i can hear people through the camera but they can't hear me when i talk through the two-way audio, it's just silent on their end.

Diagnosis

The issue where you can hear audio but cannot transmit your voice through a Lorex 4K Spotlight Deterrence Camera is almost exclusively a "handshake" failure between the Lorex Home app and your smartphone's hardware. While the camera's onboard microphone is successfully streaming audio to your device, the return path—your phone's microphone—is being blocked. This is rarely a hardware failure of the camera's speaker, as the speaker is integrated into the same module as the spotlight and siren, which usually function independently. This typically happens because of OS-level security restrictions introduced in newer versions of iOS and Android. If the app was installed without the "Allow Microphone" prompt being accepted, or if the permission was revoked during a system update, the app cannot access the audio input stream. To confirm this is the issue, attempt to use the two-way talk feature while connected to a different network (switching from Wi-Fi to 5G/LTE); if the silence persists across different networks, the blockage is local to the device permissions rather than a network firewall or port issue.

How to Fix It

To resolve this, you must override the system-level permissions in your phone's global settings, as the app cannot "force" a request for microphone access once it has been denied.

1. Exit the Lorex Home app completely by swiping it away from your recent apps list to ensure a clean restart.
2. Open the main Settings menu of your smartphone.
3. Navigate to Apps (on Android, this may be Apps & Notifications or Application Manager; on iOS, scroll down the main settings list until you see the Lorex Home app icon).
4. Select the Lorex Home app from the list of installed applications.
5. Tap on Permissions.
6. Locate the Microphone permission. If it is set to "Don't allow" or "Ask every time," change it to Allow while using the app.
7. If you are on an Android device, also ensure that Storage and Phone permissions are enabled, as some firmware versions tie audio streaming to these system permissions.
8. Restart your phone to clear the cache and finalize the permission change.
9. Open the Lorex Home app, select the 4K Spotlight camera, and press and hold the Microphone/Talk icon to test the transmission.

If That Didn't Work

• Check for App Cache Corruption: On Android devices, go to Settings > Apps > Lorex Home > Storage and select Clear Cache. A corrupted cache can sometimes lead the app to believe it has microphone access when the OS is actually blocking it. After clearing, restart the app and attempt the two-way talk again.
• Test for Hardware Interference: If you are using a Bluetooth headset or a third-party microphone, the Lorex app may be trying to pull audio from the wrong source. Disconnect all Bluetooth devices and use the phone's built-in microphone to see if the audio transmits.
• Update Camera Firmware: Log into the Lorex Home app, go to the camera settings (gear icon), and check for Firmware Updates. Outdated firmware on the 4K Spotlight model can cause "one-way" audio glitches where the speaker fails to trigger even when the app is sending a signal.
• Verify Network Port Settings: If you are using a complex home network with a strict firewall, ensure that the ports required for Lorex's VoIP (Voice over IP) are open. Specifically, check that your router is not blocking the RTSP or UDP traffic required for the two-way audio stream.

Heads Up

• Hold-to-Talk: Remember that the Lorex 4K Spotlight uses a "Push-to-Talk" mechanism. You must hold the button down while speaking; releasing it prematurely will cut off your audio.
• Wind Noise: The 4K Spotlight cameras are highly sensitive. If the camera is installed in a high-wind area, the automatic gain control may mute your voice to compensate for wind noise hitting the camera's mic.
• Speaker Volume: Ensure the camera's internal volume is not muted. While there is no physical volume knob, some firmware versions allow you to adjust the speaker output level within the device settings menu.
• Avoid Obstructions: Ensure no silicone seals or mounting brackets are covering the small pinhole microphone located on the front face of the camera, as this will make your voice sound muffled or silent to the listener.