First, describe the sound you are hearing
An echo sounds like a delayed copy of a voice. Feedback is often a ringing or squealing sound. A quiet room’s natural reverberation can sound different again. Describe the problem to the other person before changing settings: “I hear my last few words repeated after I speak.”
The person who hears the echo is not necessarily the person whose setup needs changing. Your voice may play through the other person’s speakers and reach their microphone. Work together rather than assuming your own microphone is broken.
Try these checks in order
Use headphones
If possible, both people should try headphones so speaker sound is less likely to return through a microphone.
Lower the speaker volume
If headphones are unavailable, reduce playback volume while keeping speech audible.
Check for duplicate audio
Look for a second device or tab playing the same conversation nearby, and keep one active audio setup.
Confirm the selected devices
A connected headset does not always mean its microphone is the selected input. Check the device options available to you.
Test after each change using a short sentence and a pause. This makes it easier to identify the adjustment that helped. You can find related general audio advice in Google’s video and audio troubleshooting reference; its Meet-specific menu names do not describe HIYAK controls.
Use the result to choose your next step
| What changes? | What to inspect next |
|---|---|
| Headphones remove the echo | The speaker-to-microphone path and playback volume. |
| Closing another tab removes it | Duplicate call or playback sessions. |
| Changing input removes it | Which microphone the browser was actually using. |
| Nothing changes | Both devices, the room and whether this occurs in other calls. |
These observations help narrow the problem; they do not prove a hardware fault. Avoid replacing equipment based on a single call, especially if only one particular conversation has been affected.
Separate room sound from a repeated voice
If you hear a roomy, hollow sound instead of a distinct repeat, try speaking closer to the selected microphone at a normal volume. A bare room can make voice reflections more noticeable. Move to a quieter, furnished space if one is available.
Do not switch several filters, devices and browser settings at once. Return to a simple setup you can describe. If the noise started after connecting an accessory, test once without that accessory before making wider changes.
When to stop and troubleshoot off the call
If the sound remains uncomfortable, tell the person you will end the call and check your setup. Note the device, browser, chosen microphone and what you already tried. That is more useful for support than a description such as “audio does not work.”
End a paid call before spending time on restarts or device changes. If you reconnect on HIYAK, review the current call cost again. Do not record the other person to diagnose the sound without their permission; you can describe the symptom or test your own microphone separately.