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Pair the Bluetooth speaker with your phone, place or answer the call, and choose the speaker in the call’s Audio or Sound menu. For a true two-way speakerphone, the speaker must have a built-in microphone. A speaker without a microphone can play the other person’s voice, but your phone (or another microphone) must capture yours.
What determines whether a Bluetooth speaker can handle calls
Bluetooth pairing only establishes a connection. It does not guarantee that a speaker can send microphone audio back to the phone. Manufacturers may support music playback while omitting the microphone hardware or the call controls needed for hands-free conversations.
Check the speaker’s manual or specifications for wording such as built-in microphone, speakerphone, hands-free calling, or explicit phone-call support. Do not infer call capability from music playback alone. A listing that mentions Bluetooth audio but says nothing about calls may describe output only.
Speaker with a built-in microphone
A speaker with a microphone can normally receive the caller’s voice and transmit your voice from the same unit. Logitech’s support documentation describes the X300 as functioning as a speakerphone specifically because it has a built-in microphone. The microphone may be located on the top, front, or control panel, so speak toward that area rather than toward the passive speaker grille. You still must select the speaker for the active call; merely pairing it does not prove that the app is using its microphone.
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Speaker without a microphone
A speaker can play the call’s incoming audio without providing an input for your voice. PreSonus documents this limitation for its Ceres BT: it has no microphone, and its inputs do not transmit audio to the Bluetooth connection. In that arrangement, the phone microphone remains active. You can still use the speaker for listening, but it is not a self-contained speakerphone. This answers a common question: yes, you can use your phone’s microphone with a Bluetooth speaker, as long as the phone stays close enough and the call app permits separate output and input routing.
Why the distinction matters
| Configuration | What the caller hears | What you hear | Hands-free two-way calling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth speaker with built-in microphone | Microphone on the speaker, when selected for the call | Speaker output | Yes, subject to phone and app support |
| Bluetooth speaker without a microphone | Phone microphone | Speaker output | No; the phone must remain the microphone |
| Phone without an external speaker | Phone microphone | Phone earpiece or loudspeaker | Yes through the phone’s own hardware |
If you need the phone to stay across the room, choose the first configuration. If the phone stays on the desk, the second can work for listening, provided you manage echo and keep the phone microphone unobstructed. Do not assume that a speaker’s auxiliary input, USB port, or other music input becomes a call microphone; PreSonus specifically notes that its inputs do not send microphone audio back over Bluetooth.
Prepare the speaker and phone
- Charge and turn on the speaker. A low battery can cause an unstable connection or shut the speaker down during a call.
- Enter pairing mode. Use the button sequence in that model’s manual. Pairing controls differ by speaker, so there is no universal button combination to quote safely.
- Open the phone’s Bluetooth settings. On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Bluetooth. On Android, open Settings > Connected devices or the manufacturer’s equivalent Bluetooth page.
- Select the speaker’s name. Approve a pairing request or enter the code only if the phone asks for one. Wait until the device is shown as connected, not merely remembered.
- Keep the speaker near the phone for the first call. This makes it easier to determine whether a routing problem is caused by distance, pairing, or the calling app.
- Disconnect competing audio devices for the test. If earbuds, a car system, or another speaker is connected, the phone may present several destinations. Testing with one connected device makes the selected route unambiguous.
The exact labels and screens can vary by phone model, operating-system version, and calling application. Pairing is separate from selecting the device for call audio, so continue with the in-call steps below even when the phone reports that the speaker is connected.
Use the speaker for a call on a phone
Place or answer the call
- Open your normal calling app or answer an incoming call.
- Wait for the call screen to appear. The phone may route audio to the newly connected speaker automatically, but do not assume that it has done so.
- Tap the call screen’s Audio, Sound, or speaker-output control.
- Select the connected Bluetooth speaker from the list of available devices.
- Ask the other person whether they can hear you before moving away from the phone. If the speaker has a microphone, speak toward it; if it does not, speak toward the phone’s microphone.
On Google Voice for iPhone and iPad, tap Sound during the call to view connected external audio devices. Google says a connected external device may be selected automatically, but the selector is the reliable way to confirm the route. Google Voice for Android also supports Bluetooth audio and device selection during a call; the exact controls can vary with the Android device and app version.
For other calling apps, look for the same function under a speaker icon, an audio-device button, or a three-dot call menu. Names differ, so follow the app’s displayed choices rather than assuming that the phone-wide Bluetooth status controls the current call.
Adjust volume without changing the route
Use the phone’s volume buttons or the speaker’s volume controls while the call is active. Some speakers use separate call-volume behavior from music playback, so set the level during a real call rather than assuming the last music volume is appropriate. If the other person reports echo, reduce the speaker level before moving the phone or changing the microphone.
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Answer and end calls
Many speakers include answer, end, or multifunction buttons, but those controls are not universal. Logitech notes that some mobile devices do not support call control from the speaker. If a button does nothing, answer or end the call on the phone while leaving the speaker selected for audio. A working play/pause button for music is not evidence that answer and end commands are supported.
