Help! I Can’t Get Sound on My iPhone – What Should I Do?

Oh no! I’m having trouble with the sound on my iPhone, and I could really use your help. I want to enjoy my favorite music, videos, and calls, but something seems to be going wrong. Don’t worry, though – together, we can figure this out.

First things first, let’s check a few things to see if we can determine the cause of the issue. Sometimes a simple fix can save the day.

The first thing I need you to do is make sure your iPhone isn’t on silent mode. It’s easy to overlook, but the little switch on the side of the device might just be turned on, muting everything. Give it a quick look and flip it back if necessary.

Next, let’s check the volume level. It’s possible that the sound is just too low for us to hear. Press the volume up button on the side of the iPhone, or go into the settings to adjust the volume.

If that didn’t solve the problem, take a look at the headphone jack or lightning port. Sometimes debris can get stuck in there and cause sound issues. A gentle cleaning with a soft cloth or a blast of compressed air might do the trick.

Another possible culprit could be a rogue app. Sometimes a glitchy app can interfere with the sound on the iPhone. To troubleshoot this, we can try closing all apps running in the background. Double-click the home button (or swipe up from the bottom on an iPhone without a home button) to bring up the app switcher. Then, swipe up on each app to close them one by one.

If all else fails, a restart might be our savior. Hold down the power button until the “slide to power off” option appears, then swipe to turn it off. After a few seconds, press and hold the power button again until the Apple logo appears, indicating the iPhone is rebooting. This often resolves many issues, including sound problems.

If after all our efforts, the sound is still missing in action, it might be time to reach out to Apple Support for further assistance. They have a team of experts who can provide guidance and help get your iPhone back to sounding its best.

I appreciate your help in tackling this frustrating problem. Fingers crossed we can restore the sound on my iPhone and get back to enjoying all its fantastic features.

Have you cranked up the volume, but you still can’t hear your notifications or game audio? iPhones have a strange way of experiencing sound glitches, and this is just one example of it.

Sound may also stop working when you’re using a headset or your AirPods. In some cases, it only acts up when you’re not using a headset. Fortunately, there are a few things you can try on your own to fix these issues. At TechJunkie, we’ll show you how to troubleshoot and resolve sound problems on your iPhone.

Note* If your ringtone isn’t working, first check the sound switch on the left side of your phone, above the volume buttons. Flip the switch so that it’s closest to the screen of the phone (instead of the back of your iPhone) and see if your ringer works.

Basic Troubleshooting

There are a few reasons why your iPhone sound might not be working properly. The quickest way to find a solution is through some basic troubleshooting steps. Here are a few things to consider or try when attempting to get your phone working properly again:

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• Bluetooth – Is your Bluetooth turned on and connected to anything? Even if you haven’t used it in a while, try turning it off to see if your sound works.
• Is the speaker dirty? – Especially if you hold your phone to your ear, check the speaker at the top of your phone, above the camera. It can get clogged and prevent you from hearing the other caller.
• Check the lower speakers for debris – If you can’t hear music or your ringtone, make sure the speaker at the bottom of your phone is clear.
• Does it work with headphones? Plug in your headphones and try playing a ringtone or a song. If nothing plays through your headphones, it’s likely a software issue.
• Try playing sound through a different source – If sound isn’t working on YouTube, try Pandora. If your ringtone isn’t working but everything else is, try a new ringtone.

Why isn’t the sound working on my iPhone?

First, check your basic sound settings. Then, we’ll explore other possible problems and solutions for audio issues.

1. Tap on Settings.
2. Then tap on Sounds & Haptics or Sounds.
3. Next, go to the Ringers and Alerts section.
4. Move the slider to the right to increase the sound volume.

Sounds not routing properly?

If you can hear noises from your phone, but they aren’t being routed correctly, go to the Accessibility settings on your phone. Check that the balance is correct and the settings match the screenshot below.

If you still can’t hear any sound, you might have a hardware problem and need to bring your iPhone to an Apple Store. But before assuming it’s a hardware issue, let’s try a few more things…

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Restart Your iPhone

Now, I know this isn’t some fancy solution to technical problems, but trust me, it works more often than you think. A simple restart can fix those small software glitches that mess up your audio.

Here’s how you can restart your iPhone:

1. Press and hold the Side Button and Volume Up buttons at the same time.

2. Wait for the screen to turn off.

3. Release the buttons when you see the Apple logo and wait for your iPhone to fully power up again.

Reset Your iPhone’s Settings to Fix Sound

Sometimes, the audio issues on your iPhone are caused by your own personalization. Custom audio settings, video settings, or loads of third-party apps can mess with your sound. So, why not try resetting your phone to its default settings and see if that fixes the problem?

