How to Turn On Speakerphone During a Call on Your iPhone

Remember the kitchen wall phone with the long curly cord? You could stretch it halfway across the room, but the moment you needed both hands to stir a pot or write down an address, you were stuck. Speakerphone on your iPhone solves that old problem. It lets you hear the person through a little speaker so you can set the phone down and keep talking.

Here's how to turn it on once a call is already going.

Turning On the Speaker Mid-Call

When you make or answer a call on your iPhone, a screen appears with round buttons in a circle — mute, keypad, speaker, and so on. The one you want is labeled Speaker, usually in the top right of that circle. It has a little picture of a speaker (like a small megaphone shape).

Tap it once. That's it. The button will turn white or highlighted to show it's on, and the caller's voice will come out loud through the phone, no need to hold it to your ear.

To switch back to the normal earpiece, tap Speaker again. It will go dark, and the sound returns to the small speaker at the top of the phone.

If You Don't See the Buttons

Sometimes the screen goes dark during a call — the iPhone does this on purpose so your cheek doesn't press buttons by accident. If you set the phone down on the table, the screen should wake up on its own. If it doesn't, give the screen a tap or press the side button once to wake it. The call buttons will come right back.

A Few Times This Comes in Handy

Speakerphone is a small thing, but you'd be surprised how often it earns its keep:

• Talking to the pharmacy while you dig through the medicine cabinet
• Chatting with a grandchild while you finish making lunch
• Letting your spouse hear what the doctor's office is saying
• Reading a long number or address the caller is giving you, so you can write it down

Just remember — the other person's voice will be out in the room. If you're somewhere private, no matter. If you're in a waiting room or a café, best to keep it to the earpiece.

A Small Tip on Volume

Once speakerphone is on, the sound may be too loud or too soft. The volume buttons on the left side of your phone (the two little buttons above the silent switch) will raise or lower it. Press the top one to make it louder, the bottom one to make it softer. Adjust while the person is talking so you can hear the change.

Try It Today

Next time the phone rings — or the next time you make a call — glance at the screen and find the Speaker button. Give it a tap and set the phone down on the table in front of you. You'll have both hands free, and you can lean back in your chair instead of pressing the phone to your ear. It's a small comfort, but a real one.

Need a hand with your technology? We're here to help. Give PorchSwing a call or book an appointment, and we'll walk you through it at your own pace — no rush, no jargon.