WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. One of the key features of WhatsApp is voice and video calling, allowing you to easily connect with friends and family. However, there may be times when you want to mute yourself during a WhatsApp call, either to avoid background noise or for privacy reasons. Knowing your mute status can prevent awkward situations. In this article, we’ll look at how to tell if you’re muted during a WhatsApp call.
Checking mute status during a call
When you’re on a WhatsApp call, there are a couple of ways to check if you’re muted:
Look for mute icon
The easiest way is to look for the mute icon in the call screen. During a call, you’ll see icons for the microphone, end call, speaker and more. If the microphone icon has a line through it, it means you’re muted and the other person can’t hear you. If the line through the mic is missing, you’re unmuted.
Try speaking
Another simple way is to try speaking during the call. If the other person doesn’t react or respond to what you’re saying, it likely means you’re muted. However, keep in mind that the other person may be speaking or distracted, so this isn’t a foolproof method.
Check phone settings
You can also check your phone’s mute switch to see if it’s enabled. During a call, briefly pull down the notification bar at the top of the screen. If you see the muted speaker icon, it means your phone is muted. WhatsApp calls will pick up on this muted state.
Why you may be muted
There are a few reasons why you may find yourself muted during a WhatsApp call:
You muted yourself
The most obvious reason is you intentionally tapped the mute button before or during the call. This prevents the other person from hearing any background noise from your end.
Phone is muted
As mentioned above, if your phone’s mute switch is enabled, WhatsApp will detect this and mute you automatically. You can unmute by flipping the mute switch back off.
Poor network connection
In some cases, a poor internet connection can cause WhatsApp to mute you, as it struggles to transmit your voice. Check your WiFi or cellular data connectivity. Moving closer to your router or disabling WiFi to use mobile data may help.
App glitch
Very rarely, a technical glitch in the app may inadvertently mute you. Force quitting WhatsApp and reopening the app typically resolves this. Make sure WhatsApp is updated to the latest version as well.
How to unmute yourself
If you find yourself muted when you shouldn’t be, here are ways to unmute:
Tap microphone icon
If WhatsApp has muted you, simply tapping the microphone icon during the call will unmute you. The line through the mic will disappear.
Flip mute switch
If your phone’s hardware mute is enabled, flip the mute switch on the side of your phone to unmute.
Improve network connection
For network-related muting, move closer to your WiFi router, disable WiFi to switch to mobile data, or try reconnecting to the network. This resolves any connectivity issues that may be muting you.
Force quit and reopen
To fix app glitches that mute you, force quit WhatsApp by swiping it away from the multi-tasking view. Then reopen WhatsApp and rejoin the call.
Preventing accidental muting
To avoid being accidentally muted during important calls, here are some tips:
Double check mute settings
Before joining a call, double check that WhatsApp hasn’t muted you and your phone mute switch is disabled. Toggling between mute modes can prevent issues.
Use headset or earphones
Using wired headset prevents your phone’s mute switch from interfering with calls. The buttons on a headphone set can also let you quickly mute or unmute yourself.
Ensure good connectivity
Run an internet speed test and switch networks if needed to get optimal connectivity before a call. This minimizes glitch-related muting.
Update WhatsApp
Keep WhatsApp updated to avoid any app bugs that may mute you unexpectedly during calls.
Conclusion
Being muted without realizing it during a WhatsApp call can lead to frustrating situations. Thankfully, with the mute icon, speaking test and network settings, it’s easy to check your mute status. Technical issues can usually be resolved by toggling mute settings, changing networks or resetting the app. And taking preventive measures like using headsets and checking settings can help avoid accidental muting going forward. By following these tips, you can ensure your calls come through loud and clear.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I’m muted on WhatsApp?
Look for the mute icon in the call screen – a mic with a line through it means you’re muted. You can also try speaking and see if the other person reacts. Checking your phone’s mute switch also indicates if you’re muted.
Why am I muted on WhatsApp call?
Common reasons include muting yourself intentionally, your phone mute being enabled, poor network connectivity, or rarely a technical glitch in the app muting you.
How do I unmute myself on WhatsApp call?
Tap the mute icon during the call, flip your phone’s mute switch off, improve your internet connection, or force quit and relaunch WhatsApp to unmute yourself.
How can I prevent being muted accidentally?
Double check mute settings before calls, use a headset to avoid phone mute issues, ensure good network connectivity, and keep WhatsApp updated to the latest version.
Key Takeaways
- Look for the mute icon with a line through the mic to check if muted on WhatsApp call.
- Speaking without response, mute switch enabled, poor connectivity or app glitches may cause muting.
- Unmute by tapping icon, flipping switch, changing networks or resetting app.
- Prevent issues by double checking settings, using headset, improving connectivity and updating app.
More Information
Related Articles:
- How to Fix Common WhatsApp Calling Issues
- 10 Tips for Clearer WhatsApp Call Quality
- Understanding WhatsApp Call Notifications and Symbols