How To Fix If You can’t Hear Phone Calls unless on speaker on iPhone?

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Last Updated on July 19, 2023

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Are you unable to hear phone calls unless you switch over to the speaker on your iPhone? If yes then in this post we will help you to fix the issue.

can't Hear Phone Calls unless on speaker on iPhone

Why Are You Getting This Issue use?

There can be many reasons why you are getting the problems. Below we shared three major possibilities which may be causing the issue.

  • There are some temporary issues with your iPhone hardware which you can easily fix with restart or resetting your iPhone.
  • It’s also possible that you recently downloaded any app which has microphone permissions, and that app is interfering with your iPhone’s mic functionality while calling.
  • It’s also possible that for some reason your iPhone Earpiece gets damaged, and you have to contact the iPhone service to repair or replace the Earpiece in order to normally use your phone.

How To Fix If You can’t Hear Phone Calls unless on speaker on iPhone?


Solution 1: Restart Your iPhone

The first thing you should try is Restarting your phone. It can fix temporary issues with your iPhone.

  • Tap and hold the Power Button on your iPhone until you see the Slide to Power Off slider on the screen.
  • Then slide to Power Off.
  • Wait till your phone shuts down.
  • Once your phone is shut down, wait for a few seconds.
  • After that press and hold the power button until the iPhone starts.
  • Now check if the issue is resolved.

Solution 2: Use Your Phone In Safe Mode

As I mentioned above in the article, it’s also possible that any of your recently downloaded apps with mic permission may be causing the issue.

To find out if this is the case or not, you can boot your iPhone in safe mode. 

  • Power off your iPhone.
  • Then press and hold the Power Button until your iPhone lights up.
  • As your iPhone lights up, press and hold the volume down button until you see Apple Logo.
  • As you see the Apple Logo on the screen, release the volume key.
  • You are done, your phone now boots to Safe mode.
  • Now check if you are still getting the issue.
  • If the issue is continuing in the safe mode then there is a third-party app which is causing the issue, so uninstall third-party suspicious apps one by one to find the culprit.
  • If you still get the issue in the safe mode then the cause of the issue is not any installed third-party apps.

Solution 3: Make Sure Your iPhone Volume Is Set To High While Calling

We will also suggest you to quickly check if your phone speaker volume is set to high during the call. Smartphones allow users to customize the volume level while calling.

  • Just call someone, or call your other phone from your defective phone.
  • Press the volume up button to see if the volume is set to high or not.

Solution 4: Clean your Earpiece Port

It’s very common for the Earpiece Port to accumulate debris, and as a result, you may be hearing issues while calling. So we will recommend you to check the Earpiece port for any debris.

And if you find any debris then clean it carefully. Once your iPhone Earpiece port is clean, check if now you can hear the other people over call.


Solution 5: Update the Software to the latest version

Any temporary software glitch can also be the culprit. So we will suggest you to check for any pending software updates for your iPhone.

Note: Before updating your iPhone, it’s recommended to backup your iPhone data. Also, make sure that you are connected to a working internet connection.

  • Go to your iPhone Settings.
  • Choose General.
  • Tap Software Update.
  • Now see if there is any pending software update for your phone.
  • If there is any pending software update then please consider updating it.

Solution 6: Factory Reset

If any of the troubleshooting doesn’t work then the last possible fix is to Factory Reset your device.

Note: Before Factory Reset your iPhone, it’s recommended to backup your iPhone data.

  • Go to iPhone Settings.
  • Tap General.
  • Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
  • Select Erase All Content and Settings, and follow the on-screen options.
  • Wait till your iPhone finishes the Factory Reset.
  • Once Factory Reset is done, check if the issue is fixed or not.

Solution 7: Contact iPhone Service Center

If after trying everything you are still getting the issue then there can be some hardware issue which can only be addressed from the iPhone service center. So contact any nearest iPhone Service Center.


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Rahul Choudhary is a technology and troubleshooting expert. He gives his expert opinion on different technology trends and provides troubleshooting guides for different apps, websites, & consumer hardware products. He graduated in BA English Honours from the University Of Delhi, and later he learned HTML and WordPress. He also did a certificate course in Hardware and Network Troubleshooting , and a certificate course in Computer Architecture.