Platform-specific behavior
| Platform or service | How to select call audio | Requirements and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Google Voice on iPhone or iPad | During the call, tap Sound, then choose the connected Bluetooth device. | Bluetooth is a supported audio-device type. An external device may be selected automatically; verify the selection. |
| Google Voice on Android | Use the in-call audio selector and choose the paired Bluetooth speaker. | Bluetooth audio is supported, but labels and layout vary by Android device and app version. |
| Windows Phone Link | Use the call controls in Phone Link on the Windows PC, with the Bluetooth speaker chosen as the PC’s audio input and output where applicable. | The PC and phone use Bluetooth for calling. Android permissions are required; Bluetooth must be enabled, and the PC needs a usable microphone and speaker route. |
| Apple HomePod call routing | In the Phone or FaceTime audio menu, select HomePod. | This is Apple’s separate HomePod feature, requiring the same Wi-Fi network, Bluetooth enabled, and Transfer to HomePod turned on. It is not generic Bluetooth-speaker pairing. |
These app-specific details matter because a speaker may work for one call service and not another. Test the exact app you intend to use, especially if you switch between a cellular dialer, Google Voice, FaceTime, and a work-calling application.
Using a Bluetooth speaker for calls through Windows
Microsoft Phone Link can make and receive calls on a Windows PC through an Android or iOS phone. The phone and PC communicate over Bluetooth, while the PC handles the call interface. A Bluetooth speaker connected to the PC can provide the playback route, but the PC also needs an input route if you expect the speaker’s microphone to capture your voice.
- Pair the phone with the Windows PC over Bluetooth.
- Open Phone Link and complete the phone-connection prompts.
- Grant the Android permissions requested by Phone Link when prompted. Without the required permissions, calling features may not become available.
- Pair the Bluetooth speaker with Windows and select it in the PC’s sound settings as the relevant output and input device when the model provides both.
- Place or answer a call in Phone Link and check the call’s audio device before speaking.
If Bluetooth is disabled or unavailable on either side, Phone Link calling will not work. A speaker that can play music from the PC is not automatically a valid microphone input for Phone Link; confirm that Windows lists its microphone as an input device. If Windows shows only a playback device, use the PC’s built-in microphone or another supported input and keep the Bluetooth speaker as output.
How Apple HomePod differs from an ordinary Bluetooth speaker
HomePod call routing follows Apple’s documented ecosystem feature rather than the generic pairing process used by portable Bluetooth speakers. The iPhone and HomePod must be on the same Wi-Fi network, Bluetooth must be enabled, and Transfer to HomePod must be turned on. During a Phone or FaceTime call, select HomePod in the audio menu.
Do not use HomePod requirements to troubleshoot a conventional Bluetooth speaker, and do not assume that any Bluetooth speaker will appear in the same Apple transfer interface. For a regular speaker, pair it in Bluetooth settings and select it from the call’s audio control. HomePod’s appearance in Apple’s menu is not proof that a third-party speaker supports the same transfer feature.
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Troubleshoot the most common failures
The other person cannot hear you
- Confirm that the speaker actually has a built-in microphone and explicit call support. A music-only speaker cannot become a two-way speakerphone through a setting.
- Open the call’s Audio or Sound menu and select the speaker. A connected status in Bluetooth settings does not prove that the call’s input is using it.
- If the speaker has no microphone, leave the phone microphone uncovered and speak toward the phone. Use another microphone device if you need to move away from the handset.
- On Windows, verify that the speaker appears as an input device as well as an output device before starting the Phone Link call.
- Run a short test call and ask the other person to confirm whether your voice is present, faint, or intermittent. That distinction tells you whether the wrong input is selected or the connection is unstable.
The caller’s voice still comes from the phone
- Open the in-call audio selector.
- Choose the paired Bluetooth speaker instead of the phone receiver or phone speaker.
- If the speaker is absent, end the call, confirm that it is connected in Bluetooth settings, and reconnect it.
- Start another call and check the selector again. Some apps choose an external device automatically, but others leave the phone route selected.
The speaker’s answer or end button does nothing
Call-control support depends on the mobile device and its software. Use the phone’s on-screen answer and end controls. You can still keep conversation audio on the speaker after controlling the call from the handset.
There is echo, squealing, or feedback
When the phone microphone is being used with a speaker that has no microphone, the phone can capture the speaker’s loud output and send it back into the call. Move the phone out of the speaker’s direct sound path, lower the speaker volume, or use headphones. PreSonus specifically advises moving the phone away from the speakers’ direct path for this type of setup. If a speaker with its own microphone produces echo, lower its volume and reposition it so the microphone is not aimed directly at the speaker grille.
The connection drops or the speaker disappears
- Recharge the speaker and keep it powered on.
- Check that it is not simultaneously connected to another device that has taken control.
- Reconnect it from the phone’s Bluetooth list, then select it again in the call audio menu.
- For Phone Link, confirm Bluetooth is enabled on both the phone and PC and that the phone remains within a reliable connection distance.
