once found that my iPhone 7 speaker not working during calls.

No doubt it’s very annoying if you can’t hear phone calls on iPhone or the person at the other end can’t hear calls on your iPhone or if there is no sound on iPhone. If you happen to find yourself in a situation like this when your iPhone can’t hear caller then you have come to the right place that suggests possible solutions to iPhone call sound problems.

If there is no sound on iPhone during phone calls and you are not sure why you can’t hear phone calls on iPhone, first try the following steps for fixing your ‘no sound on iPhone’ issue yourself before contacting Apple Support for help.

iPhone no sound on calls or can’t hear phone calls on iPhone – steps to fix

For any reason, if you find that your iPhone sound not working and your iPhone can’t hear the caller, you may try the following fixes for troubleshooting iPhone no audio on calls.

After each step check if iPhone call sound problems are still there or if you still can’t hear phone calls on iPhone, before going to the next step.

Step 1. Clear any blockage of the iPhone receiver

If the receiver of your iPhone is blocked or exposed to dirt and dust it won’t work properly. Therefore, take the following steps to clear any possible blockage in your iPhone receiver when you experience iPhone no sound on calls:

• Clean the receiver opening with a soft clean bristled brush or any small pointed thing that is not made of metal;
• Remove any case or screen protector that may be blocking your iPhone receiver;

Step 2. Increase the volume if the iPhone sounds low on calls

If you find your iPhone volume low on calls or your iPhone can’t hear the caller unless on speaker make sure that the volume of your phone is suitably adjusted by the volume buttons so that the conversation can be heard and followed properly;

Step 3. Do not connect a headset to your iPhone

Ensure that nothing is plugged into the headphone jack or the dock connector of your iPhone. If your phone is connected to a headset the iPhone can’t hear calls through its receiver or from the speaker-phone;

Step 4. Turn off Bluetooth

Turn off Bluetooth to disconnect any wireless speaker or headset from your iPhone. To disable Bluetooth, go to Settings > Bluetooth > Toggle Bluetooth to ‘Off’;

Step 5. Check any issue with your network or reception

Turn on the speaker phone while you are on a call. Even after turning on the speaker phone if you still find your iPhone sound not working on calls or sound is unclear during phone calls, then your network or reception could be the issue. In such a case, reset your network settings and try calling again from a different location. To reset network settings,

Go to ‘Settings’ > General > tap ‘Reset’ > tap ‘Rest Network Settings’

(This is only going to change the network settings and not your data or content)

Step 6. Restart your iPhone

By restarting your iPhone you can fix many issues with the device. It refreshes the iPhone’s memory and erases all the loading glitches. You may, therefore, try this to fix the issue, ‘iPhone no sound on calls’.

To restart your iPhone,

> Press and hold the side button until the ‘power off’ slider appears;

> Drag the slider to turn your device off;

> After your iPhone is turned off, press and hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo.

Step 7. Upgrade your iPhone to the latest iOS version

Even after trying the above steps if you find the iPhone call sound not working or the iPhone sounds low and the iPhone can’t hear caller, you need to check the iPhone speaker. Maybe your iPhone speaker not working on calls.

On checking if it is detected that your iPhone speaker not working during calls, then update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS and test again.

Step 8. Turn off the ‘Do Not Disturb’ option

Turn off the “Do Not Disturb” option if it is enabled. With “Do Not Disturb”, you can silence calls and notifications

Step 9. Check for any hardware issue

If you still can’t hear phone calls on iPhone then check if there is any hardware issue like a damaged iPhone receiver. In case of any hardware damage, it’s better to get your iPhone checked by an Apple Retail Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider. You can also contact Apple Support for necessary repairs in such cases.

You may also like to read: Call Forwarding on iPhone – how to set it up

What to do if the iPhone microphone not working during calls

It is not uncommon to hear sometimes from iPhone users – why can’t I hear anything when I call someone’s iPhone?

If you see iPhone no audio on calls i.e. the person at the other end can’t hear you on the iPhone or there are sound problems on iPhone calls, there may be an issue with the microphone on your device.

You may find your iPhone microphone not working during calls if it is exposed to dirt and dust. If the microphone is blocked with dirt particles the person at the other end won’t be able to hear you. In such case of iPhone no audio on calls, you’ll need to clean the microphones the way described in ‘Step 1’ above, to clear any debris.

There are three different microphones on your device,

1. The one at the bottom and on the left side of the lightning port is meant for calls;

2. The one at the top is used for Face-Time calls and voice memos;

3. The one at the back of your device and on the right side of the camera is used for an audio recording of videos;

In the case of iPhone no audio on calls and the person at the other end can’t hear you even after cleaning the microphones, try the following steps:

• Turn off Bluetooth to disconnect any wireless speaker or headset from your iPhone;
• Make sure that the microphone is not blocked with your fingers or case while holding the device;
• Remove any case or screen protector that may be covering the microphone;
• Restart your device;
• Upgrade your iPhone to the latest iOS version;

You may also like to read this post – iPhone volume buttons not working?- Try these 6 proven fixes

Frequently asked questions

Before I conclude let me also reply to some queries often asked by iPhone users related to iPhone no sound on calls.

Why can’t I hear anything on my phone calls iPhone?

If there is no sound on phone calls iPhone, go to Settings > Sounds (or Sounds & Haptics). Then drag the ‘Ringer and Alerts’ slider back and forth a few times.

If still the iPhone call no sound issue is not fixed, or if your speaker button on the Ringer and Alerts slider is dimmed, then maybe your iPhone speaker not working on calls.

Why is my phone microphone not working?

If your microphone doesn’t work first check the sound settings of your device.  If the call volume is very low or mute simply increase the call volume and media volume of your phone. If you see still your iPhone call volume not working clear any debris from the microphones the way mentioned in the post. As already mentioned, dirt particles can also accumulate and easily clog the microphone of your device.

Why is my iPhone speaker not working during calls?

To find the answer to your query about why is my iPhone speaker not working during calls,

go to Settings > Sounds (or Settings > Sounds & Haptics), and drag the Ringer and Alerts slider back and forth a few times. If you see your iPhone calling sound not working or if your speaker button on the Ringer and Alerts slider is dimmed even after this, your speaker might need service. In such cases, you are to contact Apple Support for help.

You may also like to read: How to Fix iPhone Force Restart Not Working – an easy guide

Conclusion

I hope, after going through the post you got the answer to your query – why I can’t hear phone calls on iPhone and realized that there should not be any cause of worry if you happen to find that iPhone sound not working on calls. It has been found that in most cases, the issue of ‘iPhone no sound on calls‘ could be solved by following the steps mentioned above.

However, in the worst case, if none of the above fixes could solve the sound problems of your device such as the iPhone call sound not working, the iPhone sounding low, can’t hear phone calls on iPhone, the iPhone speaker not working on calls, or poor sound quality from your iPhone, you can contact Apple Support for help.

You may also like to read: How to Record Calls on iPhone Without App