Saying “can you hear me?” or “hello?” over and over during a call is one of the clearest signs that the call audio on your Android phone needs attention. With a few quick tweaks and settings that are not all that hidden, that audio can improve noticeably.
There are several ways to get there, and no, it does not boil down to cleaning the microphone (though you should do that too). Features such as Clear Calling, Wi-Fi calling, VoLTE, Adapt sound and Mic mode all help calls sound much crisper. As with everything Android, there is no single way of doing things: features and menus vary by device.
This guide covers call audio. If what you want is better sound for music or videos, we have another guide on how to get the best audio quality on Spotify.
One clarification comes first: call quality does not depend only on your phone. If the person on the other end has a weak signal, a poor microphone or a noisy room, the problem will affect you all the same. What follows focuses on the elements you can actually control.
Prerequisites
- An Android phone in working order. Nothing needs to be installed.
- Note that menu paths are shown in English, exactly as they appear in the Engadget original: the exact label changes with the device language and each manufacturer’s skin.
- Check that your specific model supports the feature. Several of these options are exclusive to particular tiers (each step says which).
Steps to improve call sound quality
1. Turn on VoLTE (and VoNR) for calls over a high-speed network
VoLTE, Voice over LTE, is as simple as its name suggests: the call is made over a high-speed 4G data network. (The equivalent connectivity over 5G is called Voice over New Radio, or VoNR.) Even in 2026, some calls still happen over older 2G and 3G networks, since those were built to carry voice traffic, early 4G could not carry phone calls, and the VoLTE rollout is still incomplete. The higher speeds of VoLTE and VoNR deliver clearer sound, HD voice and faster connections: calls connect much more quickly than on older networks.
To turn it on, on a generic Android device: Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile network > VoLTE calls (some phones label this as HD Calling or 4G Calling). On Samsung devices: Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > VoLTE calls or VoNR.
2. Turn on Wi-Fi calling
Turning on Wi-Fi calling is another simple way to improve your Android phone’s call quality. The feature routes calls through your home or office Wi-Fi: instead of sending your voice over the cellular network, it converts it into small digital packets. Those are sent securely over Wi-Fi to your carrier’s network, where the call is processed and handed over to the other person. Thanks to extra coverage, almost no cellular obstructions and far less network congestion, Wi-Fi calling delivers better quality than cellular networks can.
To turn it on: Settings > Network & internet > SIMS > Carrier SIM > Wi-Fi Calling. On Samsung the path is different: Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi Calling > Toggle on Wi-Fi Calling.
3. Cut background noise with Clear Calling or Mic mode
Many Android phone makers have built solutions for reducing background noise on calls, even though each of them names them differently.
On Pixel phones the feature is called Clear Calling: it improves your voice
quality and filters background noise so the call audio sounds better. To turn it
on, open Settings > Sound & vibration > Clear Calling > Toggle on Use Clear Calling.
You can also switch it on mid-call: press any volume button and select Clear Calling in the volume panel. For now the feature is only available on Pixel 7 and later. In VoIP apps such as WhatsApp and Zoom, Clear Calling only works on Pixel 10 and later, excluding the Pixel 10a.
Newer Samsung devices have a similar feature called Mic mode. To use it you need to already be on a call: once it starts, open the Quick settings panel and tap Mic mode at the top. The feature offers three options:
- Standard: applies minimal audio filtering.
- Voice focus: increases audio filtering so you can focus on the voice of the person calling you.
- Full spectrum: captures both the voice and background sounds.
Tap Done to apply your choice and continue the call. Mic mode is only available on select newer Galaxy devices and works on both regular calls and VoIP apps, though the menu options can change depending on the calling app.
4. Tune the audio to your ears with Adapt sound or Adaptive Sound
Sometimes a small adjustment is all it takes to enjoy satisfying call audio. Adapt sound on Samsung phones tunes the device’s audio output to your particular ears: it does not filter noise or boost the volume as such. While active, Adapt sound adjusts the device’s audio to compensate for the parts of the sound spectrum you struggle to hear clearly.
To find it: Settings > Sounds and vibration > Sound quality and effects > Adapt sound. On that page you can either pick one of the age-based presets or take a short hearing test to fully customize your phone’s speakers to your own ears. Bear in mind that it only works while you are wearing headphones.
Pixel devices have a similar feature, Adaptive Sound, which uses the phone’s microphone to automatically adjust the speaker’s sound depending on the environment. For example, if you take a call in a noisy place, it may boost the mid and high frequencies on its own so you can hear the conversation better. Other Android phones may have their own version of Adapt sound (or Adaptive sound), so it is worth rummaging through the Settings app (or doing a quick search) if your phone is neither a Pixel nor a Samsung.
5. Check the hardware: dust, lint and the case
If none of the fixes above has worked, it is worth checking whether dust, lint or even the case is obstructing the phone’s microphone or speaker. Any of these affects call quality, whatever setting you tweak.
How to verify that call audio improved
The check is straightforward: place a test call to someone you trust and ask whether you sound better than before, especially if you turned on Clear Calling or Mic mode, which exist precisely so that you are heard more clearly. If the person still reports the same problem, try switching the filtering mode (from Voice focus to Full spectrum, for example) and repeat the test.
You can also verify that Wi-Fi calling or VoLTE is working by making a call in an area with weak cellular coverage: if the conversation stays clear where it used to drop, the feature is doing its job.
Limitations and caveats
- There is no single solution for everyone. As elsewhere on Android, features and menus vary by device: what sits in one place on one model sits somewhere else on another.
- The other person counts too. If the caller has a weak signal, a poor microphone or a noisy environment, that will affect the call no matter what you do with your own phone.
- Limited availability. Clear Calling reaches Pixel 7 and later; in VoIP apps such as WhatsApp or Zoom only Pixel 10 and later, without the Pixel 10a. Mic mode is limited to select newer Galaxy devices. Adapt sound only works with headphones connected.
- Cleaning the microphone is still recommended. These settings do not replace basic cleaning of the phone’s hardware.
