How to Use the iPhone Speakerphone

Co-authored by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: June 29, 2019 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to use your iPhone's speaker function to amplify your phone's volume during a phone call. You can turn on your iPhone's speaker during a call, or you can change your iPhone's settings to turn on the speaker whenever you initiate or receive a call. Unfortunately, you cannot use the speaker to amplify the volume for a video or voice message.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:
Turning on the Speaker During a Call

1
Open your iPhone's
Phone app. Tap the Phone app icon, which resembles a white phone receiver on a green background.
2
Tap the Contacts tab. It's at the bottom of the screen. Doing so will open a list of your iPhone's contacts.
- If you want to dial a number manually, tap the Keypad ⋮⋮⋮ tab instead.
3
Select a contact. Scroll down until you find the contact whom you want to call, then tap their name. This will open their page.
- If you're dialing, type in the number that you want to call.
4
Initiate a phone call. Tap the phone receiver-shaped call button near the top of the page, then tap Call mobile in the resulting pop-up menu.
- If you dialed a number, just tap the green call button at the bottom of the screen.
5
Hold the iPhone at least a couple of feet away from you. As soon as the phone call begins, you'll want to make sure that the iPhone is far enough away that the screen stays on.
- Holding the iPhone close to your face will prompt the screen to turn off.
6
Tap Speaker. It's in the upper-right corner of the grid of call buttons. Doing so will turn on your iPhone's speaker, allowing you to hold the phone away from your face while still being able to talk and listen.
- If your iPhone's dial pad is still on-screen, tap Hide in the bottom-right corner of the dial pad to hide it and show the call buttons.
- If you're connected to a Bluetooth speaker (e.g., the speaker in your car), tapping the speaker icon will prompt a pop-up menu at the bottom of the screen, at which point you'll have to tap Speaker to switch to your iPhone's speaker.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:
Turning on the Speaker for All Calls

1
Open your iPhone's
Settings. Tap the Settings app icon, which resembles a set of gears on a grey box.
2
Scroll down and tap
General. It's near the top of the page, so you should only have to scroll down a little bit. This will open the General page.
3
Tap Accessibility. This option is near the bottom of the screen.
4
Scroll down and tap Call Audio Routing. It's at the bottom of the second large group of options, which is near the bottom of the page.
5
Tap Speaker. This option is at the bottom of the "Call Audio Routing" menu. You should see a checkmark appear to the left of Speaker, signifying that it is the default call audio option now.
- With this option enabled, all incoming or outgoing calls will automatically use the speaker. You'll be able to turn off the speaker by tapping speaker during the call.

Community Q&A

Question

The speaker icon does not show up when I call voicemail. How can I fix this?

Community Answer

The word "Hide" should be on the bottom right of the dial screen. Tap it and the screen will change to the usual options screen that includes the speaker icon.
Question

How can I put a call on hold while on the speaker?

Community Answer

Fortunately, all you have to do is tap the Home button. You'll remain on the line (as will your recipient), but you can browse your apps to your heart's content!
Question

Is there a way to switch the iPhone into speakerphone mode permanently or temporarily?

Community Answer

You can make the speaker your default audio option by opening the Settings app and going to General > Accessibility > Call Audio Routing, then tapping "Speaker".
Question

What could be causing my speaker phone to not work?

Community Answer

Maybe you have dropped your phone or if it has had contact with water. On older phones, older software could also be the cause.
Question

How do I turn on the speaker on an iPhone 5s?

Community Answer

Increase the volume using the side buttons and the vibrator button on the left side. If this doesn't work, get your phone checked just in case the speakers are broken.
Question

How do I turn on the speaker option when I am already on my iPhone?

Community Answer

When you first answer a cell phone call, you will see multiple circular buttons you can press on the screen. One of them, usually on the top right, should read, "speaker," and have an icon of a megaphone with three lines coming out. Press that button and it will automatically put your call on speaker.
Question

How do I turn on the speaker during a call?

Community Answer

During a call, tap the "Speaker" icon on the call screen to activate speakerphone. Tap the same icon again to disable speakerphone.