Why does my phone play music on its own?
Have you ever picked up your phone only to hear music playing unexpectedly from the speaker? This bizarre phenomenon of a phone spontaneously playing music on its own can be jarring and confusing. But what causes this unusual issue? There are several potential explanations for these phantom songs.
App glitches
Certain apps can glitch and autoplay media without prompting. This seems to be a relatively common issue with music apps like Apple Music and YouTube Music. Users have reported the autoplay function stopping working suddenly, with songs endlessly looping without being able to select a new track (Source).
Glitches in the code or software updates may disrupt autoplay settings, causing music to start unexpectedly. Trying common troubleshooting steps like reinstalling the app, restarting your phone, or logging out and back in could potentially resolve app-specific autoplay problems. But if issues persist, it’s best to contact the app developer/support team directly.
Pocket Dials
One common reason a phone may start playing music on its own is if you accidentally pocket dial it. Pocket dialing happens when your phone is in your pocket or bag and gets bumped or rubbed, which can cause it to unlock and open apps. If a music app opens, it could start playing songs without you realizing it. This often happens with smartphones that have touchscreens since they are very sensitive to touch. Even the slightest graze against fabric can register as a tap on the screen and activate apps. According to one report, there are approximately 150 million pocket dials every year in the US alone. So you’re definitely not the only one!
To prevent pocket dialing, make sure to lock your phone’s screen before putting it in your pocket or bag. You can also disable touch sensitivity so the screen doesn’t respond when covered. Some phones have a setting to prevent accidental touches, which can be useful for avoiding pocket dials.
Notifications
One common reason for a phone seeming to play music on its own is due to notification sounds and alerts. Many apps and services send notifications with custom sounds that can resemble music or songs, especially when heard out of context. For example, you may have set a ringtone-like melody for text message notifications, or your calendar alerts may play a tune when reminding you of appointments. These can sound just like a song or music playing when you aren’t actively using your phone.
Modern phones allow users to customize notification sounds and set different alerts for each app. According to Samsung’s support page, you can set unique notification sounds for individual apps on Galaxy devices. So an incoming email could play a chime while a text message plays a clip of music. If you forget having customized notification sounds, it’s easy to mistake them for background music. Checking your app notification settings can help identify culprits. Turning off app notifications or switching to simpler, less musical sounds could prevent this confusion going forward.
Calendar alerts
One reason your phone may suddenly start playing music is due to calendar alerts with custom ringtones. On iPhones and Android devices, users can customize calendar alerts to have any song or audio file play as the alert sound instead of the default ringtone.
For example, on an iPhone you can go to Settings > Sounds (or Sounds & Haptics on newer models) and select a custom sound for your Default Alert tone. Then when you create a calendar event and enable an alert, your chosen audio file will play as the alert instead of a standard ringtone.
According to discussions on the Apple support forums, sometimes the calendar alert sounds stop working properly after iOS updates and can trigger at odd times or repeatedly (1). This can make it seem like your phone is randomly playing music when in fact it’s a glitch with the calendar alert audio.
Similarly, on Android devices you can customize notifications and calendar alerts to use any MP3 file as the sound instead of default ringtones. As noted on MacMost forums, this allows creating calendar alarms using Automator that will play audio files and music (2). However, glitches could cause the wrong files to play at the wrong times.
So if your phone starts unexpectedly playing songs or audio files, check if you have custom calendar alert ringtones set. If so, toggling alert sounds back to default could fix the issue.
Butt Dials
One of the most common causes of a phone spontaneously playing music or making calls is accidental dialing when the phone is in a pocket or bag. This is often referred to as “butt dialing” or “pocket dialing.” It happens when pressure is applied to the screen or buttons while the phone is unlocked. Sitting on the phone, having it in a tight pocket, or throwing a bag with a phone inside can easily trigger the screen to activate and make calls or start playing music.
Butt dialing used to be more common with old-style flip phones, but touchscreen smartphones are still susceptible. Some phones seem to be more prone to pocket dialing than others based on the sensitivity of their screens and button placement. But generally, keeping the phone locked when not in use is the best way to prevent accidental dials.
Google Assistant
Google Assistant, the virtual personal assistant that comes built into many Android devices, can sometimes be falsely triggered and start playing music on its own (Source). The “Hey Google” or “Ok Google” hotwords meant to activate Google Assistant can get mistakenly picked up, causing your phone to suddenly begin playing music without you intending it.
This false positive triggering often happens when the Google Assistant overhears words or sounds from TV shows, videos, conversations, or background noise that it thinks sounded like the wake words. It then jumps into action, pulling up music playback even though you didn’t want it to.
You may notice your phone spontaneously starting to blast music when you least expect it. Try adjusting the sensitivity settings for Google Assistant, as its hotword detection can sometimes be overzealous (Source). Turning down the sensitivity may help prevent accidental music playing.
Bluetooth Connections
One of the most common triggers for random music playback on your phone is a Bluetooth device connecting to it. Many cars, speakers, headphones, and other gadgets will automatically begin playing audio from your phone when paired over Bluetooth.
According to Bluetooth Autoplay Music – Apps on Google Play, Bluetooth connections can automatically trigger media playback as a convenience feature. However, this can be annoying if you did not intend to listen to music.
Even if you do not actively pair your phone with a device, nearby gadgets can cause music to start playing. Some portable Bluetooth speakers will automatically connect to any phone in range and begin streaming audio. This is designed for convenience but can accidentally trigger your music library.
Make sure you audit devices with Bluetooth capabilities that are regularly near your phone. Disable auto-connect features if they are automatically pairing and playing audio without your intent. Only maintain connections to Bluetooth devices you actually want to stream media from.
Troubleshooting tips
There are a few steps to troubleshoot and resolve the issue of your phone unexpectedly playing music:
Try restarting your device. A simple restart can clear any minor software glitches and get things working properly again. Power your phone off completely and then turn it back on after 30 seconds. See if the false music playback still occurs.
Check for app updates and install any available. App developers frequently release patches and fixes that address bugs and problems. Updating apps can often resolve erratic behavior like unprompted music playback. Go to your phone’s app store and install any pending updates.
Look for suspicious apps to remove. If you recently downloaded a new app before the issue started happening, it’s possible it contains adware or malware triggering the music. These bad apps often sneak through app stores. Uninstall any new apps and see if it stops the unwanted music.
As a last resort, reset your phone to factory default settings. This will wipe your device clean, removing all data, apps and settings. It’s an extreme step but can eliminate stubborn device glitches. Be sure to backup important data first.
When to be concerned
Sometimes random music playing on your phone is just a minor glitch or annoyance. But in certain cases, it could be a sign of a more serious issue like malware. According to PCMag, unexplained pop-up ads, new charges on your bill, and faster battery drainage can all be red flags your phone has been infected by malware.
Cybernews also warns that if your phone feels hot or you see other abnormal behavior like random messages being sent, your phone may have a virus. In these cases, it’s important to be proactive and scan your device with antivirus software. You may need to dig deeper to remove any suspicious or unrecognized apps. Switching networks or resetting your phone to factory settings can help eliminate malware.
The bottom line is you should be concerned if the music persists despite troubleshooting, if you notice other glitches, or if your phone shows signs of infection like overheating. These could indicate your phone is compromised and immediate action is required to remove malware and viruses.