How to fix it when the speaker is not working on your Android device?

Check Your Volume Settings

One of the first things to check when your Android speaker stops working is your device’s volume settings. Go to Settings and make sure the media volume slider is turned up and not muted or vibrate-only. You can also try using the physical volume buttons on the side of your device to turn the volume up.

Toggle the volume buttons up and down a few times to make sure they aren’t stuck on mute. Press and hold the volume down button for a couple seconds to ensure it didn’t get switched to vibrate mode.

It’s also worth checking if the issue is isolated to one particular app. Open up different apps that use audio like Music, YouTube, phone calls, etc. and test if sound comes through in some but not others. If the speaker works fine in a few apps, it points to an isolated software issue as opposed to a hardware problem.

Check for Physical Damage

One of the most common reasons for speaker issues is physical damage to the speaker hardware. Carefully inspect your phone’s speaker holes and grille for any obstructions, cracks, or other damage that could be blocking sound.

Use a flashlight to peer into the speaker opening and see if there is any debris, dust, or other particles lodged in the hole. You can also try using short bursts of compressed air (canned air duster) to gently blow out any particles that may be stuck.

Be very gentle when doing this, as you do not want to cause any further damage. If you see any cracks, punctures, or other physical damage around the speaker, this likely needs professional repair.

Also inspect the area around the speaker grille for dents, cracks, or separation from the phone body. Pressure damage from drops or bends can cause issues with sound transmission through the speaker.

If everything appears physically intact, then the problem may not be hardware damage and could potentially be a software issue instead. Proceed with the other troubleshooting steps like restarting your device, checking app permissions, and updating drivers.

Restart Your Device

Restarting your Android device is one of the simplest troubleshooting steps to try when the speaker is not working properly. Completely powering down the device and then turning it back on resets the software and hardware, which can fix many minor glitches and issues.

To restart your Android device, press and hold the Power button for a few seconds until you get the “Power off” prompt. Tap on “Power off” and wait for the phone to fully shut down. Once the screen is black and the device is powered off, press and hold the Power button again to turn it back on.

Allow the device to fully start back up before trying to use the speaker again. Restarting resets temporary software errors that may be preventing the speaker from working, and cycles through the hardware components to get a fresh start.

Restarting an Android takes little time and effort, and is one of the simplest fixes to try for an unresponsive speaker. If the issue persists after a restart, you can move on to other troubleshooting steps.

Check Connected Devices

One common reason the speaker may not be working properly on your Android device is because it is defaulting to a connected headset or Bluetooth device instead of the built-in speaker. Try disconnecting any wired headsets, Bluetooth speakers, or other audio devices from your phone.

Per MakeUseOf, the phone speaker may not work when you have headphones or aux cables plugged into the audio jack. Once you unplug them, Android fails to reroute audio back to the built-in speaker.

Similarly, if you have a Bluetooth speaker or headphones paired and connected to your device, audio will automatically be routed through that instead of the phone speaker. Go to Settings > Connected Devices and disconnect any paired Bluetooth devices. Then try playing audio again using just the phone speaker.

This quick check can help rule out whether another connected device is causing the issue. Once disconnected from everything else, audio playback should default to the built-in phone speaker.

Toggle Airplane Mode

One quick fix to try is turning on Airplane mode for 15-30 seconds, then turning it back off. Airplane mode disables all wireless connections, which can reset the device’s radios and connectivity.

To toggle Airplane mode on your Android device:

Open the Settings app.
Tap on Network & Internet or Connections.
Toggle the switch next to Airplane mode. This turns it on.

Wait 15-30 seconds, then toggle it off again to disable Airplane mode.

Once Airplane mode is turned back off, open an app that uses the speakers like YouTube and test if sound is now working properly. The connectivity reset from Airplane mode can often resolve temporary software and wireless issues causing speaker problems.

Some users have reported this fixes crackling or distorted speakers after flights when wireless signals may have interfered with the device’s connectivity (Source 1). Toggling Airplane mode essentially reboots the wireless components and clears out any problematic settings or connectivity states.

Check App Permissions

One of the most common reasons for speaker issues on Android is incorrect app permissions. Starting in Android 10, apps need the MODIFY_PHONE_STATE permission in order to change the speaker state via the AudioManager API. Without this permission, apps may not be able to properly control your device’s speakers.

To check your app permissions, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > App permissions. Look for any apps that should have microphone access like your phone app, video chat apps, voice recorder apps, or streaming music apps. Open each app and confirm the Microphone permission is enabled. If it is disabled or restricted, tap the permission and select Allow or Ask every time to re-enable microphone access.

Granting proper microphone permissions allows apps to utilize your phone’s microphone which is required for routing audio through the speakers. If apps do not have microphone access, they may be unable to direct audio through the speaker as expected.

Update Software and Drivers

One of the easiest fixes is to ensure your Android device and its drivers are up to date. Start by checking for and installing the latest Android OS updates on your device. According to Microsoft, software updates often include fixes for speaker and audio issues. Keeping your Android version current can resolve software bugs causing speaker problems.

You should also update device drivers and firmware. Outdated drivers may be incompatible with updates or changes to your Android OS. Visit your device manufacturer’s website to find the latest driver versions. Install any available firmware updates as well, as these contain hardware-level improvements. Keeping drivers and firmware up-to-date eliminates them as a potential source of speaker malfunctions.

Factory Reset Device

Performing a factory reset can often resolve speaker issues by wiping your device back to its default settings and removing any corrupted files or software bugs. Before resetting, be sure to backup any important data, as a factory reset will erase all data, settings, and installed apps from your device.

To factory reset an Android device:

Go to Settings > System > Reset options.
Tap Erase all data (factory reset).

Tap Reset phone.
If prompted, enter your lock screen credentials.
Tap Erase everything.

Once complete, set up your device again as new. Reinstall apps and restore data from your backup. With any luck, this should resolve the speaker issues by wiping any problematic software or corrupted files.

According to one Quora thread, factory resetting can often fix audio issues caused by corrupted software or drivers. However, resetting too frequently may complicate matters further. When hardware begins to fail after extended use, a factory reset likely won’t resolve speaker problems.

Replace Speaker Hardware

If none of the above troubleshooting steps resolve the issue, the internal speaker hardware in your Android device may need to be replaced. When a speaker stops working entirely or only outputs muffled sound, this typically indicates a hardware problem.

According to research on speaker repair costs, replacing the internal speaker hardware in an Android device ranges from $40-$100 on average. The cost can vary depending on the make and model of your device. High-end Android devices with Dolby Atmos speakers or other premium components may be more expensive to repair.

Consult a professional phone repair shop to diagnose the exact problem and get a quote for speaker replacement. Repair shops should have access to manufacturer-approved replacement parts to match your device.^[1]

While DIY speaker replacement is possible on some devices, it requires disassembling the phone which can be technically challenging. Using a professional repair shop is recommended to avoid any further damage or issues with the repair.

[1] https://www.yelp.com/costs/speaker_repair

Get a Replacement Device

For older Android models that are several years old, it may be better to simply replace the device rather than attempt further repairs, especially if thespeaker issues are part of larger problems with the phone. According to one Reddit user, smartphones typically last around 6-7 years before needing replacement due to various issues like hardware breakdowns and unsupported software.^[1]

Before replacing your Android device, compare the costs of a repair versus getting a new phone. Repairs from phone retailers or manufacturers can be pricey depending on the issue, with speaker repairs ranging from $50 to over $200 in some cases. Meanwhile, replacing with a new budget or mid-range Android smartphone may only cost $200 to $500. So for older phones with multiple issues, replacement may be the more cost-effective solution.