What Does This Error Mean?

Bose speaker microphone not working during calls is usually caused by the phone using its own microphone instead of the Bose speaker's, or the microphone inlet on the speaker is blocked by dust or a case. Check your phone's call audio routing settings and ensure the Bose is selected as the microphone source.

Affected Models

Bose SoundLink Flex
Bose SoundLink Max
Bose Portable Smart Speaker
Bose Home Speaker 500
All Bose speakers with built-in microphone

Common Causes

Phone defaulting to its own microphone during calls even when Bose is connected via Bluetooth
Microphone inlet on the Bose speaker blocked by dust, dirt, or a carrying case
Bose voice assistant microphone muted — some models have a microphone mute button or switch
Speakerphone not routed through Bose — call audio routing requires a specific Bluetooth profile (HFP)
Firmware issue causing the HFP microphone to stop working while audio output still works

How to Fix It

Route the call audio to the Bose speaker on your phone.

During a phone call, tap the audio routing button (speaker icon or earphone icon) on the call screen. Select the Bose speaker from the list of audio outputs. Simply having the Bose connected via Bluetooth for music does not automatically route call microphone audio through it — you must explicitly select the Bose for calls.
Check for a microphone mute button on the speaker.

Some Bose models (especially home speakers and soundbars) have a dedicated microphone mute button — usually marked with a microphone icon with a line through it. If this button is active, a red light or indicator is usually visible and the microphone is completely disabled. Press the microphone button once to re-enable it.
Inspect and clean the microphone inlet.

Bose speakers have small microphone openings on the body — these can become blocked with lint, dust, or debris. Locate the microphone inlet (small hole, usually near the top or front of the speaker). Use a dry, soft toothbrush or compressed air to gently clean the inlet — do not insert anything into the hole.
Test the microphone with the voice assistant.

If your Bose speaker supports Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, say the wake word ('Alexa' or 'Hey Google') from about 1 meter away. If the voice assistant responds, the microphone is working for that function. If it does not respond, the microphone is not active — check the mute button and try a firmware update.
Update firmware and re-pair.

Connect the speaker to the Bose Music app → Settings → Software updates and install any available update. After updating, forget the speaker in your phone's Bluetooth settings and re-pair from scratch. HFP (Hands-Free Profile) for calls and microphone use sometimes requires a fresh Bluetooth pairing to re-establish correctly after a firmware update.

When to Call a Professional

If the microphone is confirmed unblocked and firmware is current, but the microphone still does not pick up voice, the microphone hardware may have failed. Contact Bose support.