Q: iPhone 4s, echo when using apple headset during a call

Ok, so far I've done the following:

Turned the maximum ringer volume down by a fraction from the loudest setting.

Turned off option to have Siri activate whenever I put the phone to my ear.

Turned on Sound Check option under Settings > Music

So far I've had half a dozen successful conversations through the Apple headset (each at least 5 minutes long, one 22 minutes) with no distortion, echo or any other adverse effects.

I have no idea which one (if any) have helped this situation, but I'm happy to keep the settings as they are, because it's still less hassle than the hour-long drive to get my phone exchanged at my nearest apple store, then waste two more hours restoring everything from backup.

I also have a couple of expensive front and rear screen protectors which cost me a pretty penny.

On top of that I have a battery which holds for over 7 hours of usage and a camera which takes awesome photos.

All points which I've noticed can be faulty with a new replacement handset.

Hi has2289, I am in Toronto as well on Rogers network... I don't intend to replace my phone, as I haven't heard of people having luck going that route.. I think it is likely an issue with most phones, that happens in the right conditions (and those of us who experience are able to replicate it).. I've talked for HOURS on end with Rogers customer support with no issues at all, but when i called my parents I heard the echo. I only got the phone over the weekend and haven't used it much except with Rogers while trying to straigthen my account out.

I bought my iphone 4s white 32gb on release day 10/14 The same day and throughout the weekend i had the echo problem without the headphones plugged in almost every phone call.  i figured right away about turning the speakerphone on then off but got sick of doing it every other phone call.  I returned the phone that monday 10/17 to get a new one with the staff saying i was the first to notify them with the echo problem.  but so far no problems with this phone so far, fingers crossed.

With the issue we are talking about here, you do not hear an echo.  The person you are talking to does.  It only happens when you have a hands free device plugged into the jack.  If you are hearing an echo or are experiencing a problem with echo when just using the handset you should check another thread for a solution.  They sound similar, but are two entirely different problems.  Posting here only confuses things for you and others following along.

I agree, it needs clarification. However, this 'echo' problem is a tricky one to describe as the echo can only be heard by the other party.

The ground swell is increasing, at last!

I just Googled 'iphone 4s echo headset' and got a healthy page full.

Just thought I'd bump the thread and confirm I'm having the same problem with an iPhone4S 64GB on O2 in the UK.

Just got off the phone to O2 who have pushed me to Apple, but I'm going to try the store I got the phone from first.

Worked out the speaker trick whilst playing around on my own, glad to have found this thread I thought I was alone in the issue!

In an earlier post, I said it looks like the origin might be related to our backups because, after completely wiping my replacement handset and setting it up as a new phone, I didn't experience the issue for several calls.

Unfortunately the problem didn't take long to return so it wasn't some issue embedded in the backed up data or settings after all.

Some additional observations:

• I've also changed networks (obviously SIMs too) and this has made no difference.
• While inserting the headphones, I often hear 'static/crackling' noises. It's almost as if the socket is powered up permanently, even when no audio application is running.
• I've just spoken to Apple support again who suggested I try disabling Siri and powering off & on. I'll post the results after a day or two.

I live in Sweden and I use Telia provider.

Except from the earbud echo issue I noticed another issue as well with my new iPhone 4S 32GB. Sometimes when I do a call without the headset I can hear the person I'm calling but they cannot hear me. When this happens I also tend to hear my own voice as well from the phone. Seems like the phone loops my voice from the mic to the speaker and blocking the other part from hearing me.

If I hang up and redial it most often work again. But this is very annoying. Why doesn't the core function work anymore? I mean the device is a phone and should be rock solid for at least phone calls.

Hope to see a fix soon.

hello everyone. I have not read all 150+ replies so I may be repeating information already posted. Sorry if that's the case.

As reported in iDownload Blog, I believe this is an iOS issue. My iPhone 4 has the same problem since updating to iOS5. I'm in Canada and my carrier is Rogers. I use a Plantronics Voyager Pro headset and it worked beautifully until I upgraded to iOS 5. Users on that blog suggest tapping the audio source button while on a call to reset the audio, that is, switching from headset to speaker and back when the problem arises. I have not yet tried this temporary fix to know that it works, but anything is worth a try. This is a VERY annoying problem and we need a fix, please!

Tim

Whilst I'm not glad that this issue is happening to people I am so glad it isn't just me as I originally thought. When I'm using the headphones (receiving or making a call) it cannot cope with anything more than 15 minutes before they suddenly go loud and distorted and cannot hear you, only themselves echoing.

I thought originally it was network congestion but Orange (UK) told me it couldn't be that. Whilst I'm not technical with how phones work I would imagine it's the dual attena switching. Then again some iPhone 4 users are posting the same problem so it probably isn't.

This is my first iPhone and I love it to pieces, but the fact it can't even make a call? Worrying.

where are the place

Yep same issue, I get an echo even with out the headset, it's like I can hear me talking over myself. I don't get the echo from the person on the other end, only when I talk.

Add my name to the list too!  I get the echo unless the volume is very low, but then it's almost impossible to hear the conversation.

Just had a longer phone call and this is what happend:

- Started out using Apple earplugs, conversation went fine for 3 minutes,

then the person in the other end complained he could barly hear me and he was hearing himself

very loud in echo.

- Person called me back and I was still using Apple earplugs.

Same happend, 5 minutes into the conversation.

- Person called me back again, this time I removed the Apple earplugs,

conversation was fine without problems for 20 minutes until we finished speaking.

I do hear this static noise when having phone on max sound settings, but this goes away when i turn it down some, so thats not really a problem.

The problem is the echo that people in the other end is hearing, when I use the Apple earplugs.

It's impossible to talk when this starts.

So from my experience, it seems to be a echo problem only when using the earplugs.

Additional info:

- phone was laying on the table during the whole conversation

- phone is iPhone 4S White 16 GB

- provider is Telenor, Norway

Also sending this same post as feedback to apple.