How to Fix iPhone Speaker Not Working

Joy Taylor Last Updated: Jan. 18, 2022

I installed the iOS 14 update on my iPhone 7 the other day. Now, I cannot use Bluetooth nor speaker while on the phone. I’ve tried starting phone calls with speaker or Bluetooth and changing it over during the phone call and it will never switch. Fortunately, my headphones are working properly, but they do not meet all of my needs. How do I get these to function properly?

The iOS update always brings issues and bugs while giving new features and fixes, even though the latest iOS 14. So it’s possible you may meet iPhone speaker not working issue after the iOS 14 update.

iPhone Speaker Not Working – How to Fix

Normally, iPhone speaker not working could result from two factors: software malfunctions and hardware damage. And so does it on iOS 14. If it is because of hardware defects, you need to go to Apple retail store or online phone repair for help; But if it is related to software issues, you may try the following basic solutions to get it solved. Also, it will also help you get whether it’s a hardware or software issue. Check them now.

Method 1. Check Ring/Silent Switch

This is a basic tip but often missed. Please make sure your iPhone ringer is on. Or you will not get any sound from your device, no matter it is an iPhone 7 or other iPhone models.

Fix iPhone Speaker Not Working – Check Ring/Silent Switch

Method 2. Make Sure iPhone Volume Not Too Low

If the volume on iPhone is too low, you may not be able to hear audio output from your speakers. It’s easy and universal to flip the silent switch or accidentally turn the volume all the way down on your iPhone. So turn up iPhone volume or even the maximum.

Fix iPhone Speaker Not Working – Check iPhone Volume

Method 3. Make Sure iPhone is Not in Headphones Mode

Another reason why iPhone speakerphone not working could be the headphones mode issue. If there is gunk, lint, or other debris in the Lightning (charging) port, your iPhone will trap in headphones mode all the time, even though no headphones plugging in. If your iPhone thinks that headphones are plugged in, audios won’t be streamed through the speakers.

To get rid of such situation, follow these steps:

Step 1. Press the volume buttons on the left side of your iPhone. If the notification that pops up says Headphones then your iPhone is in headphones mode.

Step 2. Using a flashlight inspect your Lightning port or headphone jack for lint, gunk, or any other debris.

Step 3. If you see something stuck in your Lightning port, brush it out using an anti-static brush or new toothbrush.

Fix iPhone Speaker Not Working – Check Headphones Mode

Method 4. Check If iPhone Sound Playing via Other Ways

This way is to examine if the iPhone is connected to other third-party output hardware, and iPhone sound is playing through other devices,  not the iPhone, such as Bluetooth, Airplay, etc. To check and turn them off by:

Step 1. Swipe up the iPhone Screen from its bottom and enter Control Center.

Step 2. Turn off the Bluetooth if it is switched on.

Step 3. Tap the AirPlay icon > Turn Off AirPlay Mirroring.

Fix iPhone Speaker Not Working

Method 5. Restart Your iPhone

Restarting is the easiest remedy to fix many types of iOS issues including the iPhone speaker not working. The ways to restart an iPhone are different depending on the iPhone generation.

If you are using an iPhone, use the volume down and power on/off button to restart the device. If you are using any other iPhone, like iPhone 6s/6/5s, press the power on/off and home button together for 10 seconds to reboot your device.

Fix iPhone Speaker Not Working – Restart Your iPhone

Method 6. Restore Your iPhone with DFU Mode

DFU way is also a practical method for fixing software problems. To applying this method, follow these steps:

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to computer > Open iTunes.

Step 2. On an iPhone, press and hold the power and volume down button; On iPhone 6s/6, or older, press and hold down the Home button and the power button simultaneously.

Step 3. After 8 -10 seconds, let go of the power button but keep holding the volume down or Home button when iTunes says “iTunes has detected an iPhone in recovery mode.”

Step 4. Your iPhone’s display will be completely black if you’ve successfully entered DFU mode.
If it’s not, try again from the beginning step.

Step 5. Restore your iPhone using iTunes.

Fix iPhone Speaker Not Working – Restore Your iPhone

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Method 7. Go to Apple Store for Repairing

If among those six methods above can’t work for your iPhone speaker not working issue, you need to think about if it is related to the hardware damage and ask help from Apple’s official store. Or you can get some local phone repair service, like the Los Angeles iPhone repair service from Puls, which also offers service in other cities and owns lots of technicians.

Bonus Tip. Fix iPhone Volume Buttons Stuck

If you’re suffering from volume buttons stuck issue, and volume not working at all, then we recommend you an iOS system recovery tool – AnyFix.

With AnyFix, you can revive your Apple devices from 130+ iOS/iPadOS/tvOS system problems, including iPhone/iPad/iPod touch/Apple TV stuck on issues, won’t turn on/restart, disabled/boot loop, etc. And three repair modes enable you to get the highest success rate to fix. Besides, it allows you to enter/exit recovery mode with 1-click if you need that.

Now, get the free trial version of AnyFix and fix iPhone volume buttons stuck with simple steps.

Click on System Repair

The Bottom Line

Joy Taylor

Member of iMobie team as well as an Apple fan, love to help more users solve various types of iOS & Android related issues.