Why is my phone volume so low even on Max?

Check Your Phone’s Volume Settings

The first thing to check is your phone’s volume settings. Confirm that the main volume slider in your Settings – Sound menu is set to the maximum level.

Also check for any volume limiters that may artificially restrict loudness, even with the slider set to max. Many Android phones have a ‘media volume limiter’ setting to prevent damage to hearing – make sure this is disabled or set to the highest allowed volume.

Additionally, check that any individual volume controls for media apps like Music, YouTube etc. are also set to their maximum. Conflicting controls can sometimes override the main volume slider.

If the main slider is definitely on max, along with other controls, but loudness seems lower than expected, there may be a different issue causing problems.

Check Connected Accessories

If you have headphones, speakers, or other accessories connected to your phone, they could be causing lower maximum volume levels. Disconnect any wired headphones or external speakers that are plugged into your phone.

Additionally, make sure nothing is currently paired with your phone via Bluetooth. Having Bluetooth headphones, speakers or even vehicles paired to your phone can send audio through that connection instead of the phone’s main speaker, which results in lower volume.

To disconnect Bluetooth accessories, go to the Bluetooth settings by tapping Settings > Bluetooth. Tap the info icon next to any connected devices, then tap “Forget This Device”. This will unpair that device from your phone.

After disconnecting all accessories, test playing audio only through your phone’s main speaker and see if the maximum volume level has increased at all.

If the volume level increases after removing accessories, then one or more of those accessories was acting as the audio output instead of the phone’s speaker, thereby causing the reduced volume.

Check Any Running Apps

Sometimes other music, video, or audio apps running in the background can interfere with your phone’s volume. These apps may grab control of the audio channels and route all volume through them, lowering the master volume level.

To fix this:

Close any music, video, or streaming apps you currently have open. Completely shut them down by swiping them away from the recent apps list.

Restart your phone to end all background processes and ensure no apps are still running quietly impacting volume.
After the reboot, check if your maximum volume level has improved without any other audio apps open. You can open your music player app and play a song to test it out.

Additionally, as noted on Reddit (source), some apps like YouTube have their own volume mixer levels. Check to see if adjusting these improves your max volume.

Update Your Phone Software

One potential solution is to update your Android device’s software to the latest version, which can improve performance and fix issues like low volume. To do this:

Go to Settings > System > Advanced system update and check if there are any available updates.
Tap “Check for update” to manually check and install the latest Android OS version.

Updating to the latest software can introduce bug fixes and optimizations for volume.

You should also make sure any audio-related apps, such as music players or volume booster apps, are updated to their latest versions in the Play Store. App updates often address issues and introduce optimizations that can boost volume.

Check Physical Buttons

One of the most common reasons for low volume even on max settings is issues with the physical volume buttons on your phone. Inspect the volume buttons carefully for any dirt, dust, or damage that could be preventing them from working properly.

According to “Easy Fixes for Volume Buttons Not Working! [Instant] 2023”, you should start by tilting your phone and testing the volume buttons to see if they are stuck or not responding. Try pressing the buttons multiple times to test if they are functioning.

If the buttons seem damaged or dirty, try cleaning them carefully with a toothbrush and rubbing alcohol as recommended in “iPhone Volume Buttons Not Working? Try These 7 Fixes”. Let the phone air dry fully before testing again.

Press the volume up and down buttons multiple times while testing the volume level of music or a video playing. If the buttons still do not seem to impact volume at all, you may need to reset or get the phone serviced if software fixes do not resolve the issue.

Clean Speaker and Microphone

Over time, dust and debris can accumulate in your phone’s speaker and microphone openings, causing muffled or low volume sound. Using compressed air is a safe way to remove dust from these sensitive components. Popular speaker dust removal apps that emit sound vibrations can potentially damage your speaker.

