Welcome to another part of our troubleshooting series where we resolve the issues our readers are facing with their Android devices. In this latest installment of the series we will tackle the #Samsung Galaxy #S4 can’t hear calls issue & other related problems. We have gathered several issues of this nature that have been sent to us and have provided the best troubleshooting step that needs to be done to reach a resolution.
If you would like to browse the previous parts in this series then check out this link.
S4 Call Can’t Be Heard
Problem: I am on phone calls and will not move and all of a sudden the other person is like I can’t hear you, I have to walk around the house til I find a good spot and then can talk a few more minutes there and than “I can’t hear you”, I have even gone outside and still get the “I can’t hear you”. I have been on Verizon the whole time I have lived in my house and never had an issue, this phone is the only one I am having the issue with. For some reason the phone will fade in and out whenever it chooses. I have had conversations for over an hr and not one problem and than I have had conversations for 5 mins and bam, I can’t hear you. I actually feel like the commercial, can you hear me now. Any help would be appreciated thanks
Solution: Does this issue occur only when you are at your house? Have you observed the issue occurring in other places? If the problem occurs only in your house then this may be caused by a network related issue in your area.
If the problem occurs in no specific location then this may be a phone related problem. The first thing you should do is to wipe the cache partition of your phone. If some form of corrupt temporary data is causing the problem then this procedure is needed to resolve the issue. Check and see if the problem still occurs when you are on a call.
Switching between the different network modes may also help resolve the problem. To access the network mode go to Settings – Connections – More Networks – Mobile Networks – Network Mode. The modes to choose from are LTE/GSM/WCDMA (auto connect), GSM/WCDMA (auto connect), GSM only or WCDMA only. You need to check the call quality when your phone is set to each mode. If there is a particular mode where the problem does not occur then I suggest you use this mode.
Sometimes, an app you installed in your phone can also cause this type of problem. To check if this is the case you should start your phone in Safe Mode. In this mode only the pre-installed apps are allowed to run while apps you downloaded are disabled. Make a call then observe if the issue occurs. If it doesn’t then an app may be causing the problem. Find out what app this is and uninstall it.
One last troubleshooting step that you should consider is a factory reset. Make sure that you backup your phone data first before doing this procedure.
S4 Can’t Hear Other Person When On Call
Problem: After having the phone for 2 years I’m having issues when I make a call. I can’t hear if it’s ringing and when the person answers I can’t hear them or barely hear them but they hear me. Sound on the rest of the phone works fine. Help.
Solution: This issue could either be caused by a software or hardware problem. Before troubleshooting make sure your phone does not have a case or a screen protector installed. This may lower the volume of the phone. You should also check the earpiece speaker for any signs of dirt that may be lodged in it as this blocks the sound from passing. If necessary use a can of compressed air to clean the speaker.
Try checking the software side first by wiping the cache partition of your phone from the recovery mode. Check if the problem still occurs.
If you still experience the same problem then start your phone in Safe Mode. This way you can check if an app you downloaded is causing the problem. Make a call in this mode. If you can hear the person on the other end clearly then it’s very likely that an app you installed is causing the problem. Find out what app this is and uninstall it.
In case the above troubleshooting steps fail to resolve the problem then you should backup your phone data and do a factory reset. After the reset make a call and check if the issue still occurs.
If the factory reset fails to resolve the problem then this may be a hardware related problem. I suggest you bring your phone to an authorized service center for checking.
S4 Can’t Hear Calls
Problem: If I try to call somebody they can’t hear me and I can’t hear them same thing happens if I receive calls did a hard factory reset it works temporarily but it’s going back to doing the same problem as before what can I do?
Solution: Does the problem occur in a specific area or does the problem occur in any area you are located? If the problem only occurs in a specific area then this may be a network related problem. Otherwise, this issue is a phone problem.
If this is a phone problem then try using a pair of headphones that is known to work first and see if you can hear the other party and you can hear them when making a call. If you can then the problem may be caused by the speaker and microphone of your phone.
To further verify if both components are working properly open the voice recorder app and record a voice clip. Playback the voice clip. If you can’t hear anything then the problem may already be hardware related. I suggest you bring your phone to an authorized service center and have it checked.
S4 Calls Getting Dropped
Problem: I have a problem with calls dropping out, for no obvious reason, no pattern to it either. I seem to get a lot of beeping whilst I am on a call, then for no reason it drops out. No always, sometimes ok. I have tried everything and even taken battery out. Please do you have any suggestions. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Solution: Does this problem occur in a specific area? Or does the problem occur in any area? If it occurs only in a specific area then this may be a network related issue. Try switching between the different network modes of your phone then verify if the issue occurs in each mode. The modes are LTE/GSM/WCDMA (auto connect), GSM/WCDMA (auto connect), GSM only or WCDMA only. If possible you should also try to use a different SIM on your phone to check if this issue is SIM or account related.
I also suggest wiping the cache partition of your phone from recovery mode. This clears out the temporary data stored in your phone which if corrupt can cause this type of issue.
If the above troubleshooting steps fail then backup your phone data and do a factory reset.
If the problem still persists after the factory reset then have your phone checked at an authorized service center as this may already be a hardware related problem.
S4 Freezes When Making Calls
Problem: “program system isn’t responding. do you want to close it? wait or ok?” and all calls and texts and phone connectivity freezes and shuts down. i have stopped certain apps, shut off almost all notifications except for email. cleared cache and most data. and stopped most programs running including turned off wifi, wifi calling, location/gps. i also tried the “”reset the applications”” feature. i’ve taken the battery out for 10sec a few times, etc. it still stalls out and freezes esp when i try making phone calls i cannot. thank you for your help!
Solution: For this issue I suggest you wipe the cache partition of your phone first from the recovery mode. If the problem still persists then backup your phone data and do a factory reset.