How to fix Ring two-way talk when the microphone isn’t working

⚡ Fast fix

• Who can’t hear whom? One-way audio tells you which side of two-way talk needs attention.
• Check the mic button—Your microphone starts muted when Live View opens.
• Check phone permission—The Ring app needs microphone access to send your voice.
• Still getting silence?
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When Ring™ two-way talk stops working, a conversation at the front door can turn into a lot of “Can you hear me?” and confused faces pretty quickly. If you can hear the person on the other end but they can’t hear you, the microphone is a good place to start.

Asurion Experts help people troubleshoot smart home cameras every day. Here’s how we’d figure out what’s keeping the microphone from working and get two-way talk going again.

Figure out which side of the conversation is broken

Open Live View and try a short conversation. If you can hear the visitor but they can’t hear you, the outgoing audio is the problem. Check your microphone control and the Ring app’s permission to use your phone mic.

If they can hear you but you can’t hear them, raise the phone volume and check the Live View speaker control instead. That distinction keeps you from chasing the wrong half of the audio connection.

Make sure your microphone is actually on

When Live View opens, your microphone starts muted. Tap the microphone button before speaking. If the visitor still can’t hear you, leave the Ring device alone for the moment and check the phone next.

Let the Ring app use your phone microphone

Open the phone’s app permissions and make sure Ring has microphone access.

After changing the permission, fully close the Ring app and reopen it before testing again. If that fixes two-way talk, the doorbell microphone was fine—the phone simply wasn’t sending your voice.

Our guide to fixing a Ring doorbell that isn’t working covers microphone permissions along with broader Ring power and connection checks.

Review the Ring audio privacy settings

If the phone permission is already correct, open the Ring app and go to Devices > your device > Device Settings > Privacy Settings.

Look for audio-related privacy controls, including Audio Streaming and Recording on supported devices. If audio has been disabled there, two-way talk may not behave the way you expect. Change only the setting you need, then test again before touching anything else.

Try another phone or tablet

Open the same Ring device from another authorized phone or tablet and test two-way talk there. If it works normally, the Ring camera can clearly handle audio, which points back to the original phone’s permissions, app, or settings.

If both devices have the same problem, check the connection next.

Take a look at the Wi-Fi connection

Audio that cuts out, arrives late, or turns robotic is a different symptom than complete silence.

Check the Ring device’s connection under Device Health, restart the camera or doorbell if that option is available, and reboot the modem and router. Weak Wi-Fi can make two-way audio unreliable even when Live View still opens.

If the Ring device is dropping offline too, our guide to fixing Ring Wi-Fi connection problems can help with that first.

When all else fails, reset

If you've tried all of these steps and you're still only talking to yourself, the Ring device itself becomes the stronger suspect. It may be time to try resetting your Ring doorbell.

Make sure you download any videos you want to save before you take this step—they might get erased.

• To reset your doorbell, just hold down the orange setup button on the device (located on either the back or top-right of the device, depending on model) for 10 seconds and then release it.
• After you've reset your device, try setting it up again. For how to do so, head to the company website for instructions.

FAQ

Why can I hear someone on Ring but they can’t hear me?

Check that your microphone is unmuted in Live View and that the Ring app has permission to use your phone’s microphone.

Does Ring Live View start with the microphone muted?

Yep. Tap the microphone button when you want the visitor to hear you.

Why does Ring two-way talk work on one phone but not another?

That points toward the phone or app. Check microphone permission, app updates, and settings on the device that isn’t working.

Can weak Wi-Fi make Ring two-way talk choppy?

Absolutely. Poor connectivity can cause delayed, broken, or inconsistent audio.

Should I reset my Ring doorbell if two-way talk isn’t working?

Not right away. Check the mic button, phone permission, privacy settings, another device, and Wi-Fi first.