How do I reset the volume on my phone?
Why You Might Need to Reset Your Phone’s Volume
If the volume from your phone’s earpiece seems too low or too high, it may be time to reset your phone’s volume settings. The earpiece is the main speaker you hold to your ear during phone calls. Over time, dust or debris can accumulate in the earpiece, muffling the sound. Software updates may also inadvertently change your volume settings. Resetting your phone’s volume can help resolve issues with earpiece volume being too low or too loud.
Some signs your earpiece volume needs resetting include having to strain to hear callers, even at max volume, or callers complaining your volume is too high. The volume buttons on the side of your phone may also not be adjusting the earpiece volume effectively. Resetting everything back to the factory default settings is often the best way to fix wonky earpiece volume issues.
According to CravingTech, checking your device’s volume settings should be the first troubleshooting step for any iPhone volume problems. Sometimes the volume may have been accidentally lowered without you realizing. Resetting will ensure volume levels are back to their proper defaults.
Locate the Volume Buttons on Your Phone
The location of the volume buttons varies depending on the make and model of your phone. For iPhones, the volume buttons are located on the left side of the device. According to Apple Support, “The Volume Up and Volume Down buttons are located on the left side of your iPhone” (https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/adjust-the-volume-iphb71f9b54d/ios).
For many Android phones like those made by Samsung, the volume buttons are located on the left side as well. However, some Android phones may have them on the right side or along the top edge. It’s important to check your specific phone model to locate the volume buttons. As one Android user notes on forums, “The volume buttons on my Android are on the right side, not the left” (https://forums.androidcentral.com/threads/controlling-volume-with-up-down-buttons-on-the-side-of-the-phone.1056272/).
Once you’ve located the volume buttons on your phone, you can use them to adjust the ringer or media volume up or down.
Check Volume Settings
The first step in troubleshooting low volume on your phone is to check the volume settings. On most phones, you can do this by going to the Settings app and selecting Sounds or Sound & Vibration. There you will find sliders for the ringer volume and media volume. Make sure neither of these sliders are muted or set all the way to the lowest volume level.1
On an iPhone, open the Settings app and go to Sounds & Haptics. Confirm the Change with Buttons option is enabled, so you can adjust volume using the physical buttons on the side of the phone. Then check that the volume sliders are not at the minimum level or muted.2
Checking the volume settings is an important first troubleshooting step before trying more complex solutions. This will reveal if the issue is simply caused by muted or lowered system volume levels.
Adjust Ringer/Media Volume
The easiest way to adjust the ringer and media volume on your phone is by using the physical volume buttons located on the side of the device. On most phones, pressing the volume up button increases the volume while pressing the volume down button decreases it.
To adjust just the ringer volume, press the volume buttons when your phone is idle and not playing any media. You’ll see the ringer volume icon pop up on the screen as you press the buttons. Press the buttons until you reach your desired ringer volume.
To change the media playback volume, press the volume buttons while music or video is playing. The media volume slider will appear on-screen. Adjust it to your preferred level.
The volume buttons allow quick access to control the volume without having to go into settings. Use them to easily toggle between loud and vibrate modes or fine-tune your desired sound levels.
See Adjust the volume on iPhone for details on using the buttons to control volume on iPhones.
Reset All Volume Settings
If adjusting the individual volume sliders for ringtone, media, alarms, etc. does not resolve your issue, you may need to reset all volume settings back to their defaults:
On Android phones, go to Settings > Sound and tap the “Volume” option at the top. Then tap the 3 dots in the upper right corner and choose “Reset to default” to restore default volume levels (Source).
For iPhones, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics and drag all the volume sliders to the far left to minimize volume. Then drag the sliders back to mid-range to restore default volume (Source).
Resetting all volume controls essentially clears any problematic customizations made and returns volume functionality back to the original factory setting.
