Top 11 Ways to Fix iPhone Speaker Greyed out During Call

Updated by Brian Davis on Feb 24, 2026 • Category: Fix iPhone Issues
7 mins read

Does your iPhone speaker greyed out? Many iPhone users complained that they meet this issue during their use. Actually, this situation refers to that you may have trouble hearing other people's voice through the speaker and also the other way around, yet it performs well when playing music or video. Moreover, the speaker button becomes unusable during the voice or video call of other social media.

These issues can be summarized as the disabled microphone on iPhone. Why does this problem happen? How to get rid of this trouble? The following 11 best methods are outlined to fix your iPhone.

how to fix iphone speaker greyed out

Part 1: Why iPhone No Sound on Calls Speaker Greyed Out?

If you're experiencing an issue with your iPhone where there is no sound during calls and the speaker option is greyed out, it could be due to several reasons. Let's check together.

  • 01 Software Glitch: Sometimes, a temporary software issue can cause the speaker to become unresponsive.
  • 02 Audio IC Issue: The iPhone 7 series is known to have an issue with the audio IC (integrated circuit) on the logic board. This problem, sometimes referred to as "Loop Disease," can cause the speaker to be greyed out during calls. This is a hardware issue and requires professional repair.
  • 03 Blocked or Dirty Speaker: Dirt, debris, or lint blocking the speaker grill can also cause audio issues. Clean the speaker grill gently with a soft brush or compressed air to remove any obstructions.
  • 04 Bluetooth Interference: If your iPhone is connected to a Bluetooth device, the audio might be routing through it. Make sure to disconnect from any Bluetooth devices and check if the issue persists.
  • 05 Headphone Mode Stuck: Sometimes the iPhone can get stuck in headphone mode, which results in iPhone speaker greyed out. Try plugging in and unplugging headphones or a headset several times to see if this resolves the issue.
  • 06 Damaged Speaker: Physical damage to the speaker itself could be the cause. If you suspect this, you will likely need to have the speaker replaced by a professional.

Part 2: Video Tutorial -- Fix iPhone Speaker Greyed out

First, to help you learn how to fix the issue, we'd like to give you a short video. For detailed inforamation, please go to the following sections.

Part 3: How to Fix iPhone Speaker Greyed out During Call?

Now that you understand the possible causes, let's walk through the practical solutions you can try to fix the iPhone speaker greyed out during calls.

Method 1: Restart Your iPhone

If your iPhone's speaker button is greyed out during calls, it usually means the phone thinks audio is being routed somewhere else (like Bluetooth, headphones, or a system glitch). A simple restart often clears the bug. Here's how:

  • Step 1. Firstly press and hold down the Power/Side button (for iPhone X or later, press and hold the Side and Volume buttons) until the slide to power off appears on the screen.
  • Step 2. Then slide the slider to the right to switch off your iPhone.
  • Step 3. Finally press down and hold the Power/Side button again to switch on the device until the Apple logo is shown.

restart iphone

Method 2: Turn off the Silent Mode

When your iPhone no sound on calls speaker greyed out, you are supposed to make sure your iPhone is not in the Silent Mode. The Silent switch, situating on the iPhone's left side, is designed to control the sound played through the speaker. If your iPhone volume greyed out, check out whether the Silent switch is off.

turn off iphone silent mode

Method 3: Turn off Do Not Disturb

If iPhone speaker logo greyed out during call, you need to check whether you have turned on Do Not Disturb accidentally. If you turn on Do Not Disturb on your iPhone, your iPhone speaker logo is likely to grey out when you call others. To check it, you need to go to the Settings app and choose the Do Not Disturb section. Then, tap the button to disable it.

disable do not disturb

Method 4: Reconnect Your Bluetooth Accessories

If you are using Bluetooth accessories, there is a Bluetooth connection between your iPhone and your Bluetooth. Sometimes, incorrect configurations or bugs of Bluetooth may lead to iPhone speaker button greyed out, and you can fix iPhone speaker greyed out by unpair and reconnect your Bluetooth to your iPhone by the detailed steps in the following:

  • Step 1. Go to the Settings app and choose the Bluetooth option.
  • Step 2. Search for your Bluetooth device, and then tap on the icon next to it.
  • Step 3. Choose Forget This Device followed by Forget Device to unpair your Bluetooth accessories.
  • Step 4. Go back to the Bluetooth page, and then search for your accessories.

reconnect bluetooth

Method 5: Check the Headphone Mode

iPhone speaker greyed out can be attributed to the condition that the device gets stuck in the headphone mode, which is a common one among various iOS issues. To make sure your iPhone is not in the headphone mode, please try to changing the volume to check if there is Headphone displayed on the screen. If so, just repeatedly plug in and out your headphone to resolve the problem discussed here.

check headphone mode

link icon View Also: How to Fix iPhone Stuck in the Headphone Mode

Method 6: Set Call Audio Routing

Another method to fix iPhone speaker greyed out is setting the Call Audio Routing of your iPhone. This is an accessibility setting that can help you route any audio while on a call. You can take the steps to conduct Call Audio Routing settings.

  • Step 1. First, run the Settings app, and then scroll down to find the Accessibility option.
  • Step 2. Choose Touch on the Accessibility option followed by Call Audio Routing.
  • Step 3. Set the Call Audio Routing to be Speaker not Automatic.

set call audio routing

Method 7: Repair the Speaker via TunesKit iOS System Recovery

We have to say that the top-rated fix iPhone speaker greyed out issue is to use professional, efficient, and secure iOS system repair tools such as TunesKit iOS System Recovery, which can solve all iOS problems such as iPhone speaker not working, iPhone stuck on recovery mode, diverse iTunes errors, and so on. And this software can help you to repair the disabled microphone on your iPhone without data loss, and with the fastest speed as well as almost 100% success rate.

