If you have no sound on your Apple iPhone 3 / 3GS / 4 / 4S / 5 / 5S / 5C/ 6/ 6Plus/ iPhone 6s/ 6s Plus/ iPhone 7, 8, 8Plus and the iPhone X, iPhone Xs volume bar, it is unbelievably frustrating as you most probably already know.
I have been looking for cures over the web as there are many out there. Below you will find a list of all these including the one that worked for me. Also, this list is in chronological order of what seems to be most successful. It is a process of elimination but it has to be done.
The symptoms of iPhone no sound Problem/ Issues include:
– iPhone will ring but speaker will not work for anything else.
– iPhone no sound at all for calls, apps, music, etc
– iPhone no sound as stuck in headphone mode
Follow these steps and hopefully, your iPhone will be back to its prior glory.
iPhone No Sound – How To Fix & Tutorials 2020
Step 1 – Check Silent Mode Switch
Loud/ Silent switch on the exterior of the iPhone is switched to the silent mode which is orange. If so, flick the other way to loud mode. This is a step that so many people miss, but it is the simplest! Also once you have flicked the silent mode off, ensure your volume is turned up by pressing the volume buttons on the side.
Step 2 – Restart Your iPhone
To restart the iPhone, hold the power switch and home button together for 10 seconds. This will restart your iPhone, you will not lose any media, contacts, data, etc. If there is a temporary glitch on the iPhone this will eliminate that glitch. Also if there is a glitch this may help terminate a temporary glitch.
If you have an iPhone X or newer, you can simply restart the device by pressing and holding both the side button and one of the volume buttons. Once done, you’ll then be promoted to restart the iPhone. When off, click the side button to turn on again.
Step 3 – Reset iPhone Settings
Reset iPhone. Go to Settings> General> Reset> Reset all settings. Make sure to backup your iPhone to the cloud / iTunes as this will wipe your media, music, and apps although photos will be left on the iPhone. This is a follow on to step 2 and another way you will be able to eliminate the glitch on the iPhone.
Step 4 – Press Corner Of iPhone
This one is a bit weird but it worked for me for a while and has worked successfully for other people. Squeeze the bottom right hand corner of the phone above where the speaker is.
The left Side is a mic, not a speaker, so don’t worry about that side. Hold that grip for about 20 seconds. This is done as the connector may be loose and had to be repositioned correctly. Yes, strange but most of these solutions are!
Step 5 – Clean Your iPhone
Use a tooth brush to clean the docking area where you charge your iPhone. With dirt, dust, grime, and so on it, may block the connectors working correctly and makes the phone think it is on a music dock. When you do this do it gently and get the bristles into there good.
Also if you use rubbing alcohol or acetone it will help get all the extra dirt out. As these products evaporate it will not do damage to the connectors. Do not use mineral terps when cleaning as it is oil based and will not dry!! This seems to be one of the most successful solutions. To avoid this happening in the future, its best to have a case that avoids dust and grime getting in.
Step 6 – Insert Headphones
Get your headphones and insert them into the headphone jack and then quickly pull them out. Continue this for a couple of minutes as sometimes it gets stuck in headphone mode so this normally undoes that. Also this may remove any dust or grime that may have been lodged in there.
You can also watch this video below which has a full list of fixes listed in this tutorial plus a few more that will restore sound to your iPhone!
Step 7 – Restore Your iPhone
Restore your iPhone on iTunes. Click on your iPhone icon when plugged into iTunes and go to restore. If you do this make sure your iPhone is backed up as YOU will loose all data, media, contacts, pics, and so on. This puts your iPhone back to factory settings.
This is similar to step 3 as it is a full reset of the device, this should help eliminate any glitch that have have come out in a recent update such as iOS7 or iOS8. Also when doing this step check for updates.
Step 8 – Jailbreak iPhone
Jailbreak your iPhone to find the file directories that are causing the fault. By doing this you are deleting the file that is making the iPhone think it is on a dock. You will still be able to use a music docking station etc. If you have a jail broken iPhone or willing to do it then this will be the best option for you. Very simple video and easy to follow, to jailbreak follow my simple tutorial.
Step 9 – Dry iPhone
This worked for me!! The squeezing step worked for me for a small amount of time. Not much else worked so thought I would try my own cure…. An old hair dryer!! Turn on low heat and hover over the speaker outlet for about 5 minutes.
I also did the headphone jack as well. There must of been some residual moisture build up which the hair dryer eliminated. The speaker was sputtering on and off during this time but finally came to life :). If you don’t have a hair dryer, you can also put your iPhone in dry rice while turned off. This can suck up all that unwanted moisture. Best to leave in rice for at lease 12 hours.
Step 10 – Hardware Problem
It may be a hardware problem and simply need to get a replacement through your provider who may offer insurance if chosen or apple support. This no sound and speaker is getting more known know by Apple there is a good chance you may get a replacement or a hardware fix.
Step 11 – Ultimate Destruction
If iPhone still has no sound there is always ultimate elimination… Not endorsed. See below….