- After reconnecting, reopen the call’s audio selector; a previously selected route may not be restored automatically.
Choosing a speaker for phone calls
If your current speaker lacks a microphone, search for the category Bluetooth speakerphone rather than relying on the broader term Bluetooth speaker. Before buying, verify the specific model’s manual and compatibility with your phone and calling app.
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Look for a built-in microphone and information about where to speak. A microphone designed for calls is more important than maximum music volume. If several people will talk from a room, confirm that the manufacturer describes the intended pickup arrangement; the sources available here do not establish coverage distances for particular conference models.
App and phone compatibility
Check compatibility with the operating system and the calling application you actually use. A speaker may work for ordinary cellular calls but expose different behavior in Google Voice, FaceTime, Phone Link, or another app. Confirm whether the model supports both incoming audio and microphone input, not just Bluetooth music streaming.
Call routing controls
Prefer a model whose documentation explains how to answer calls, end calls, mute, and switch between phone and speaker. Physical buttons are useful, but handset support still determines whether those buttons work. Treat button support as a compatibility feature, not a guaranteed function.
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Conference speakerphones
A dedicated conference speakerphone can be more suitable for room calls than a portable music speaker. Google says it has partnered with manufacturers to test and certify headsets and speakerphones for Google Voice. Certification indicates relevance to that service, but it does not establish a particular model’s current price, availability, microphone coverage, or performance; verify those details before purchasing.
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There is no single current price that defines a suitable Bluetooth speakerphone. Compare the exact model’s microphone specification, supported call applications, return terms, and availability at the time you shop. Do not treat an inexpensive music speaker as a bargain speakerphone unless its documentation explicitly confirms microphone and call support, and do not assume that a higher price guarantees compatibility.
A documented example
Logitech’s X300 support article is an example of a product explicitly described as a speakerphone because it has a built-in microphone. It is evidence of the capability, not a claim that it is currently available or the best choice for every phone.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Practical habits for clearer calls
- Test the microphone with a short call before relying on the setup for a meeting or urgent conversation.
- Place the speaker where its microphone has a clear path to the people speaking.
- Keep the phone microphone unobstructed when the speaker supplies output only.
- Lower volume if the far end reports echo; louder is not always clearer.
- Use the in-call audio menu whenever you connect or disconnect another Bluetooth device.
- Keep the phone’s own call controls available in case the speaker’s buttons are unsupported.
- Tell the other person when you are switching routes so a brief silence is not mistaken for a dropped call.
Quick decision checklist
- Need two-way hands-free audio? Choose a speaker with a built-in microphone and explicit phone-call support.
- Only need louder incoming audio? A speaker without a microphone can work while the phone remains the input.
- Cannot be heard? Check the speaker’s microphone capability and the call’s selected audio device first.
- Using a Windows PC? Confirm Bluetooth, Phone Link permissions, and both the input and output routes.
- Using HomePod? Follow Apple’s Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Transfer to HomePod requirements instead of generic Bluetooth steps.
- Buying new hardware? Verify the exact model’s microphone, app compatibility, call controls, price, and availability rather than relying on the word Bluetooth alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any Bluetooth speaker be used as a speakerphone?
No. It needs a built-in microphone and explicit phone-call support for two-way hands-free conversations. A music-only speaker can still play the caller’s voice while the phone microphone captures yours.
Can I use my phone’s microphone with a Bluetooth speaker?
Yes. Select the Bluetooth speaker for call output and keep the phone microphone uncovered and near you. Move the phone out of the speaker’s direct sound path to reduce echo.
Why can’t the other person hear me?
Check that the speaker has a microphone, then open the in-call Audio or Sound menu and select it. If it has no microphone, use the phone microphone or another supported input.
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Why does the caller’s voice stay on my phone?
Open the call’s audio selector and choose the connected speaker. Bluetooth settings can show a connected device even when the active call is still routed to the phone.
Can I answer calls with the speaker’s button?
Sometimes, but support depends on the phone and its software. Logitech notes that some mobile devices do not support speaker call controls, so use the phone if the button does nothing.
How do I use a Bluetooth speaker with Google Voice?
On iPhone or iPad, tap Sound during the call and choose the connected Bluetooth device. Google Voice on Android also supports Bluetooth audio selection, although labels and layouts vary.
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Yes, when the phone and PC are connected over Bluetooth, Phone Link has the required permissions, and Windows recognizes suitable input and output routes. Bluetooth must be enabled on both devices.
Is HomePod setup the same as a regular Bluetooth speaker?
No. Apple’s HomePod call routing requires the same Wi-Fi network, Bluetooth enabled, and Transfer to HomePod turned on. A regular speaker uses Bluetooth pairing and the call’s audio selector.
The Bottom Line
Pairing handles the connection; the in-call audio menu handles the route. For two-way hands-free calls, choose a Bluetooth speaker with a built-in microphone and confirmed call support. If the speaker is output-only, keep the phone microphone clear, watch for echo, and use the phone for answer and end controls when necessary.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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