- If your iPhone speaker is not working after iOS 18 update, there are some simple ways to troubleshoot possible problems.
- To fix iOS 18 speaker problem, make sure that the iPhone isn’t muted with the silent switch or with Focus mode.
- You should also make sure AirPlay isn’t enabled and your phone isn’t connected to an audio accessory via Bluetooth.
The speaker is an important part of your iPhone. If your iPhone’s speaker isn’t working after the latest iOS 18 update, that’s a serious problem — you can’t hear phone calls, music, or notifications. Here are the top ways to troubleshoot your iOS 18 speaker issues and hear your audio once again.
How To Fix iPhone Speaker Problems in iOS 18
1. Make sure the audio isn’t silent
It’s possible you accidentally set your phone to a silent mode, so the speaker works fine — it’s just muted.
On the upper lefthand side of your iPhone is the hardware switch that you use to turn sound on and off. You know the iPhone is in silent mode if you can see a little strip of orange above the button.
This can often be turned on by mistake while taking the iPhone out of a pocket or while it’s in a bag. Take a quick look to see if that’s the case. If so, slide it back and your iPhone speaker should instantly start playing sound.
Note: If you are using an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, or iPhone 16 Pro Max, simply long press the Action Button to unmute your device. You should feel a single haptic pulse and see a "Ring" icon appear in the Dynamic Island.
2. See if Focus Mode is on
Another common reason you may think iPhones speaker is not working is when the Focus mode gets turned on accidentally or is left on after a meeting has finished.
To work out if this is the case, swipe down from the top of the screen to see the Control Center and make sure the Focus button says Focus rather than another setting. If it says Do Not Disturb, Personal, or another setting, tap it to disable Focus mode.
3. Make sure you’re not sending audio to AirPlay
If you have various other Apple devices, then AirPlay could be the culprit here. Perhaps you previously sent your audio through your HomePod? To check, swipe down from the top of the screen to see the Control Center and then tap the AirPlay icon at the top right of the music playback section. If another device is receiving audio with AirPlay, tap iPhone to revert back to your own device.
4. Disconnect audio accessories
Another possibility your iPhone speaker is not working is that your phone could be connected to another audio accessory via Bluetooth. This means that any music or other sounds will be sent to that device rather than played through your iPhone speaker.
To fix this, swipe down from the top-right of the iPhone screen to open Control Center. Look at the audio icon — if there is an icon of a pair of headphones there, then the iPhone is still connected to them. To disconnect them, you can tap the Bluetooth icon in Control Center to switch Bluetooth off. Alternatively, go into Bluetooth settings and tell the iPhone to Forget This Device. You would have to re-pair the headphones with your iPhone later, but that’s no biggie.
5. Clean your speaker
An iPhone’s speakers can become clogged with dirt, dust, dead skin cells, and more, reducing the quality of playback and making calls harder to hear.
To clean your iPhone speaker, remove your iPhone case and screen protector if it’s affecting the speaker in any way. Then check to see if it’s dirty. If necessary, carefully use a small, dry soft-bristled brush to clear away any lint, dirt, or grime.
6. Restart your iPhone
If your iPhone speaker is still not working, it’s time to try the age-old solution of turning it off and turning it back on. Your non-functioning speaker might just have a few gremlins in the system, which will be flushed out with a system reboot. Simply restart your iPhone and test your speakers again.
7. Check the volume levels
It’s easy to accidentally turn the volume all the way down on your iPhone. If you keep your iPhone in your pocket, then leaning or sitting in certain positions can cause the volume buttons to be pressed, which in turn makes the device silent.
To check if this is the case, unlock your iPhone and hold the volume up button until your iPhone is turned all the way up. If the volume isn’t turning up even as you hold down the volume up button, check your sound settings on your phone, by going to Settings–>Sounds & Haptics. Here, find out how high the ring volume is. Again, it is so easy to have turned the volume all the way down and not even realized it.
8. Reach out to Apple customer support
If none of those options worked, the problem is probably hardware related and you’ll need to seek help from Apple Support.
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