Check for Obstacles or Debris
One of the most common reasons for low volume on a smartphone is debris or obstructions in the volume port. Over time, lint, dust, and other particles can accumulate in the small openings around the volume buttons and speaker. This buildup can muffle the sound coming from your phone.
To fix this, use a toothpick, compressed air, or small brush to gently clear away any visible debris from the volume port and surrounding speaker openings. Avoid using anything sharp or metal that could damage the phone. You can also use a piece of Scotch tape pressed gently into the openings to capture dust and lint.
Be very careful not to push any debris further into the phone while cleaning. Check the volume again after removing any obstructions. The volume should be louder and clearer.
For additional guidance, refer to this in-depth guide on clearing phone speaker debris: https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-fix-your-phones-low-earpiece-volume-fast-for-25-cents/
Update Software
Outdated software can sometimes cause issues with your phone’s volume functionality. Phone manufacturers regularly release software updates that include bug fixes and improvements to address problems like low call volume or media playback volume.
Check to see if there is a pending software update available for your device. You can do this by going to Settings > General > Software Update on an iPhone or Settings > System > Advanced > System Update on many Android phones.
Installing the latest OS update may resolve any software bugs that are negatively impacting your phone’s volume controls. If your phone is already on the latest OS version, you may need to wait until the manufacturer releases a fix in a future update.
Before updating, make sure your phone is connected to WiFi and plugged in so the battery doesn’t drain during the process. Also backup your data in case any issues occur during the update. If updating your device doesn’t improve the volume problems, you may need to try other troubleshooting steps.
Test Different Audio Sources
The issue with low volume on calls may be specific to certain audio sources or apps on your phone. Try making calls using different apps like the default Phone app, WhatsApp, FaceTime etc. and check if the low volume persists. You can also try playing music or audio from different sources like Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube etc. If the volume is normal in some apps but low in others, it indicates the problem is isolated to those particular apps.
Additionally, test any headphones or Bluetooth devices connected to your phone to see if the issue occurs only when using the built-in speaker. Low volume when using the phone’s speaker but normal volume on headphones points to a hardware problem with the speaker.
If volume is low across all sources and apps, it likely indicates a more systemic software or hardware issue with your iPhone. But if the problem is limited to just calls or just one app, resetting app preferences or reinstalling the app may help resolve it.
Factory Reset Device
If all other troubleshooting steps have failed to resolve your phone’s volume issues, performing a factory reset can restore the device to its default settings. This should reset any corrupted software or configurations causing volume problems.
A factory reset erases all data and settings from the device and returns it to the state it was in when first purchased. Before resetting, be sure to backup any data, photos, or accounts you want to keep.
Resetting varies by device model and manufacturer. On an iPhone, go to Settings > General > Reset and select “Erase All Content and Settings” 1. For Android devices, open Settings > Backup & Reset and choose “Factory Data Reset” 2. Samsung Galaxy devices can be reset by tapping Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory Data Reset 3.
After the reset completes, test the volume again. If issues persist, contact the device manufacturer, as a hardware problem may be causing the faulty volume.
Contact Manufacturer Support
If you’ve tried all the troubleshooting steps like updating software, resetting to factory settings, and the volume issue still persists, you may need to contact your device’s manufacturer support team for further help. Most phone manufacturers like Samsung, LG, Motorola etc. have dedicated customer support teams that can look into hardware or software-specific issues.
To find your device manufacturer’s contact details, you can check the Settings app on your phone and look for the ‘About phone’ section. This usually lists the manufacturer name and model number. You can then search online for the manufacturer’s support website or helpline number.
For example, the Samsung support website lets you find numbers for your country – https://www.samsung.com/us/support/customer-service/. Apple also has a support app you can download on your iPhone to connect to a representative. Knowing your device’s make and model will help you get precise troubleshooting help.
Getting assistance from the manufacturer support team could help identify if your phone has a hardware defect or needs a software update or factory reset. As a last resort, they may be able to arrange a replacement device if the issue is diagnosed as a hardware fault.