Google Duo Voice Calling: How to Access Audio Calls

Google Duo no longer exists as a separate app. In 2022 Google merged Duo into Google Meet, and the Duo app was updated and renamed Meet. Audio-only calling carried over, so if you are looking for Duo voice calls today, you will place them from the Meet app. This guide covers how to start an audio call, set up your microphone and speaker, and fix the problems that most often get in the way.

Before you start

Voice calls do not run locally on your device. Audio is sent over the internet through Google's calling service, so you need a working connection and an account the service recognises.

• An up-to-date Meet app on your Android phone, iPhone or iPad. If the app on your device is still labelled Duo, update it from your app store.
• A working Wi-Fi or mobile data connection. Calls over mobile data count toward your data allowance.
• The account the app asks for during setup, usually a Google account and, on phones, often a verified phone number.
• Microphone permission for the app. An audio-only call does not need the camera, but the app may still ask for camera access depending on version.
• A contact who also uses the app. You cannot reach a regular phone line this way.
• Your chosen audio device, such as a wired headset, Bluetooth earbuds or the phone's built-in microphone and speaker.

Step-by-step instructions

Button labels and icons change between app versions, so treat the wording below as a guide rather than an exact menu path.

• 1. Update the app, then open it and finish any sign-in or phone number verification it asks for.
• 2. When prompted, allow microphone access. If you denied it earlier, turn it back on in your device's app permissions. You can revoke it again later.
• 3. Start a new call and choose the person you want to reach from your contacts.
• 4. Pick the audio or voice call option, usually shown as a phone handset icon, instead of the video option.
• 5. During the call, use the on-screen controls to mute or unmute and to switch between the earpiece, the loudspeaker and a connected headset.
• 6. Connect any Bluetooth headset before the call starts. The phone then sends audio to it from the beginning instead of switching partway through.

Some Android phones also offer Meet calling from the built-in Phone or Contacts app. Whether this is available depends on the manufacturer and software version. On a computer, Meet in a browser is mainly built around meetings, and calling individual contacts may not be available everywhere. If you use a computer, the browser asks for microphone permission. The input device and output device are chosen in the call's audio settings, where offered, or in your operating system's sound settings.

Check the output

An audio call shows no camera preview. You can confirm the result in several ways:

• Ask the other person whether they hear you clearly and at a steady volume.
• On a computer, speak normally and watch the input level meter in your sound settings. It should move clearly without reaching its maximum constantly.
• Check the call history afterwards. Many versions mark audio and video calls differently.

Audio quality depends mostly on your connection, because the service adjusts quality to the available bandwidth. Google does not publish a fixed sample rate that you can rely on. Bluetooth headsets often switch to a hands-free mode during calls, which lowers audio fidelity compared with music playback. Privacy details, such as end-to-end encryption, are worth confirming in Google's current documentation for your app version. Do not assume a call is or is not recorded or stored without checking.

Common problems and next steps

Can't find Duo on your phone: look for Meet. The updated app keeps the former Duo calling features, and older Duo installations were converted when they updated.

No voice call option for a contact: update the app first. If the contact does not use the app, you may only see an option to invite them.

The other person can't hear you: check that you are not muted and that microphone permission is enabled. Close other apps that might be using the microphone. Also confirm the correct input device is active. A forgotten Bluetooth headset in another room is a common cause.

You can't hear the other person: raise the call volume during the call. Check the output device with the speaker control, and disconnect Bluetooth accessories you are not using.

Echo or feedback: use headphones, or lower the loudspeaker volume, so your microphone does not pick up the other person's voice.

Background noise or muffled sound: move somewhere quieter and keep the microphone close to your mouth. If a Bluetooth headset sounds thin, try a wired headset or the phone's own microphone. Some phones and computers also offer built-in noise suppression in their sound settings.

Calls cut out or drop: switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data, or move closer to your router. If problems continue after updating the app, check the Google Meet help center for your device.