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

Not a carrier problem, i'm in the UK on the Vodafone network, I also have this same problem.

Having the same problem here in Germany on the Telekom mobile network. Echoing right from the start of every call. Had my handset replaced and waiting now for the new unit. From what I'm reading here I'm not to confident.

Can anyone confirm that this only happens when on a mobile network call? FaceTime or Voice Memos e.g. worked fine without any echo sounds.

Please can everybody start filling in the feedback form (link below)

http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

This will bring it to Apples attention.

Try turning off wifi on phone.

thanks for the suggestion, just switched off the wifi (and the cellular data) to make a call but the same loud echo-ey noise kicked in about 9 minutes in to the call. Tapped speakerphone twice as was suggested previously in this thread, then was ok for about a minute, echo again, toggled speakerphone then seemed to be ok for a few mninutes.

The terrible thing is that I'm rushing all phone calls to try and hang up before the echo-ey noise kicks in. there's some people I don't mind doing that to :-) but there's others where it just comes across as rude.

I don't want to preface every phone call that matters with "just to let you know, the sound may go haywire so got to be quick, the new iPhone's not working right".

Need a software fix. It's definitely something to do with the ambient noise filter as it seems to cause a feedback loop of some kind.

When calling my friend using my iPhone 4S after about 8 minutes he starts hearing a echo on his end.  I have no problem with any echo in my phone.   After  hanging up and redialing it happens again after 4 to 12 minutes. I never hear any echo  but who ever I am talking to hears a echo.  When talking to my dad on a land line he also started to hear the echo.  So I hung up and redialed.  I have tried different hands free headsets and the same result occurs. It only happens when I use the hands free headset. I have the headset from my old iphone 4 and using  that the problem still occurs.

When  using the speaker or  our using it without the headset  the echo problem does not occur.

I have restored my phone several times changed various settings and no help.

I am having the same problem. Hopefully it is a software bug and we can get an update.

I tried the "temp fix" and it didn't do $h!t. I am less than thrilled that my $400 phone doesn't work as a phone! I would love to hear a permanent fix or a temporary fix that actually works!

I have the apple care, but I have seen that people get the same problem on a brand new phone, so I am not going to bother with returning this one yet! I personally don't care whose fault it is, FIX IT!

I think the dual antenna is a possible issue... But I am not the tech to fix it.

64 GB Black, AT&T in NY state.

Same with mine. 2 to 3 minutes average and I hear the echo. I notice that when you hear the echo and you start a video call the echo stops, but that's not the solution...  I have a 4S, 16Gb @ Sarasota FL. Already send my feedback to apple!.

I am having exactly the same problem, however, when I rang the Apple Support Team the guy said he was completely unaware of anyone experiencing this problem!! Had my handsfree kit changed at the Apple Store, but it still occurs, 1-2 mins into the conversation on a horrible day, if I'm lucky then it occurs 7-8 mins into the conversation.

For information I am on O2 UK, and have a 32GB iPhone 4S.

Has anyone tried using a bluetooth headset? Would you please be able to post if that has worked for you as I am considering spending even more money and getting one if thats the only way to fix this!!

Hi Angela,

My wife and I have both successfully used our bluetooth headsets without issue.  Everything seems to work great except for any brand of headset plugged into the jack on the iPhone.  That's the only time we get this annoying problem.  It's happening on both of our phones, but I'm not getting them replaced until somebody here has evidence that Apple has resolved the problem.

Good luck,

Sam

iPhone 32GB (black) 4S with Sprint. I’ve noticed this same issue since I got the phone on 10/14 via pre-order process. The echo sneaks in intermittently sometimes 1, 6, 18 minutes or 1 hour into the call. Doesn't matter if the person I'm chatting with is from ATT or Verizon. The volume of the call goes up and the caller gets loud echo on their side. The call quality becomes unbearable! The conversation is ultimately short-lived especially as you have to keep calling back. I’ve never had this issue on the Blackberry I had before which really narrows down the problem to either the iPhone or the sudden change in Sprint’s network.

I have Sprint network team looking into it already. I’ve experienced this every time I use the Apple earphone unit to take and make calls. Apple store Genius support indicates that it is not due to hardware as I am able to listen to music just fine without the echo. They also state that if it was hardware related, that the experience would be more consistent and exact in time of occurance. I’ve been back and forth whether or not I should return the phone but it looks like some of the folks experience the same issue, hence a replacement for another 4S may not be the best way to resolve the issue.

It may be a long shot, but this may be due to the SIRI mode of being enabled when placing the phone next to your ear. This feature is defaulted “ON”. Perhaps turning this feature off and just enabling SIRI when pressing the iPhone button will fix the echo problem??

The preference can be toggled under General->SIRI->Raise To Speak. Hope this is the issue that will resolve the echo problem we’re all having on our calls!

Good luck everyone!

Thanks for your post Sam, I completely agree and am determined to not replace my handset either unless Apple do something about it!

Useful info there, I guess more shopping is in order for a bluetooth headset now!

I don't think there is an issue with Siri configuration.. Try this, make a call using your hearbuds as soon as you get the echo, disconnect the hearbuds and the echo disappears. I tried using other set of hearbads from my old 3G and 4 and I was not able to hear the echo but the other person was not able to hear me well.

Thanks.

Had my iPhone replaced by the Genius Bar at the weekend but still have exactly the same problem with the new one. If this is a network issue there are a lot of networks that have got it wrong! Am debating returning my iphone this week and going for a handset with android as I use the headset a lot and this really is unbearable.