When callers hear nothing from you — silence, no voice, or only one direction of audio working — it creates frustration and makes conversations impossible. This is usually caused by microphone settings, device configuration, or audio hardware. Go through the points below in order.
1. Microphone is muted or not selected
The most common cause of silence is the microphone being muted or not properly selected as the audio input device.
How to check: during a call, look for a mute button or indicator on the Romulus app or your device. Check whether the microphone icon shows a line through it (muted) or appears greyed out. Also check your operating system audio settings — sometimes the wrong microphone is selected as the default.
How to fix: unmute the microphone in the app or device settings. In the Romulus app, look for a microphone icon during a call and click it to toggle mute. If you have multiple microphones connected (headset, built-in, external), go to your system audio settings and select the correct one. In Windows: Settings → Sound → select the correct microphone in "Input". In Mac: System Preferences → Sound → Input tab → select your microphone. On iOS: the app should use your device mic automatically, but check Settings → Romulus → Microphone. On Android: Settings → Apps → Romulus → Permissions → enable Microphone.
2. App does not have microphone permission
On mobile devices, apps must request permission to access your microphone. If you accidentally denied this permission when first installing Romulus, the app cannot capture your voice.
How to check: on iOS: go to Settings → Privacy → Microphone → check if Romulus is listed and enabled. On Android: go to Settings → Apps → Romulus → Permissions → check if Microphone is enabled.
How to fix: enable microphone permissions for Romulus. You may need to uninstall and reinstall the app to be prompted for permissions again, or you can manually enable them in your phone's settings.
3. Wrong audio device is selected
If you have multiple audio devices connected (headset, external microphone, built-in microphone, USB device), the wrong one may be selected, or the selected device may not be working.
How to check: check your system audio settings. In Windows: Settings → Sound → "Input" section. In Mac: System Preferences → Sound → Input tab. On mobile, the device microphone should be used by default. Check that the selected device is actually plugged in and powered on.
How to fix: try selecting a different microphone. If you have a headset, make sure it is properly connected and powered on. Test the microphone by using your device's voice recording app first — if the issue happens there too, it is a hardware problem, not Romulus. If available in the Romulus app settings, check that the correct microphone is selected in the audio settings.
4. Microphone hardware is damaged or faulty
Sometimes the microphone itself is damaged — disconnected internally, blocked by dust, or simply not working.
How to check: test your microphone using your device's built-in voice recording app (Voice Memos on iOS, Google Recorder on Android, or Voice Recorder in Windows). If the microphone does not work there either, it is a hardware issue. On a desktop, try a different microphone (borrow one or use a USB headset) — if that works, the original microphone is faulty.
How to fix: if the microphone is physically blocked, try cleaning it carefully (on phones, use a dry cloth; on computers, use compressed air). If cleaning does not help, you will need to replace or repair the microphone hardware. For phones, this typically requires professional service. For computers, purchase an external USB headset or microphone.
5. One-way audio (you can hear but they cannot hear you, or vice versa)
Sometimes the problem is asymmetrical — you can hear the caller, but they cannot hear you. Or the opposite. This usually points to a specific microphone or speaker setting rather than a general connection issue.
How to check: during a call, ask the other person whether they can hear you. Try unmuting and muting the microphone to see if it makes a difference. Check whether you are using a headset — sometimes headsets have separate volume controls for the microphone.
How to fix: first, check that your microphone is not muted and is selected in system settings. If the caller cannot hear you, your microphone is the issue — try a different microphone or USB headset. If you cannot hear the caller, the issue is your speakers or the caller's microphone — turn up your volume, check speaker settings, or ask the caller to speak louder or use a different microphone. Test both directions by asking the other person to confirm they can hear you at each step.
6. Audio feedback or interference from other software
Sometimes other programs on your device interfere with your microphone — antivirus software blocking access, or another app using the microphone at the same time.
How to check: check whether any other apps are running that use your microphone (Skype, Zoom, Discord, voice assistants like Siri or Google Assistant). Look in your device's audio settings to see if another app has exclusive access to the microphone. Check your antivirus or security software settings — some block microphone access by default.
How to fix: close all other apps that use the microphone before using Romulus. Grant Romulus microphone permissions in your antivirus or security software settings. If you are using a voice assistant, disable it before making calls. Restart your device to clear any locks on the audio device.
Still no audio from you?
If you have gone through all the steps above and callers still cannot hear you (or you cannot hear them), contact Romulus support directly from the dashboard. To help us troubleshoot faster, please include:
Whether the problem is one-way (you cannot be heard, or you cannot hear them) or two-way
What device and operating system you are using
What type of microphone (built-in, USB headset, external microphone)
Whether the microphone works in other apps (voice recording, video calls, etc.)