Bad calls can make life more difficult than it needs to be, and it can be frustrating. So, if you have been wondering, ‘why does my iPhone have poor sound quality while on calls?’, and are looking for an answer, we might be able to help.
Tech issues are common, but that doesn’t mean they get any less annoying. From failed iPhone software updates and SIM cards not being read to devices that won’t vibrate, charge, or even turn on, we cover it all. As a local and independent store, we want to help you get your tech working as it should be again, so you can keep enjoying life.
At imFixed, we offer our professional services for all kinds of repairs in Oldham, Rochdale, and the Manchester area, including home repairs in Bury. We like to give you the information you need to get your devices working on their own wherever possible, too, and our guides on solutions for water damage, iPhone screen repairs, and what to do when your iPhone won’t turn on, will help you navigate tech issues.
What Can You do While Having Poor Sound Quality on Calls?
If you have bad sound quality, but still need to make important calls, sometimes you need to find a workaround. In these cases, there are a few options to try that might get you better results until you can find a permanent solution to your poor call quality issue.
Try the following options if you are struggling with poor audio quality on your calls:
- Call with FaceTime – you can activate Voice Isolation on FaceTime to help reduce background noise in calls
- Use your AirPods/headphones – this should get you good audio quality unless there is an issue with your headphones
- Utilise Wi-Fi calling – Settings → Cellular/Mobile Data → Wi-Fi Calling → toggle on
Why Does My iPhone Have Poor Sound Quality While on Calls?
Poor call quality is more common than you think, and there could be a number of causes. Below, we will go through some reasons and solutions to fix your call quality and get things running how they should be again.
Your Audio Input/Output Might be Dirty
If you have not cleaned your phone in a while, then there’s a good chance that the poor sound quality in your calls could be due to dirt and debris. All kinds of things can get stuck in your speaker and microphone, and you need to pay special attention to clean it out occasionally with something like a toothpick.
Clean these areas, and see if you notice an improvement. If it’s already clean, then you know that the issue is something else.
If it’s Brand New, Remember to Remove the Film
Easily done, but if you only just bought your iPhone, don’t forget to take the film off. This will heavily impact the quality of your calls.
In the same vein, you can also try making a call without your phone case. If the call is better without your case, then you should start looking for a different one, as your current case is not suitable.
Double-Check Your Headphones
If you are making a call with your headphones, be sure to double-check them before losing hope. Depending on the phone you have, your headphones might not be plugged in properly, or your AirPods might not be connected via Bluetooth.
The cord of your headphones might be damaged, too. Try making the call with a different set, or without any headphones, and see how it goes. If the quality improves in either of these cases, the issue probably lies with your headphones and you should get a new pair.
Check Your Network Connection
In order to have good audio quality, your iPhone needs to be connected to a strong and stable network. You can check your network simply by looking at the top of your phone to see the Wi-Fi and cellular network.
If you notice that the network is weak, try moving to a different area where the connection is better, and see if this improves your call quality.
Disable and Enable Bluetooth
Bluetooth can impact the quality of the calls, and you may need to re-enable it to get the system working properly again. All you need to do for this is as follows: Settings → Bluetooth → toggle off, wait a few seconds, and toggle it back on again.
This simple fix will often do the trick, but don’t worry if it doesn’t – there are other options to try out before admitting defeat and taking your phone to a repair shop.
Turn Noise Cancellation Off
In some cases, your iPhone’s noise cancellation feature might be what is causing trouble in the first place. While this feature is meant to cancel out other sources of noise to make your calls clearer, they can sometimes cause problems of their own.
So, if you have noise cancellation turned on, you should turn it off and see if there is any improvement in the quality of your calls. To do this, follow these steps: Settings → General → Accessibility → Phone noise consolation → toggle it off.
NOTE: Please be aware that the iPhone 13 does not have the noise cancellation feature.
Update Your Device
Usually your iPhone will update without any issues, but we know that things don’t always work out the way we like. If your iPhone refuses to update, you can try to update your iOS in Recovery Mode (you will need the latest version of iTunes on a Windows or Mac laptop/PC).
- Connect your Windows/Mac device to the phone
- Do a force restart (steps outlined in an above section) to get your phone in Recovery Mode
- Don’t let go of the buttons until the phone screen has the Recovery mode screen (a charging cable with an arrow pointed at a laptop)
- Select ‘update’ when the option to restore or update on your computer shows up
- Confirm, then follow the instructions given to you (it can take up to 15 minutes, so have some patience)
- Your phone will restart on its own once you’re done
In the situation where this doesn’t work, the final thing to try is DFU Mode to update the iOS. Because DFU Mode is more complex than Recovery Mode, and varies depending on the device model you have, follow these steps to effectively go through the process.
Just be aware that DFU will restore iOS to a clean slate while bypassing iBoot, which Recovery Mode uses. As such, make sure you back up all your important data before proceeding.
If this doesn’t work, you will need to get in touch with a professional like us, or Apple.
Reset Your Network Settings
Your network settings might be wrong if your sound quality is bad while on calls. So, the best thing to do is reset your network settings and make any necessary changes from a blank slate. To do this, you just need to follow these steps: Settings → General → Transfer or Reset Phone → Reset → Reset Network Settings.
Let imFixed Help You
At imFixed, we want to help you with tech-related issues of all kinds, and even offer call-out screen repairs in and around Manchester to help keep business running smoothly.
Here, we answer your burning questions – like if it’s worth fixing a MacBook screen, what new MacBook users should know, and if your MacBook battery can be repaired. If you need accessories for your devices, we also have a collection of cases and holders, headphones and adapters, Apple screen protectors, chargers, and cases, so you can always care for your devices.
You can find out more information about the best solutions to water damaged iPhones or why your iPhone battery may be draining, and find out what you need to know about screen repairs and iPhone speaker problems.
So, why does my iPhone have poor sound quality while on calls? There could be a number of reasons, and hopefully our guide helps you get to the bottom of it
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