You are deep in a call on your Galaxy Buds FE and the person on the other end keeps saying they cannot hear you, or your voice arrives muffled and broken. It is a frustrating spot, because the earbuds clearly work for music and the buds themselves look fine. The good news is that the original Galaxy Buds FE (model SM-R400N) lists six microphone components, with a Main Mic, Sub Mic, and Inner Mic working together to capture your voice, so a non-responsive mic is almost always a settings, fit, or software issue you can fix yourself. Work through the steps below in order, starting with the quickest and safest, and save the reset and service options for last.
One quick note before you begin. The original Galaxy Buds FE from 2023 is a different product from the newer Galaxy Buds3 FE released in 2025, so confirm you actually own the SM-R400N model before following these instructions. Most of the controls here live in the Galaxy Wearable app on your paired Galaxy or Android phone. If you connect the buds to an iPhone, you can only pair over Bluetooth, since there is no companion app for the Galaxy Buds FE on iOS.
Rule out an accidental mute before anything else
The most common reason a caller cannot hear you is the simplest one. On Galaxy Buds, touching and holding the touchpad during a call turns the microphone off, and nothing is displayed on screen when it happens, so it is easy to mute yourself without realizing it.
If you suspect this is the cause, touch and hold the touchpad again to unmute. While you are at it, check that the Phone app itself has not muted the call from the on-screen mute button. Clearing these two mute states resolves a surprising number of "the mic is dead" calls instantly.
Clear out a clogged microphone hole
Pocket lint, earwax, and everyday debris can block the tiny mic opening and stop your voice from reaching it. Samsung advises that you clean the microphone hole, speaker, and air duct regularly to prevent debris from accumulating.
Use a clean, dry, soft brush or a cotton swab to gently clear each opening. Do not use a sharp object like a razor, and do not apply excessive force, since either can permanently damage the mic mesh or the internal components. A careful cleaning is often all it takes when calls sound thin or cut out.
Switch off Ambient sound mode for calls
Ambient sound mode deliberately lets outside noise reach you, which is great for awareness but can work against you on a call. With it active, more of the background noise around you can be picked up instead of a clean version of your voice.
Open the Galaxy Wearable app on your paired phone and turn off Ambient sound mode. If you want quieter calls, enable Active noise canceling instead, which the Galaxy Buds FE supports and which helps suppress background noise so your voice comes through more clearly.
Confirm the right fit and correct ears
A poor seal or an earbud worn on the wrong side can degrade how your voice is captured. Make sure each bud is in the correct ear and seated correctly, and try a different ear tip size if the fit feels loose, since the right seal improves both audio and mic performance.
To take the guesswork out of it, run the built-in fit check at Galaxy Wearable app > Earbuds settings > Earbud fit test. The test tells you whether each bud is sealing properly so you can adjust before your next call.
Give the earbuds a quick restart
A restart clears minor software glitches that can knock out the mic. The manual restart for Samsung earbuds is straightforward and takes only a few seconds.
- 1.Insert the earbuds into the charging case and close the lid.
- 2.Wait at least seven seconds, until the light on the case goes out.
- 3.Remove the earbuds from the case.
The buds reconnect to your phone once you take them out. Test a call to see whether the microphone is back.
Restart the phone the buds are paired to
Because the call audio path runs through your phone, a glitch on the phone side can look exactly like a broken mic. Restarting the connected phone is a standard step for earbud audio and call problems.
Power your phone fully off, wait a moment, then turn it back on and let the buds reconnect. A clean restart of the phone often re-establishes the call channel that the earbuds depend on.
Update the Galaxy Buds FE software
Outdated firmware can introduce mic and call bugs that a newer build fixes. You can update directly from your paired Android phone through the Galaxy Wearable app.
- 1.Insert the earbuds into the charging case, leaving the lid open.
- 2.Open the Galaxy Wearable app and tap Earbud settings.
- 3.Tap Earbuds software update.
- 4.Tap Download and install.
Keep the Galaxy Wearable app itself up to date as well, since the app and the firmware are designed to work together. Updating both rules out a known-bug cause before you move to the more involved steps.
Forget the earbuds and pair them fresh
A stale Bluetooth pairing can break the channel that carries your voice. Removing the existing pairing and reconnecting gives the connection a clean slate.
- 1.On your phone, go to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth.
- 2.Find your earbuds in the list and tap the gear icon next to them.
- 3.Select Unpair.
- 4.Reconnect the Galaxy Buds through the Galaxy Wearable app.
Exact menu labels can vary slightly depending on your phone's software version, but the path follows the same order. Once re-paired, place a test call to confirm the mic is transmitting.
Reset the earbuds to default settings
If the microphone still fails after everything above, a reset returns the buds to their default configuration and clears persistent software issues. Before you start, know that a reset erases your saved earbud settings and preferences and removes the pairing, so you will need to set the buds up and re-pair them afterward. The buds must be connected to the app for this option to appear.
With the earbuds connected, open the Galaxy Wearable app, go to Earbuds settings, tap Reset, and follow the on-screen instructions. If the Reset option is greyed out or missing, reconnect the buds to the app first, since the option is only available when the earbuds are connected.
When to call in Samsung support
If the microphone still will not work after a reset, the problem may be hardware rather than software. At that point, it is worth having the earbuds evaluated by a professional.
Visit a Samsung Service Center or call the contact center in the US at 1-800-SAMSUNG (1-800-726-7864) to arrange an inspection. Keep in mind that water or physical damage is generally not covered under warranty, so mention any history of moisture or drops when you describe the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can callers not hear me even though my music plays fine?
Music playback uses the speaker, while calls rely on the microphones, so the two can fail independently. Start by ruling out an accidental mute, then clean the mic hole and turn off Ambient sound mode, since those address the most common call-only causes before you reach for a reset.
Does the Galaxy Buds FE actually have a microphone for calls?
Yes. The original Galaxy Buds FE (SM-R400N) lists six microphone components, with a Main Mic, Sub Mic, and Inner Mic working together to capture your voice, so it is built to handle phone and video calls.
Can I troubleshoot the microphone if I use my Buds FE with an iPhone?
On iOS you can only pair the Galaxy Buds FE over Bluetooth, because there is no companion app for this model on iPhone. The app-based steps such as the fit test, software update, and reset require the Galaxy Wearable app on a paired Galaxy or Android phone.
Will a factory reset erase anything important?
A reset returns the earbuds to their default settings and removes the pairing, so your saved earbud preferences are cleared and you will need to re-pair and set the buds up again afterward. The Reset option only appears when the buds are connected to the Galaxy Wearable app, so connect them first if you do not see it.
How do I avoid muting myself during calls?
Touching and holding the touchpad during a call toggles the microphone off, and there is no on-screen indicator when it happens. If a caller suddenly cannot hear you mid-call, touch and hold the touchpad again to unmute and confirm the Phone app's own mute button is off.
