Audio Echo
Echo happens when a microphone picks up audio that just came out of a speaker and sends it back down the line, so someone hears their own voice repeated a moment later. It’s a two-way symptom: whoever hears the echo isn’t the one who needs to fix it — the other party is.
This example is stereo — the left channel plays the original voice, and the right channel plays the delayed echo the other party’s microphone would pick up. Listen with headphones to hear them separately:
Symptoms
- You hear your own voice echoed back a moment after you speak
- The other person says they can hear themselves, or that you sound like you’re repeating them
- The echo comes and goes with speech, and is more noticeable during pauses
Causes
- Speakerphone use: A speaker’s audio output feeds directly back into that same device’s microphone.
- A microphone positioned too close to a speaker or output device: Even off speakerphone, a mic near external speakers can pick up and re-transmit that audio.
- Built-in laptop or webcam microphones: These sit closer to a device’s own speakers than a headset mic does, making them more prone to picking up audio output.
Who needs to fix it
Echo only ever originates on one side of the call — the side whose microphone is picking up their own speaker output. Use what you’re hearing to figure out which side that is:
- If you hear an echo of your own voice, the issue is on the other party’s end. Let them know, and ask them to turn off speakerphone or switch to a headset.
- If the other person says they can hear themselves, or can’t understand you because of an echo, the issue is on your end. Read below on how to troubleshoot.
Troubleshooting Steps
- Identify which side is generating the echo, using the guidance above.
- Use a wired headset instead of a built-in laptop or webcam microphone — it keeps the mic close to your mouth and away from any speakers.
- Move your microphone farther from the headset. If your headset has an attached boom mic, ensure it’s angled correctly towards your face.
- Report the call if the echo persists after making these changes, so our team can review it.
Contact Support
If you’ve confirmed which side is generating the echo and made the adjustments above but still experience the issue, Contact our Support Team. We can review your call logs and help isolate the cause.
To help our engineers diagnose the problem, please be sure to also report the Call.