Symptoms
- Sound disappears for a second or two then returns
- Happens randomly, not tied to a specific location
- More frequent with Bluetooth connected
- Both sides of the call notice the gap
Likely causes
- CommonBluetooth connection momentarily droppingInterference or range issues can cause brief audio gaps that reconnect automatically.
- CommonWeak or fluctuating cellular signalMoving through areas of varying signal strength causes intermittent audio drops.
- PossibleAnother app or notification interrupting the audio sessionA notification sound or app switching audio focus can briefly cut call audio.
- PossibleLow phone storage or memory causing processing delaysA phone low on resources can stutter audio processing during a call.
- Less commonSoftware bug in the phone's OS or calling appAn unpatched bug can cause intermittent audio session drops.
What to do
- Disconnect Bluetooth and test using the phone's built-in speaker and mic.
- Check signal strength and try moving to an area with a stronger connection.
- Close background apps that might be interrupting the audio session.
- Check available storage in Settings and clear space if it's nearly full.
- Restart the phone to clear any stuck background processes.
- Update the phone's software and the calling app to the latest versions.
- Test on a different network (Wi-Fi Calling versus cellular) to see if the cutouts are network-specific.
- If cutouts continue in every configuration, contact your carrier to check for a network-side issue.
When to call a pro
If audio cutouts persist across networks and without Bluetooth, contact your carrier to rule out a network-side problem.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.