First, use a clean microfiber cloth to gently wipe around the speaker and microphone mesh covers on your phone to dislodge any sediment or debris on the exterior. Then, carefully use short bursts of compressed air in a canister to blast air through the speaker and mic openings, being careful not to tilt the canister or bring it too close to the phone.

You can find compressed air canisters for electronics cleaning at most electronics stores or online retailers. Follow any safety directions provided with the compressed air product. After using the compressed air, play some audio out loud to test if the volume level has improved. Seek professional cleaning or repair if sound issues persist.

Check Audio Balance Settings

One potential cause of low maximum volume is if your phone’s audio balance setting is not centered. The audio balance controls the relative volume of audio output between the left and right channels. If the balance is shifted too far to one side, it can effectively reduce the perceived maximum volume.

To check your audio balance on an iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Balance. The slider should be centered. If it is not, slide it back to the middle and test your volume again. On Android phones, the steps vary but generally involve going into Sound settings and looking for a Balance or LR Balance option.

You can also test your balance by plugging headphones into your phone and playing a song. Check that the volume levels are equal in the left and right earbuds. If one side is noticeably softer even at max volume, then your balance needs to be adjusted in your phone’s settings.

As noted in a forum thread, adjusting the balance can impact sound quality. So it’s best to keep it centered whenever possible. If adjusting the balance does not resolve your max volume issues, continue troubleshooting other areas.

Test Volume With Different Media

Try playing audio from different sources to determine if the low volume issue only affects certain apps or media types. This can help narrow down the potential cause. According to some Reddit users, the issue seems to be source-specific, only affecting certain apps (1):

Play music from your music library, streaming apps like Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music etc. See if some have lower maximum volume than others.

Play videos on YouTube, Netflix, social media apps. Check if videos are quieter than music.
Make phone calls using default Phone app or third party apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime. Test call volume.

Narrowing down if the low volume only happens with certain sources can confirm whether the issue lies with the phone’s hardware components or software settings for particular apps. If widely affecting different sources – hardware problem likely. If limited to some sources – software settings, app permissions may need troubleshooting instead.

Back Up Data and Factory Reset

If no other troubleshooting solutions resolve the low max volume issue, it may be a good idea to back up the data on your phone and do a factory reset to restore your phone to its default settings.

Before restoring your phone to factory settings, be sure to back up all the important data and content saved in your phone, including contacts, photos, music, files, etc. You can back up the data to iCloud (for an iPhone) or Google Drive (for an Android phone).

Once you’ve backed everything up, go to Settings > General > Reset on an iPhone or Settings > Backup & reset > Factory data reset on an Android phone to wipe your phone clean and revert to the original software and settings.

After the factory reset is complete, set up your phone again without restoring from a backup. Then, test if the maximum volume issue still persists. If the issue no longer occurs after the reset, then it was likely a software glitch in your phone’s OS or media apps. Reinstall your apps and restore your backup data one by one while testing the volume between each installation. This way, you can identify if a certain app was causing the low max volume problem.

If however the max volume is still too low even after the reset, then your phone’s hardware or speakers could have an actual fault. You may need to get your phone serviced or replaced in that case.

Get Your Phone Serviced

If none of the above steps helped boost your volume, and your phone is still very quiet even with the volume at max, there may be a hardware issue. Sometimes a hardware fault can cause low audio volume even when the software and settings seem normal. The internal speaker components or audio circuits could have an issue due to a manufacturing defect or damage.

Since hardware repair is often needed in such cases, it’s best to take your phone to an authorized service center for inspection. An experienced technician will be able to properly diagnose internal damage or component failures causing low volume. They have the right tools, equipment, and components for making necessary hardware repairs to components like speakers, microphones, audio ICs or other internal parts.

If a software problem is ruled out and a hardware fault is confirmed, the technicians can repair or replace the affected parts in order to restore normal sound and volume on your phone.

Cited from:
https://www.cellphonerepair.com/how-to-fix-phone-sound-issues