Problems during calls

After each troubleshooting step, check to see if your issue is fixed.

Screen goes black

  1. If you are using a case, cover or screen protector, remove it and see if it was causing the issue.
  2. Check your proximity sensor.

    • Use the diagnostic tool in this app. On the FIX tab, touch Hardware Tests > Proximity sensor.
    • Or, check manually. Make a call and set the phone on a table (don't use speaker mode), then hold your hand over the proximity sensor to see if you can turn the screen off and on.
  3. Use safe mode to see if apps you installed are causing the issue and uninstall as needed.

Calls are dropping

  1. Check your signal strength:

    • Weak signal from your cellular provider is a common cause of dropped calls. In the status bar, see how many bars your network connection has. If you see only one or two bars, change locations to improve your signal strength, particularly if you are indoors.
    • To review details about the strength of your network connection, go to Settings > Battery. Touch the battery history graph and use the colors of your cellular network signal to determine if you've had a recent loss of signal.
  2. Turn your phone off and then on again.

    Press and hold the Power button, then touch Power off. Then turn it on to establish a new connection with the network.

  3. During a call, check that the proximity sensor works by covering it to confirm that it turns off your screen, preventing accidental touches during calls. You can also download an app to automatically lock your screen during calls; search for “call screen lock” on Play Store.
  4. Use safe mode to see if apps you installed are causing the issue and uninstall as needed.
  5. Check if a software update is available for your phone.
  6. Reset the phone.

People can’t hear me on calls

  1. Check your volume setting.
  2. Check that nothing is covering the microphone:

    • If you are using a case, cover or screen protector, remove it and see if it was causing the issue.
    • Check that the protective film that ships with the phone has been removed.
  3. Check to see if your phone is using Voice privacy. (This feature not available on all models.) Turn it off to see if sound quality improves:

    1. Touch .
    2. Touch > Settings > Calls and touch the SIM.
    3. Turn off Voice privacy.
  4. If the issue occurs while using the speakerphone or a Bluetooth headset, check your signal strength.

    In the status bar, see how many bars your network connection has. If you see only one or two bars, change locations to improve your signal strength, particularly if you are indoors.

  5. Turn your phone off and then on again.

    Press and hold the Power button, then touch Power off. Then turn it on to establish a new connection with the network.

  6. Check if a software update is available for your phone.
  7. Turn off Voice Match.

    1. Open the Google app.
    2. Touch > Settings > Voice > Voice Match.
    3. Turn Say “Ok Google” any time off .

    Saying “OK, Google” won't work from all screens, but you can touch the search widget first, then say “OK, Google”.

  8. Use safe mode to see if apps you installed are causing the issue and uninstall as needed.
  9. Clear the phone's cache partition.
  10. Reset the phone.

Poor sound quality on calls

Start by checking your volume setting. You can only adjust the call volume with the Volume buttons while you’re on a call.

Wired headset

  1. Make sure the headset is inserted completely into the headset jack.
  2. If you are using a case or cover, remove it and re-insert the headset to see if it was interfering.
  3. Try a different headset to determine if the issue is with the original headset.

Earpiece

  1. Check that nothing is covering the microphone:

    • If you are using a case, cover or screen protector, remove it and see if it was causing the issue.
    • Check that the protective film that ships with the phone has been removed.
  2. While in a call, try using the speakerphone or a wired headset to see if the sound quality improves. If it doesn’t, the issue is probably network signal strength instead of hardware.
  3. Turn your phone off and then on again.

    Press and hold the Power button, then touch Power off. Then turn it on to establish a new connection with the network.

  4. Use safe mode to see if apps you installed are causing the issue and uninstall as needed.
  5. Check if a software update is available for your phone.
  6. Clear the phone's cache partition.
  7. Reset the phone.

Bluetooth device

Check battery level of Bluetooth device and phone, and charge if necessary. Bluetooth devices may disconnect or create noise when the phone or Bluetooth battery are low.

Can't make/receive calls