Why Is My Phone Volume Suddenly Low?
There could be a variety of reasons your iPhone in-call volume is suddenly low. You might have accidentally toggled the volume rocker while on another call; it’s possible there is an obstruction preventing you from hearing the other caller well, or you could have a software or hardware problem.
Even something as simple as an operating system update could be the cause of the problem, so the best thing to do is work through the troubleshooting steps below in order until you find the solution to your problem.
How Do You Fix Low Call Volume on iPhone?
Fixing a low call volume on your iPhone might be as simple as turning the volume up on the phone or as tricky as having some hardware replaced, but until you locate the problem, you can’t know how to fix it. Try these steps, which we’ve outlined in order of the easiest thing to try to the most difficult.
Turn the volume up on your phone. It sounds super simple, but if you’re having issues hearing people when they call, it could be as simple as adjusting the in-call volume. The thing about it is, you have to do it while you’re on a call. So, the next time someone calls you, use the Volume Up button on your phone to see if you can turn the volume back to a level comfortable to hear. Check to make sure your phone case and screen protectors aren’t blocking your speakers. Some phone cases are designed to cover the upper speaker on the iPhone. If a phone case or a screen protector is over the speaker, it could make the audio sound muffled or garbled when you try to have a phone conversation. Flip the silence switch on the side of the phone. There’s a physical switch on iPhones on the left side to silence your phone quickly. However, some users report after they turned the switch Off and On a few times, the volume in their calls went back to normal. For the Silence switch, orange is active (meaning notifications are silenced), and silver is inactive (meaning all your sounds come through). When you turn it off and on, be sure to leave it Off when you’re done. Toggle Airplane Mode on and off. Some users reported when they started experiencing issues with in-call volume, they toggled Airplane Mode on and off a few times, and it seemed to fix the problem. Give it a try; be sure that the final position for Airplane Mode is Off. Turn Bluetooth off and then on again. If you’re experiencing issues with in-call volume while using a Bluetooth headset or automobile connection, there could be a problem with the Bluetooth connection. Try turning the setting off and then on again. If that doesn’t fix the problem, then try creating a new pairing for your Bluetooth device. Disable Noise Cancellation. Noise cancellation is an accessibility feature on iPhone, and it can be handy to help some users hear more clearly. However, some people experiencing problems hearing callers on their iPhone report turning Noise Cancellation off greatly improved in-call volume. To turn off Noise Cancellation, go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual and toggle Noise Cancellation Off (green is On). Make sure your audio is being transmitted through the iPhone. Sometimes when you use Bluetooth devices, like speakers, your audio is directed somewhere other than through your phone. Check to make sure your audio is being transmitted through the phone speakers in your Control Center. Swipe down from the upper-right corner to open the Control Center, and then look at the music box in the upper-right corner. If there is a triangle with concentric circles over the top of it, it means the audio is coming through the iPhone. If that indicator is not there, there could be a Bluetooth speaker, headphones, or other device connected to your phone. Disconnect that device to restore audio to your iPhone. Clean your iPhone speakers. Speakers full of lint and dust can cause call volume to be muffled. Try cleaning your speakers, then try your calls again to see if the problem is fixed. Update your iPhone. Something as simple as an outdated operating system or speaker driver could be the culprit if you’re having trouble hearing callers on your iPhone. Make sure your device is entirely up-to-date, then try making your calls again. If you’re using Bluetooth headphones and experiencing low call volume through the headphones, make sure those are updated as well. A driver issue could interfere with call volume and sound delivery; updating can fix the problem. Restart your iPhone. Sometimes, devices need a good restart. Nothing needs to happen to them, and you could be doing everything right, but features may not work correctly. Whatever the problem is, it’s a universal truth that a simple restart can do wonders for electronics, so take a few seconds and restart your phone, then try your calls again.
When All Else Fails, Call In the Professionals
If you worked through all these troubleshooting steps, or the phone has physical damage (such as water damage or drop damage), you may need to call in professionals. Check your warranty status, then make an appointment with the Apple Store or Genius Bar, or visit your local Apple-authorized repair shop to see if they might be able to fix the problem for you.
If that indicator is not there, there could be a Bluetooth speaker, headphones, or other device connected to your phone. Disconnect that device to restore audio to your iPhone.
