If you hear a loud, high-pitched screeching or scratching sound when someone answers your call, you’re experiencing audio feedback. This happens when your microphone picks up sound from your speakers, creating a feedback loop that quickly gets louder.

Quick Fix

The fastest solution:
Use headphones or a headset.

When you use headphones, your microphone can’t pick up sound from your speakers, which stops the feedback immediately.

If You Don’t Have Headphones

Try the following steps:

Turn down your speaker volume
Lower it to about 25–30%
Move your microphone away
Increase the distance between your microphone and speakers
Use the mute button
Mute yourself when you’re not actively talking

If the Screech Happens During a Call

Don’t panic — follow these steps:

Click the mute button immediately
Turn your volume down
Wait a few seconds for the sound to stop
Unmute and continue the call

The person on the other end can usually still hear you say “One moment please” before you mute.

Before You Start Calling

Take 30 seconds to:

Make a test call to check your audio
Confirm you’re in a quiet room
Have your headset ready
Set your speaker volume to medium or low

Recommended Equipment for Calling

Good options:

Any headphones with a microphone
Wired or wireless earbuds
USB headsets
Phone headsets

Avoid if possible:

Using your laptop’s built-in speakers and microphone together
Placing external microphones near speakers

Troubleshooting & Support

Contact support if:

The issue happens even while using headphones
You hear feedback on every call
The screech lasts longer than 30 seconds
You hear unusual sounds before anyone answers