How to fix a broken iPhone speaker

A broken iPhone® speaker is a huge bummer—you can't listen to music, make calls on speakerphone, or hear the “ding" of text messages and voicemails. If yours isn't working, what should you do?

At Asurion, when tech breaks, we fix it. Our experts help 300 million customers (and counting) diagnose and resolve their device problems and get the most out of their favorite technology. Here's their take on how to fix an iPhone speaker.

Why is my iPhone speaker not working?

Your iPhone speaker is one of the most fragile components of your device, which means it's prone to damage. If you struggle to hear calls clearly, notice static or crackling noises, or experience sound quality issues, you likely have a problem with your iPhone speaker.

Common causes of iPhone speaker problems

There are many reasons your phone's speaker may be having issues, but here are some common causes behind a broken iPhone speaker:

• Physical or liquid damage
• Bluetooth® issues
• Headphone glitch
• Airplay® is connected
• Silent mode is turned on
• Dirty or blocked speaker port
• Software malfunction

How to fix your broken iPhone speaker

You can try various fixes at home to fix your iPhone speaker, getting it back up and running in no time.

Restart your iPhone

A simple restart may be all you need if a software glitch is to blame for your sound issue.

On an iPhone 8 or later (including iPhone SE 2nd generation):

• Quickly press and release the volume up button.
• Quickly press and release the volume down button, then press and hold the side button.
• When the Apple logo® appears, release the side button. 

On an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus:

Press and hold the volume down and side button until the Apple logo appears, then release the buttons.

On an iPhone 6s or earlier (including iPhone SE 1st gen):

Press and hold the Home and side button (or the Home and top button) until the Apple logo appears, then release the buttons.

Clean your speakers and receivers

It's easy, just follow these steps:

1. If you use a screen protector, case, or film, take it off.
2. Look for dirt or anything blocking the speaker and receiver.
3. If needed, clean those areas with a dry, soft-bristled brush.

If your speakers need a deeper clean, opt for bringing your iPhone to an expert who can clean the entire device.

Turn the volume all the way up

If the volume on your iPhone is turned down, you might not be able to hear anything. To check the sound volume:

1. Unlock your iPhone and hold the Volume Up button (on the left side) to raise the volume level.
2. You can also use Siri® by saying, “Hey Siri, turn up the volume."

Check the sound settings on your iPhone

There are a few ways to do this.

Do Not Disturb

When Do Not Disturb is on, many calls and sounds will be silenced. Make sure Do Not Disturb is turned off by going to Settings > Do Not Disturb or Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb and switching it off.

Silent Mode

Confirm that your Silent Mode switch, located on the upper-left side of your device, is set to Ring rather than Silent. Just push the switch forward toward the screen so the orange isn't showing. (If you do see orange, that means your device is in Silent Mode.) On the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics to turn Silent mode on or off.

Check Ringer

Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics, and look for the Ringer and Alerts slider. Using your finger, drag the slider back and forth. If you hear a sound, you're good to go. If you don't, or if the speaker button near the slider is dimmed, your iPhone speaker may need servicing.

Disable Silence Unknown Callers

If the Silence Unknown Callers setting is turned on, you won't hear calls from unknown numbers that aren't saved in your Contacts. (Those calls will be silenced, sent to voicemail, and listed in Recents.) To turn off this setting, go to Settings > Phone and tap Silence Unknown Callers, then switch it off.

Disconnect your headphones

Sometimes your iPhone can get stuck in Headphone Mode, which means all sounds play through your headphones instead of the speaker. Other times, your iPhone might think your headphones are connected even when they're not. To fix this glitch:

1. Make sure your headphone jack is clean of any dirt or debris.
2. Push in your headphones, then quickly pull them out again.
3. If you're using Bluetooth-connected headphones, disconnect them and test out the sound.

Turn off Bluetooth

Bluetooth is great for playing music from your iPhone through an external speaker, for example, but if it's turned on when you're trying to call your doctor, sound won't come out of your phone. To turn it off, go to Settings, tap Bluetooth, and toggle the switch off.

Update iOS

If your phone's operating system (OS) is out of date, it could cause software issues to occur. Here's how to make sure you're running the latest version:

1. Plug your iPhone into your charger and connect to Wi-Fi.
2. Tap Settings > General > Software Update.
3. If a software update is available, tap Download and Install. If a message pops up asking to temporarily remove apps, tap Continue.
4. If prompted, enter your passcode. The software update will start automatically.

Reset your settings

If you've tried everything else and your sound still isn't working, try resetting your iPhone settings. This won't affect your messages, apps, or media files, and it will give your settings—like sound and display—a reset. Here's how:

1. Tap Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone
2. Tap Reset, then tap Reset All Settings. You may have to enter your passcode.
3. Tap to Settings > General > Reset > Reset all settings.