**** UPDATE **** 18/03/20
Thank you everyone for such an overwhelming response! Also to those that have put up there own solutions that have worked for there iPhones. Initially when I created this website I did not envision the large response of people with the same issues. So here are some new solutions and steps that are popular on the comment feed.
iPhone No Sound Solution Step 12
As dirt and grime like to build up in the charging connectors of the iPhone it is necessary to clean it out. Similar to the step with cleaning it with a toothbrush you will be using compressed air instead. The best and easiest way you can do this is to blow air out your mouth with a good force into where the iPhone would get charged.
Do this for 1 minute to insure that it removes any dust or dirt particles. After that, plug and unplug your charger into the slot about 5-10 times.
iPhone No Sound Solution Step 13
This is similar to the step above but you will be cleaning out the headphone jack on the iPhone instead of the charging connectors. As above blow into the headphone jack for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, this should vanish any dust or dirt that is lodged in there.
Once that is done insert a ear bud/ q tip into the headphone jack and twist for about 30 seconds. That should dislodge any other dirt or grime that the blowing process may have missed.
If your iPhone X is not turning on, then you should check out my full guide here.
iPhone No Sound Solution Step 14
There have been more than a dozen comments saying that bluetooth may be interfering with the sound on the iPhone. One good method is to insure that your iPhone is not connected to any bluetooth device as it may be playing sound thru that device. Also another successful step that has been recommended is to turn off bluetooth and then turn on again.
iPhone Has No Sound Step 15
As a continuation to step 5, there have also been several reports of people who have also cleaned their iPhone with a wooden toothpick.
While a toothbrush works quite well, there is typically quite a lot of dirt still stuck in the charing port which can only be gotten out with a pointy object. Just be careful not todo any damage to your iPhone charge port. This seems to work well with older iPhone 4 and also the new iPhone 8 and iPhone X.
These are just some of the steps I have found and come up with which have shown success for iPhones with no sound.
Andy says
step 5 “the toothbrush” amazing what a little maintenance can do, thanks!
Cheryl says
Thank you soooo much! The “no sound” issue has been really frustrating, and it was only the silent switch that had slid over a bit. It wasn’t showing orange but was over enough to engage silent mode. I’d have never found the solution without some direction! 🙂
Wong tuban says
Just knock2 on right bottom corner next to phone button is cure my problem this happened after my hand set fell down several times
Have a nice try…!!!
adebola says
God bless you! I don’t know which step worked but between the reset, hold the phone down and using a vacuum (didn’t have a hair dryer), it worked. I went to the Apple store and those fools told me I needed to pay for a new one cos there’s water damage. Water damage happened 6 months before the audio issue so I knew it was unrelated. Once again, may the good Lord bless you with everything you deserve because you are a kind soul.
kk says
Step 4 worked for me. You are a genius. Took hours of googling to find this fix. Mwah.
C T May says
I could get the speaker to work for incoming calls, alarm clock and speaker phone, but nothing else. I tried every fix out there next to replacing parts/phone. The iPhone was acting as if the ear phone jack was in use. Finally, I went into an old app (Star Wars Angry Birds) and realized the sound was turned off. I turned it back on and all sound for all other apps, iTunes, music, etc. turned back on. Weird.
ABette says
Wow. Thank you! As quirky/easy as it is – step 4 worked for me! (I am glad I tried step 4 before step 3 – reset). Brilliant! Many hours of iPhone frustration averted. I am rejoicing and praising your good works!
Kay. says
Nothing seemed to work. The phone only plays certain vids. I am annoyed that the video of my son laughing for the first time has no sound!! But the other vids work.
Jane Aung says
Tried everything – then a couple of seconds with handheld dyson over speaker bottom right and charger socket brought back to life! So happy thanks!
Tnx2u says
This is great lol first step solved it all yay! Haha im so happy XD thank you!!!!
Joe M says
Step 4 worked for me! Thanks a lot for posting the tips!
Olivia says
The toothbrush cure has worked for me thank you so much I really apreciate
That!
BILLY BOB says
The toothbrush is a really good idea. I plug in my headphones and I got sound, I connect my Bluetooth I got sound. So I did more research. It is my speakers went out on my iphone 4.
Mia says
Resolution Step 1 – sell your iPhone and buy Samsung or other phone of your choice!
iPhone has died together with Steeve Jobs. My phone was perfect before latest update. After that I’m experiancing few anoing bugs including no app sound. It apears and disappears on it’s own. I had iPhones for 10 years, but these problems pissed me off compleatly. My iPhone goes for sale and no more iPhones!
Cheers
chuffed says
Step 8 worked!! iPhone wasn’t appearing in Airplay. It had been replaced with Docking Station for some reason. Don’t know how that happened. Headphones was working when connected, but for some reason the iPhone speaker wasn’t working for Apps & Music (ringer and speakerphone was working though).
So, so, so happy step 8 worked with iExplorer!!!