Here’s how you can reset your iPhone back to the defaults:

1. First, go to Settings.

2. Then tap General.

3. Finally, tap All Settings and then tap Reset All Settings.

By the way, don’t worry. This won’t affect your personal data like media, contacts, or files. Just give it a few minutes and test your iPhone’s sound to see if it’s working now.

Check Headphones or External Speaker

If your sound problems only occur when you’re not using headphones or speakers, it could be a connection issue. Sometimes, your iPhone can get stuck in headphone mode even after you disconnect it.

So, try this trick. Plug your headphones back in and then quickly remove them. Do this a couple of times and see if anything changes. This simple step works for many iPhone models.

Check for Bluetooth Problems

Bluetooth can be a bit finicky, whether you’re connecting to headphones or a speaker. Sometimes, it fails to connect, pairs with the wrong device, or gets interference from other nearby devices with Bluetooth enabled. So, let’s try these steps:

1. First, make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your iPhone and the device you want to connect to.

2. Try turning Bluetooth off and then back on.

3. Check if any nearby devices have Bluetooth turned on. If they do, turn off Bluetooth on those devices so they don’t interfere with your headphones or speaker.

Clean Your iPhone’s Headphone Jack

No, I’m not talking about cleaning up some virtual cache. I mean physically clean your iPhone if the sound isn’t working. Grab a toothpick, some compressed air, or cotton swabs, and clear out any dust or debris that may be blocking the connection. Don’t forget to clean the speaker and receiver mesh too, not just the lightning connector.

Use a Backup Point to Restore When Sound Worked

Now, not everyone backs up their iPhone to iCloud, but if you do, you might just be in luck. Restoring an older version of your iPhone could solve those pesky audio issues, as long as the backup version didn’t have the same problems.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Go to Settings.

2. Find and select iCloud.

3. Choose Storage & Backup.

4. Pick the restore point you want to use.

Just remember, this means you’ll only get back the information that was on your device up to that backup point.

Deal with Connector Issues That Mess with Audio

It’s not a secret that some iPhones come out of the factory with flaws. Sometimes, the reason behind your sound troubles is just a loose or damaged connector.

You can try fixing it by gently squeezing the case where the connector is located, usually in the bottom right corner of your iPhone, just above the speaker. Squeeze it between your fingers for about 10 or 20 seconds and see if anything changes. Alternatively, you can try tapping that same area a few times, but don’t go too hard or you might make things worse.

Updating to the Latest iOS Version can Fix Sound Problems

Not everyone uses automatic updates on their iPhones. That’s because sometimes Apple releases updates that don’t have a positive effect on the system. What’s designed to fix one thing might mess with other functions.

But here’s the thing. If you’re using new apps without fully updating your iOS, you might run into compatibility issues that affect the sound.

So, here’s how you can update your iOS version:

1. Go to Settings.

That’s it! Follow these tips, and hopefully, you’ll be back to enjoying sound on your iPhone in no time.

1. To fix the sound issue on your iPhone, go to Settings.
2. Next, tap on General.
3. Select Software Update.
4. Then, choose Download and Install.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dealing with technical problems on your phone can be frustrating. If we haven’t answered all of your questions yet, keep reading.

My sound still isn’t working. What should I do?

If you’ve already followed all the steps above and your sound is still not working, it’s possible that there is a hardware issue. In this case, the best course of action is to contact Apple and schedule an appointment at an Apple Store or authorized repair center. If your iPhone is less than a year old, has no damage, and still has all its original parts, the repairs should be covered. If you purchased the extended Apple Care Warranty, you may also be eligible for coverage, depending on the age of your phone.

Visit the Apple Store

If you have tried all the steps mentioned earlier and are still unable to resolve the sound issues on your iPhone, it may be time to visit an Apple Store. There, a knowledgeable staff member at the Genius Bar can help diagnose and fix the problem for you. It’s not a good idea to attempt to fix iPhone hardware on your own.

For instance, if you own an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus and the speaker icon is greyed out, the fixes mentioned earlier may not work (although sometimes they do). This particular model of iPhone has a faulty Integrated Circuit Audio Component, which requires professional repair at Apple or a third-party shop with soldering capabilities. However, keep in mind that choosing a third-party shop might result in non-Apple parts and void any existing warranty.

Have you experienced sound problems with your iPhone? If so, how did you manage to resolve the issue? Please share your solution in the comments below!