Love listening to your favorite tunes and media on your iPhone? If so, you’re in great company: research shows that a growing amount of our audio consumption is done with mobile devices, at an increase of 67% since 2014.
Of course, if there’s one thing that can throw a wrench into your latest jam session, it’s an iPhone speaker that won’t work! Whether you’re struggling to raise the volume or you’re not getting any sound at all, digging through your settings to find the cause can be frustrating.
If you’re ready to crank up your tunes or hear your calls again, we’ve got you covered. Let’s take a look at a few of the best troubleshooting tricks to try, from quick fixes to in-depth solutions.
Turn Your Phone Off Silent
At one time or another, most of us have grown annoyed with the sound of the snapshot when taking a photo or switched a phone to silent to stop notifications during a meeting. However, forgetting to switch the setting back can keep your iPhone speaker quiet long after you need it to be.
If you’re new to iPhones, you’ll want to toggle the switch on the top left of your device. When the switch is moved toward your screen, the volume is on.
Check Your Volume Settings
Try adjusting the volume buttons or pulling up the Control Center to adjust the volume from there. If you can’t make changes, ensure you have Change with Buttons turned on under the Sounds & Haptics section of your phone’s settings.
If none of this works, there’s one last trick worth trying here: checking your Headphone Safety settings.
In your phone’s settings, tap Sounds & Haptics and then Headphone Safety. Here, your iPhone allows you to restrict your phone’s volume to a certain decibel. If you’ve accidentally switched it to a low volume, change the settings here.
Disable Noise Cancellation and Airplane Mode
Both of these settings have their perks, but some users have reported that toggling them on affects the volume of their phones. To remove all variables as you troubleshoot, make sure both of these settings are disabled.
Reset and Update Your Phone
Restarting your iPhone can be an easy way to resolve minor bugs and issues. Follow these steps for a force restart to see if it fixes the volume problems.
In addition, now might be a good time to see whether a newer version of your iOS can help. Check in Settings > General > Software Update, and download an update if one is available.
Turn Off Your Bluetooth
Struggling to hear music on your Bluetooth headphones? The issue may be with your connection. Try turning your device off and on again to reset the connection, or pair your device to your phone again.
You may also want to make sure your audio is not getting transmitted to a Bluetooth speaker or device without your knowledge. You may think the phone has volume issues because the speaker’s volume is low!
Check for Speaker Blockage
Is your iPhone speaker low and muffled? If you can hear soft sounds, it’s possible that your speakers are blocked rather than broken.
In some cases, your screen protector or phone case may block your speakers. Do a quick check to ensure that neither of these covers has shifted to affect your volume.
If you’ve dropped your phone into a puddle or splashed it in the sink, water may have impacted your speakers. While most modern iPhones have at least some degree of water resistance to protect them, it’s important to know how to get water out of your iPhone speaker just in case.
You can also try cleaning out your phone’s speakers with compressed air. Don’t forget to also use a soft brush, a microfiber cloth, or rubbing alcohol to remove excess debris.
Try an Equalizer App
Still can’t crank the volume up? As a last-ditch effort, a third-party app may do the trick.
Note, of course, that your phone comes with its own equalizer, which you can find in Settings > Music > EQ. Turning this option on and playing with the settings can give you a minor volume boost, but it may also distort certain sounds.
Third-party apps give you a little more flexibility to adjust your audio elements, increasing the vocals or bass as needed. You’ll have to pay for high-quality apps, of course, but it may still be an easy and affordable way to resolve minor volume issues.
Partner With a Professional
When all else fails, bringing your device to a pro may be the best way forward. This is especially true if you’ve rifled through your settings to no avail, or if you know that your phone is damaged from a splash or fall.
If your iPhone is still under its 90-day AppleCare warranty, working with Apple can be an easy and even free way to fix the issue. Otherwise, find an expert smartphone repair shop for the support you need. A pro will know how to make your iPhone speaker louder by repairing buggy software or flawed hardware, and they can get your tunes and phone calls functioning in no time.
Fix Your iPhone Speaker Fast
If your iPhone’s volume issues have made the device hard to use, be sure to skim through the tips above as you troubleshoot. Whether the problem is a simple setting adjustment or a more in-depth fix, it’s time to get your iPhone speaker up and running again. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a tech expert for more stubborn volume issues!
Looking for more of the tech tips you need to know? Be sure to take a look at our other guides for a wealth of digital solutions.
