Can't hear calls on your iPhone? 8 ways to fix it.

Are you having trouble hearing calls on your iPhone unless you turn on the speakerphone? This often stems from phone settings, connection errors, or even dust clogging the speaker. In particular, with the iPhone 12, many users have experienced the problem of not being able to hear call audio. If this happens, you may need to contact Apple for repair or replacement. This article will provide detailed instructions on how to fix the muted call issue on iPhone XR, 11, 12, 13, and newer models, helping you hear every important call clearly anytime, anywhere.

Method 1: How to turn the sound back on when your iPhone is silent.

If your iPhone isn't making any sound, it's possible Silent Mode is enabled. Here's how to check and turn it off:

1. Check the Silent switch (if present).

• Look at the side of your iPhone and find the small toggle switch.

• Flip the switch upwards until the orange bar is no longer visible — this means silent mode is off.

2. If the iPhone doesn't have a toggle switch.

• Swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to open the Control Center.

• Find and tap the Do Not Disturb or Focus icon to turn it off if it's enabled.

• If the icon is off, proceed to the next step.

Note: Turning off Silent or Do Not Disturb mode will allow your iPhone to produce sound again.

Method 2: Check and balance the sound on your iPhone

If the sound is biased towards only one ear (left or right) of the headphones, you need to check the sound balance. Follow these steps:

How to adjust the sound balance:

1. Open Settings.

2. Select Accessibility.

3. Scroll down and select Audio/Visual.

4. Check the Balance setting.

   • Make sure the slider is in the middle (0.00) so that the sound is even on both sides.

Tip: Proper balancing will help you hear more clearly and comfortably when using headphones or speakers.

Method 3: Enable automatic call routing on your iPhone.

The Call Audio Routing feature helps your iPhone decide whether to play call or FaceTime audio through your headphones, speakerphone, or Bluetooth device. To ensure the audio goes to the right place, follow these instructions:

How to enable automatic call routing:

1. Open Settings.

2. Go to Accessibility.

3. Select Touch.

4. Tap on Call Audio Routing.

5. Select Automatic.

Tip: Enabling "Automatic" mode allows your iPhone to flexibly switch audio to the most suitable device (such as headphones if they are connected).

Method 4: Clean your iPhone's speaker and microphone to improve sound quality.

Over time, dust and dirt can accumulate in the iPhone's speaker or microphone, reducing sound quality or causing the device to produce no sound at all.

Proper cleaning method:

• Use a clean, dry, soft-bristled brush.

• Gently brush the speaker or microphone slot to remove dust and dirt.

• Do not use water, chemicals, or sharp objects for cleaning.

Tip: Regular cleaning helps improve sound clarity and protects the equipment from damage caused by dust.

Method 5: Restart your iPhone to fix audio issues.

Restarting your iPhone can help resolve many minor issues, including audio problems.

For iPhones without a Home button:

1. Press and hold the power button and the volume up button simultaneously.

2. When the power off slider appears, drag it to the right to turn off the engine.

For iPhones with a Home button:

1. Press and hold the power button on the side until you see the slider.

2. Drag the slider to turn off the machine.

After your iPhone has completely shut down, wait about 30 seconds, then turn it back on by holding the power button.

Tip: Restarting your device periodically helps it run more smoothly and stably.

Method 6: Check your network connection to ensure call audio quality.

A weak or unstable network connection can cause audio during calls (regular calls or FaceTime) to be interrupted, distorted, or inaudible.

How to check the connection:

• If using Wi-Fi: Make sure you are connected to a strong and stable network.

• If using mobile data: Check that you have a strong signal and sufficient data allowance.

• Try turning your Wi-Fi or mobile data off and then back on to refresh the connection.

Tip: Stand closer to the Wi-Fi router or move to an area with a stronger signal if needed. A good connection will ensure clear, uninterrupted calls.

Method 7: Update the software to fix the audio issue.

New iOS updates often come with bug fixes, which may include issues related to call audio or speakers.

How to check and update your software:

1. Open Settings.

2. Select General Settings.

3. Click on Software Update.

4. If an update is available, select Download and Install.

Tip: Ensure you have a stable Wi-Fi connection and sufficient battery power before updating. Devices that are always updated will perform better and have fewer errors.

Method 8: Contact Apple if your iPhone has a hardware defect.

If you've tried everything and your iPhone still has no sound, the device may be experiencing a hardware problem.

Things you need to know:

• iPhones come with a one-year hardware warranty, meaning you can get free repairs or a replacement if the fault is due to a manufacturing defect.

• Some iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro devices have experienced issues with no sound during calls – this is a confirmed problem by Apple, and you can take your device in for warranty repair free of charge.

How to contact Apple:

• Schedule an appointment at an Apple Store or an authorized Apple service center.

• Visit Apple's support page for advice and to schedule a repair appointment online.

Tip: Have your serial number or Apple ID ready when contacting us for faster support.

Author: Rain Kengly .