Echo or feedback during phone calls

Symptoms

• You hear your own voice repeated back with a delay
• Echo only happens on speakerphone
• Caller says they hear an echo of themselves
• Echo happens with a specific Bluetooth device

Likely causes

• CommonSpeakerphone picking up sound and re-sending itIn a quiet or hard-surfaced room, the mic can pick up the speaker's own output and echo it back.
• CommonIssue on the other caller's phone or connectionMany echoes are caused by the other person's speakerphone or weak connection, not your phone.
• PossibleBluetooth headset or car audio processing delaySome Bluetooth accessories introduce audio lag that sounds like an echo.
• PossibleNetwork or VoIP call quality issueCalls made over Wi-Fi Calling or internet-based apps can echo when the connection is unstable.
• Less commonCase or object partially blocking the mic and speaker togetherThis can cause sound to bounce and re-enter the mic.

What to do

1. Turn off speakerphone and hold the phone to your ear to see if the echo stops.
2. Ask the other caller to turn off their speakerphone, since the echo is often on their end.
3. If using Bluetooth, disconnect it and try the call on the phone's built-in earpiece and mic.
4. Move to a room with soft furnishings if using speakerphone, as hard surfaces make echo worse.
5. Switch off Wi-Fi Calling temporarily and test the call over cellular only.
6. Restart the phone to clear any stuck audio session.
7. Update Bluetooth accessory firmware through its companion app if available.
8. If the echo continues on every call from your side specifically, contact your carrier to check the line.

When to call a pro

If echo happens on your calls specifically regardless of speakerphone or Bluetooth, your carrier can check for a line issue.

Safety