No matter if you use iPhone 7/7P/8/X or later models, this useful system repair tool can help you out instantly when you meet system glitches on your device. You don't need to seek help from others with the help of TunesKit iOS System Recovery when you are in trouble related with your iOS devices.

Fix iPhone Speaker Greyed Out During Calls

With TunesKit iOS System Recovery, you can resolve the greyed-out speaker issue in minutes without losing any data — no tech skills required.

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Follow the simple steps to fix iPhone no sound on calls speaker greyed out.

Step 1 Connect iPhone to PC

First, connect your device with the computer via an original USB cable. Then open TunesKit iOS System Recovery on the computer. And when your iPhone is detected automatically, tap on the iOS System Repair button to begin and then choose the Start button.

choose ios system repair

Step 2 Select Standard Repair

If you want to keep your data intact, choose the Standard Repair option to continue; only use the Deep Repair if the Standard Repair failed.

select mode to fix grey iphone speaker

Step 3 Download firmware

Confirm your device info, next click on the Download button to get matched iOS firmware package downloaded and verified. Wait a while until the process finishes.

download firmware package

Step 4 Start fixing iPhone

Once the download is done, you can tap on the Repair button and start solving the problem. Remember not to plug out your device while it's fixing the iOS system, otherwise it may cause other problems. After a few minutes, your iPhone will restart. Call your contacts to see if iPhone speaker greyed out issue can be solved.

fix iphone speaker greyed out during call

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Method 8: Update iPhone System

Updating iPhone's software to the latest version can be helpful in removing some unknown bugs, which might lead to the iPhone speaker greyed out. If you haven't updated iPhone software, you could do the steps below.

  • Step 1. Go to iPhone's Settings > General > Software Update,
  • Step 2. If there is a new iOS version, tap the Update Now button to install the latest iOS.

update iphone software

Method 9: Reset All Settings

To resolve the problem of iPhone 7 no sound on calls speaker greyed out, you can also try to fix it by resetting all settings. This method will be conducive to you when your problem is caused by a software error. Here are the specific steps that you can follow to reset all settings on your iPhone and repair it.

  • Step 1. Head to the Settings app on your disabled iPhone, and hit on the General option.
  • Step 2. Navigated to the Transfer or Reset iPhone option, and click on it followed by Reset → Reset All Settings.
  • Step 3. When the prompt asking for your confirmation pops up, please tap on Reset All Settings again.

fix disabled iphone speaker by resetting all settings

Method 10: Restore iPhone via iTunes

Well, you can also restore your iPhone with the help of iTunes to work out the iPhone volume greyed out. But before proceeding in the following procedures, you are suggested to back up your data as it will delete them all.

  • Step 1. Launch iTunes and connect your powered-off iPhone with the computer.
  • Step 2. Tap the iPhone icon when the device appears on the iTunes successfully. Then put your iPhone into recovery mode.
  • Step 3. Hit Restore iPhone in the column of Summary.
  • Step 4. Click Restore button again.

restore iphone from itunes

Method 11: Contact Apple Center

If unluckily, all of the above methods fail to do the trick in resolving iPhone speaker greyed out, there may be a hardware issue with your iPhone's audio components. Then you may only go to the nearby Apple Store to seek professional suggestions. It is worth mentioning that this way may cost you a few bucks and waste some time.

contact apple center

Part 4: FAQs about iPhone Speaker Greyed out

  • Q1: What should I do if the other person can't hear me during a call?

    First, ensure your microphone isn't physically blocked by a case or debris. Then open the Voice Memos app and record a short clip. If the playback is silent or filled with static, your microphone hardware may be damaged. If the issue only happens in apps like WhatsApp or Zoom, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and ensure the app has permission. please note that the native "Phone" app does not appear in this list as it has default access.
    microphone permission

  • Q2: Why is my speaker not working (or why can't I hear audio) during calls?

    This is often due to audio being routed elsewhere. You can go to Settings > Bluetooth and turn it off to ensure your phone isn't connected to a headset or car system. During a call, tap the Audio button on the screen and select "Speaker" or "iPhone." If the speaker icon is permanently greyed out and cannot be tapped, this indicates a motherboard or audio chip failure, not a software setting.
    turn off bluetooth

  • Q3: Is the greyed-out speaker button caused by water damage?

    It is possible, but not the most likely cause for certain models. Yes, liquid can damage internal audio components. If you have an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, a greyed-out speaker icon is a classic sign of "Audio IC" failure. This is caused by the audio chip loosening from the motherboard due to drops or slight bending of the phone over time, rather than water.

  • Q4: Will a factory reset fix my iPhone if the speaker option is greyed out?

    If your speaker button is greyed out due to a motherboard hardware issue (common in iPhone 7/7 Plus), a factory reset or iOS update can cause the iPhone to get stuck in a Boot Loop (stuck on the Apple logo).
    Because the system checks for audio hardware during startup, a broken chip will prevent the phone from booting up after a reset, potentially causing total data loss. We strongly recommend backing up your data immediately and seeking professional hardware repair.

Part 5: The Bottom Line

Well, that's what we present you the complete tutorials to fix iPhone speaker greyed out. Generally speaking, there must be one solution can be workable. We recommend you try TunesKit iOS System Recovery first if you don't want to spend too much time and energy resolving this problem. Hopefully, these ideas can do you a favor, and if you think this article is useful, welcome to share it with your friends.

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