To make your iPhone answer every call on speaker, go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Call Audio Routing and choose Speaker. Calls you answer then start on speakerphone without any extra taps. To put just one call on speaker, tap the Audio button on the call screen and choose Speaker.
Apple documents this setting in its Route and automatically answer calls on iPhone guide. The steps below follow the current version of that guide (iOS 27). The same guide exists for iOS 15 through iOS 26, so the setting is in the same place on recent versions.
What You Need to Know First
- Call audio routing means choosing where the sound of a call plays: the earpiece at the top of the phone, the speaker, a Bluetooth headset, or a hearing device.
- The setting applies to both phone calls and FaceTime calls, according to Apple.
- It only changes where the audio goes. You still answer each call yourself unless you also turn on Auto-Answer Calls, which is a separate switch covered below.
- Speakerphone is not private. Everyone near you can hear the caller as soon as you answer.
How to Answer All Calls on Speaker Automatically
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap Accessibility.
- Tap Touch.
- Scroll to the bottom of the Touch screen and tap Call Audio Routing.
- Tap Speaker so it is the selected audio destination.
That is the whole change. There is no Save button, so you can close Settings. The next call you answer should start on the iPhone speaker.
The Other Call Audio Routing Choices
Apple says you can send call audio to the iPhone speaker, a Bluetooth headset, or your hearing device. The menu also has a default choice, usually labeled Automatic, that lets the iPhone decide based on what is connected. Apple’s guide does not list the exact option names, so the wording on your screen may differ slightly.
If you wear a hearing aid that is paired with the iPhone, Apple notes that taking it out of your ear during a call switches the audio to the iPhone speaker.
How to Check That It Worked, and How to Undo It
Ask someone to call you, or call your own number from another phone. Answer normally. The caller’s voice should come from the speaker at the bottom of the iPhone, and the Audio button on the call screen should show the speaker as the current destination.
To undo the change, return to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Call Audio Routing and pick the default option instead of Speaker. Our guide to stopping your iPhone from answering on speaker walks through that in more detail.
How to Put One Call on Speaker
Use this when you want speakerphone only now and then. It does not change the default for later calls.
- Answer or place the call.
- Hold the phone away from your face so the call screen stays lit.
- Tap the Audio button.
- Choose Speaker as the audio destination.
If you are in another app during the call, Apple’s While on a call on iPhone guide says to swipe down on the call banner to reach the same controls. To get back to the full call screen, tap the green call indicator at the top of the screen.
To leave speakerphone, tap Audio again and choose the iPhone itself or your headset. This does not hang up or mute the call. When AirPods, a car, or another Bluetooth device is connected, the list shows those names too, so pick Speaker when you want sound from the phone.
Other Controls on the Call Screen
- Volume: press the volume buttons on the side of the iPhone during the call.
- Mute: tap the Mute button so the other person cannot hear you.
- Hold: touch and hold the Mute button to put the call on hold.
Have the iPhone Pick Up Calls for You
Auto-Answer Calls makes the iPhone accept incoming calls by itself after a short wait. Paired with the Speaker setting, it gives you fully hands-free calls.
Warning: with this on, the iPhone answers every incoming call after the delay, including calls from people you do not know and calls that arrive when you are not near the phone. The caller can then hear whatever is happening around the phone. Turn it on only if you are comfortable with that.
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Call Audio Routing.
- Tap Auto-Answer Calls.
- Turn on the Auto-Answer Calls switch.
- Tap the plus or minus button to set how long the iPhone waits before it answers.
To undo it, return to the same screen and turn the switch off. Your Speaker choice stays as it was.
Troubleshooting
You cannot find Call Audio Routing
It sits near the bottom of the Touch screen, so keep scrolling. You can also pull down on the main Settings screen and type Call Audio Routing into the search field. On very old versions of iOS the Accessibility menu was located inside General; updating the iPhone moves it to the main Settings list.
Calls still go to a headset or the car
A connected Bluetooth device can take the call audio. During the call, tap Audio and choose Speaker. If you would rather have calls go to your earbuds, see how to make AirPods connect to your iPhone automatically.
Speakerphone is quiet, crackling, or silent
Raise the volume with the side buttons while the call is active. If the sound is still poor, Apple’s speaker troubleshooting article says to remove any case, film, or screen protector, check whether the speaker opening is blocked or dirty, and clean it if needed with a small, soft-bristled brush that is clean and dry. Apple also notes that static or crackling on a call can come from the network or reception, so try again later or from another location. If nothing helps, the speaker may need service; a routing setting cannot fix damaged hardware.
The opposite problem, where you can only hear people on speaker, has its own fixes in our guide for when an iPhone can’t hear a caller unless it is on speaker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my iPhone keep answering calls on speaker?
Call Audio Routing is probably set to Speaker. Open Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Call Audio Routing and choose the default option instead.
Does the Speaker setting work with FaceTime calls?
Yes. Apple says Call Audio Routing directs the audio of both phone calls and FaceTime calls.
Do I have to turn on Auto-Answer Calls to use speaker?
No. Choosing Speaker only changes where you hear the call. Auto-Answer Calls is a separate switch that decides whether the iPhone picks up for you, and it stays off unless you turn it on.
Can I switch back to the earpiece during a call?
Yes. Tap the Audio button on the call screen and choose a different audio destination. The change lasts for that call only; the next call starts on speaker again.
Will calls I make also start on speaker?
Apple describes the setting as routing the audio of phone and FaceTime calls in general and does not limit it to incoming calls, so expect calls you place to use the speaker too. If one does not, use the Audio button.
Next Steps
Once calls start on speaker, you may want to control when the phone rings at all. These guides cover that:
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
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