diff --git a/clients/apple/iOS/VoiceCatiOS/IOSAudioRouter.swift b/clients/apple/iOS/VoiceCatiOS/IOSAudioRouter.swift
index 4d50871..10fc50f 100644
--- a/clients/apple/iOS/VoiceCatiOS/IOSAudioRouter.swift
+++ b/clients/apple/iOS/VoiceCatiOS/IOSAudioRouter.swift
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ final class IOSAudioRouter: ObservableObject {
     @Published var inputPorts: [IOSAudioInputPort] = []
     @Published var outputRoutes: [IOSAudioOutputRoute] = []
     @Published var bluetoothMode: BluetoothMode = .btHfpVoice
+    /// User-requested speaker fallback: when on, route to the built-in speaker instead of the
+    /// earpiece (receiver) when no headphones/Bluetooth are connected. Orthogonal to the
+    /// bluetooth mode and presets. Default off — current behavior is unchanged for existing users.
+    @Published var forceSpeaker: Bool = false
     @Published var micMode: MicMode = .standard
     @Published var captureChannels: CaptureChannels = .mono
     @Published var selectedInputPortId: String?
@@ -165,6 +169,7 @@ final class IOSAudioRouter: ObservableObject {
     private let kDataSourceId = "cat.voice.audio.dataSourceId"
     private let kPolarPattern = "cat.voice.audio.polarPattern"
     private let kPreset = "cat.voice.audio.preset"
+    private let kForceSpeaker = "cat.voice.audio.forceSpeaker"
 
     /// Re-entrancy guard: setCategory/setPreferredInput/etc. trigger route-change
     /// notifications synchronously on the same thread. Without this guard,
@@ -322,9 +327,11 @@ final class IOSAudioRouter: ObservableObject {
         //    .mixWithOthers is ALWAYS set — it keeps other audio (notably VoiceOver, which a
         //    blind user needs to operate the phone) audible while our session is active. Never
         //    drop it.
-        //    .defaultToSpeaker is set ONLY for the speaker preset. It forces output to the
-        //    built-in speaker instead of the receiver — but it also actively breaks A2DP
-        //    routing in .playAndRecord, so it must NOT be set for the A2DP or HFP presets.
+        //    .defaultToSpeaker is set for the speaker preset and, when the user enables the
+        //    `forceSpeaker` toggle, for the HFP preset too — it forces output to the built-in
+        //    speaker instead of the receiver while still yielding to connected BT/wired output.
+        //    It also actively breaks A2DP routing in .playAndRecord, so it must NEVER be set for
+        //    the A2DP preset (forceSpeaker is intentionally ignored there).
         //    .allowAirPlay is added to the Bluetooth presets so AirPlay output also works.
         var options: AVAudioSession.CategoryOptions = [.mixWithOthers]
         switch bluetoothMode {
@@ -347,6 +354,14 @@ final class IOSAudioRouter: ObservableObject {
             options.insert(.defaultToSpeaker)
         }
 
+        // User-requested speaker fallback: route to the built-in speaker instead of the
+        // receiver when no headphones/BT are connected. Skipped for the A2DP mode because
+        // .defaultToSpeaker breaks A2DP routing (see note above). Redundant for
+        // builtInMicSpeaker, which already sets it.
+        if forceSpeaker && bluetoothMode != .builtInMicBtA2dp {
+            options.insert(.defaultToSpeaker)
+        }
+
         // 2. Set category + mode, chosen per scenario:
         //    - Stereo capture: .default — .voiceChat (the AEC/VPIO path) forces MONO, so stereo
         //      is only possible in a non-VPIO mode. .default supports multi-capsule stereo AND
@@ -514,6 +529,7 @@ final class IOSAudioRouter: ObservableObject {
         selectedInputPortId = UserDefaults.standard.string(forKey: kInputPortId)
         selectedDataSourceId = UserDefaults.standard.string(forKey: kDataSourceId)
         selectedPolarPattern = UserDefaults.standard.string(forKey: kPolarPattern)
+        forceSpeaker = UserDefaults.standard.bool(forKey: kForceSpeaker)
     }
     /// Persist current selections to UserDefaults.
     func savePreferences() {
@@ -523,6 +539,7 @@ final class IOSAudioRouter: ObservableObject {
         UserDefaults.standard.set(selectedInputPortId, forKey: kInputPortId)
         UserDefaults.standard.set(selectedDataSourceId, forKey: kDataSourceId)
         UserDefaults.standard.set(selectedPolarPattern, forKey: kPolarPattern)
+        UserDefaults.standard.set(forceSpeaker, forKey: kForceSpeaker)
     }
 
     // MARK: - Selection setters (called from SettingsView pickers)
@@ -558,6 +575,13 @@ final class IOSAudioRouter: ObservableObject {
         refreshRoutes()
     }
 
+    func setForceSpeaker(_ on: Bool) {
+        forceSpeaker = on
+        savePreferences()
+        applyConfiguration()
+        refreshRoutes()
+    }
+
     func selectMicMode(_ mode: MicMode) {
         micMode = mode
         savePreferences()
diff --git a/clients/apple/iOS/VoiceCatiOS/Views/SettingsView.swift b/clients/apple/iOS/VoiceCatiOS/Views/SettingsView.swift
index d40d656..ee1fd74 100644
--- a/clients/apple/iOS/VoiceCatiOS/Views/SettingsView.swift
+++ b/clients/apple/iOS/VoiceCatiOS/Views/SettingsView.swift
@@ -23,6 +23,13 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
                     }
                     .accessibilityLabel("Audio preset")
 
+                    Toggle("Speaker output", isOn: Binding(
+                        get: { router.forceSpeaker },
+                        set: { router.setForceSpeaker($0) }
+                    ))
+                    .accessibilityLabel("Speaker output")
+                    .accessibilityHint("Routes audio to the speaker instead of the earpiece when no headphones are connected.")
+
                     if !router.hasBluetoothDevice && !router.hasWiredHeadset {
                         Text("Connect Bluetooth headphones or a wired headset for more presets.")
                             .font(.caption)
diff --git a/clients/apple/iOS/VoiceCatiOS/Views/VoiceControlsView.swift b/clients/apple/iOS/VoiceCatiOS/Views/VoiceControlsView.swift
index 9f5b765..2d9b295 100644
--- a/clients/apple/iOS/VoiceCatiOS/Views/VoiceControlsView.swift
+++ b/clients/apple/iOS/VoiceCatiOS/Views/VoiceControlsView.swift
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import ReplayKit
 
 struct VoiceControlsView: View {
     @Bindable var session: SessionState
+    @StateObject private var router = IOSAudioRouter.shared
 
     var body: some View {
         HStack(spacing: 20) {
@@ -37,6 +38,19 @@ struct VoiceControlsView: View {
 
             Spacer()
 
+            // Speaker output toggle — force the built-in speaker instead of the earpiece when
+            // no headphones/BT are connected. Mirrors the persisted Settings ▸ Audio toggle.
+            Button {
+                router.setForceSpeaker(!router.forceSpeaker)
+            } label: {
+                Image(systemName: router.forceSpeaker ? "speaker.wave.2.fill" : "speaker.fill")
+                    .font(.title3)
+                    .foregroundStyle(router.forceSpeaker ? Color.accentColor : .primary)
+            }
+            .accessibilityLabel(router.forceSpeaker
+                ? "Speaker on — turn off to use the earpiece"
+                : "Speaker off — turn on for speakerphone")
+
             // Self mute (disabled when not in voice)
             Button {
                 session.setMute(!session.voiceState.selfMuted, deafened: session.voiceState.selfDeafened)