Thanks a million!!!!!!!!
steve says
iphone worked great till last update 7.01 or whatever was last update its nov.22nd then my 4s lost the keyboard clicks and ringing and message alert sounds,it plays audio and films oh and games.i hate apple and the constant updates.ill get my old sony out again,its 6 years old but still works,and dosnt need chargiing every time you use it
Sandra says
THANKS sooo much! After downloading the AWFUL IO7 without knowing (or taking the trouble to find out before I updated) the changes IO7 would do to my 4s I have had soo much trouble. But with the sound going was disastrous! Step 5 worked for me! meths and toothbrush both on the phone dock and connector plug. Who would have thought!!
You have saved me from purchasing a new phone, while giving me contact again to all I need 🙂
Thanks again heaps!
Jodie says
I had exactly the same problem phone worked fine through headphones and docking station but not on it’s own. Put once I took off the docking station it worked fine.
Tinman says
I can’t believe #4 worked, but it did. Something like that really concerns me, about this phone. It’s like when I used to hit the dashboard of my old Ford, for the radio to work!
Miha says
Hi guys.
My iPhone 4 doesen`t play video…just sound.
If I capture video or wanna watch youtube there is just sound – NO VIDEO! I have iOs 7
Can anybodey help please!!!
maximuscience says
Hi,
My iPhone 4s works on step 4. The rest who are still struggling. Give your best effort. All the best dude. 😉
Regards,
Helena says
Thank you! Step 4 worked for me :).
Alisha says
Stuck in headphone mode! I didn’t even have the headphones in and I was in the middle of a video when the sound went out, but I started trying everything. It worked fine with headphones in, but once I took them out, no sound again. I tried keeping them in for a bit but that still didn’t work. So I had them plugged in, turned my phone off, unplugged my headphones, and then turned it back on. Worked like a charm. Thank you do much! I would have been completely lost!
Joey says
Same problem, Plugged iPhone into Mac, ITunes started up. and bingo, phone was fine. NOTE> before fix, when increasing volume with side button the “bell” would show up but no lines indicating volume. That was the key indication why I had no sound, no clicks, etc.. Now all good.
Nyoman Patra says
Thank you for your Tutorial,
Since a week ago the alert/notications my iphone 4 doesn’t work properly, when a call coming the sound is working fine.
I tried cleaning the hearphone jack and the charger socket. but the issues still occured. I do googling and found your tutorial steps 8 very very usefull. I download ixplorer and followed your step by step and finally I GOT MY SOUND BACK to NORMAL……
Once agian many Thanks for your great Tutorial……
Regards,
Nyoman Patra
Bali – Indonesia
Stefan says
Step 5 did it. Well… actually carefully using a needle and removing a dust ball from the right corner solved it. Thanks for the hint!
Chris says
Lost sound after latest OS update.
Step 2 worked for me. Felt particularly stupid for not
thinking of that myself.
My sincere thanks.
Ethan says
I squeezed the right hand corner of my iphone which is the speaker and it worked!!
Annie says
The blow dryer trick worked for me, but I had to do it several times to make it stick. I guess there was some moisture in my dock, not from direct contact with water, but maybe from being outside when it’s humid or exercise or something like that. You’d think a $500 gadget could take a little normal use, but apparently not.
James says
Ah a little toothbrush cleanup worked. Thanks so much!
Pat says
Thanks but Tried everything – nothing worked.
Was told at the Genius Bar today that phone is 3 years old and therefore is old, and that I “had plenty of new iPhones to choose from now”
How’s that for classic Apple.
Salman says
STEP 4!! OMG cant believe it actually worked!! LOL hahaa
Kat says
I tried all of the above…NO SOUND……( except 8). Head set works fine, Volume button shows on high. NO bell with a bar through. Cannot hear incoming calls alerts or music without a detachable speaker. I am out of the country in the caribbean for 6 month…. not happy.
Mirabell says
Thank you for the tips: I tried using the blow dryer trick and it worked … Thank you so much!! I have a confession to make which is my phone actually fell inside my bathtub for two seconds and only speaker wasn’t working after that incident. I am happy now!!
Natasha says
My ringtone was working fine and I was able to adjust it-even though I did not see the scale on the screen as it would normaly appear, but I was not able to hear the sound from videos taken by myself or sent to me. I turned my phone of and took the sim card out and put it all together again-now its all back to normal.
MacKenzie says
Thank you so much. This was extremely helpful and saved me a lot of grief. I really appreciate your help and careful explanation. I was just at my wits end and dreading having to go to the apple store. The resetting of my settings helped my phone get rid of the need to believe it had headphones on. Thank you.
big one says
tooth brush worked killer !!!!!!!!!!
Shahreyar khan says
I m agree with Mia . This phone is very penfull . I also try all step but not sulved so I am divided I will sell this phone and buy Samsung
Carlo says
Incredibly the hairdryer did the trick!
Sufi says
Hey thank u thank u so much step 4 worked woww :)))))