Why won’t my volume go up or down on Android?

Having issues with your Android phone’s volume not responding as expected is a common frustration for many users. The volume may seem low or muted, fail to increase or decrease when using the buttons, or become stuck at a certain level. This can happen during media playback, phone calls, notifications, alarms, or any other audio from the device.

There are several potential causes for erratic or unresponsive volume behavior on Android phones. Software glitches, faulty drivers, misconfigured settings, hardware defects, and connection issues with headphones or Bluetooth devices are just some of the possible culprits. With some guided troubleshooting and testing, you can usually resolve most problems related to volume control on your Android.

This guide will walk through the most common reasons for Android volume issues, as well as steps to diagnose and fix the underlying problem. We’ll cover checking settings, audio drivers, physical controls, individual app volumes, hardware tests, and how to reset your device’s audio components. Following these troubleshooting tips should help restore full control over the volume output on your Android phone.

Check Volume Settings

The quickest way to access your Android device’s volume settings is to press the physical volume buttons on the side of your phone. This will bring up an on-screen volume slider that allows you to adjust the general volume level. You can also go into the Settings app and select Sound to access more granular control over different volume channels like media, notifications, ringtones, etc.

To get started, open the Settings app on your Android device and tap Sound. Here you will find sliders that control the volume for media, notifications, ringtones, and system features. Make sure none of these volume channels are muted or set too low. For example, if the ringtone volume is muted, incoming calls will not make any sound.

You can also use the physical volume buttons on the side of your device to control the general volume level. Press up to increase volume and down to lower it. The on-screen slider will show you the volume level as you adjust it. This controls the overall volume, including ringtones, media, notifications, etc.

If you still can’t get any sound after checking these basic volume settings, there may be a more specific issue with your device’s audio drivers or hardware. Some troubleshooting steps are covered in the following sections.

For more details, refer to Google’s guide on changing volume settings: https://support.google.com/android/answer/9082609?hl=en

Check Physical Volume Buttons

One of the most common reasons why volume is not working properly on Android devices is an issue with the physical volume buttons. The volume buttons are typically located on the left side of the phone. There are usually two buttons – one to raise the volume and one to lower it. Over time, these buttons can become stuck, damaged, or unresponsive due to frequent pressing or exposure to dirt and moisture.

Try pressing the volume up and down buttons several times to see if they are actually registering the input. Blow into the buttons to dislodge any dust or debris. You can also use compressed air to spray out the area around the buttons. If the buttons feel loose, stuck, or do not produce any change in volume, the hardware itself may need to be repaired or replaced.

According to this YouTube tutorial, issues with physical volume buttons are one of the top reasons for volume problems on Android phones. The video demonstrates how to clean, test, and potentially replace the volume buttons.

Toggle Silent/Vibrate Modes

One common reason for volume issues on Android phones is accidentally leaving the device in silent or vibrate mode. This mutes the general system volume, preventing any sounds from playing.

You can accidentally toggle silent mode by pressing the volume down button until it hits zero volume or pressing and holding the power button to bring up the sound profile menu (vibrate, silent, etc.). According to this Android Enthusiasts Stack Exchange post, certain LG phones are prone to enabling silent mode accidentally.

To check if your Android is in silent/vibrate, look for the sound profile icon in your notification bar – it will show a speaker with a line through it or vibrating motion lines. Open quick settings and make sure Sound/Vibrate is not enabled. You can also press the volume up button a few times to resume normal sound mode.

Additionally, always double check the ringtone/notification volumes are turned up in the main system settings. According to this guide, clearing the “Silent Mode” checkbox in the power menu sound profile will disable silent mode.

Verify Headphone Connection

If you are trying to adjust volume while using headphones, either wired or Bluetooth, there may be an issue with the headphone connection preventing volume from adjusting properly.

First, ensure your headphones are properly plugged into the headphone jack. There should be no debris or damage preventing a solid connection. For Bluetooth headphones, make sure they are paired and connected properly to your device. Bluetooth can sometimes disconnect or fail to sync properly.

Once your headphones are securely connected, try adjusting volume again. If the issue persists, try connecting different headphones or earbuds to isolate the problem.

Additionally, check for any settings related to headphone volume in your music or media apps. There may be independent volume sliders that need adjusting.

Finally, inspect the physical headphone jack on your device for any dust or damage that could lead to connection problems. If cleaning the jack doesn’t help, the internal contacts may need replacement.

Check Individual App Volumes

In the Android operating system, each app’s volume can be controlled independently. This allows you to set different volume levels for music apps, games, and other media.

There are a few ways to adjust volume on a per-app basis on Android devices:

Use a third-party app like Volume Control which provides granular control over each app’s volume levels.

Go into Settings > Apps & notifications > App info. Select the app and look for individual volume controls in the app info screen. Some apps like YouTube have built-in per-app volume adjusters.

Use a custom ROM or Magisk module like App Volume Control that unlocks per-app volumes if not natively supported.

Check if your Android OS version supports app-specific volumes natively. Android 12 introduces an API for per-app volumes.

Adjusting volume on a per-app basis can help prevent loud apps from interrupting media playback or gameplay. Test individual volume controls if some apps seem louder than system-wide volume settings.

Update Audio Drivers

One common reason for volume issues is outdated audio drivers. Audio drivers act as the software interface between your Android device’s hardware components and the operating system. Over time, audio drivers can become outdated as Android updates are released. Using outdated drivers can lead to conflicts, bugs, and functionality problems.

To update your audio drivers on Android:

1. Go to Settings > About Phone.
2. Look for the Model number and Android version.
3. Search online to find the latest audio drivers for your device model and Android version.
4. Download and install the updated audio drivers. This usually involves tapping on the driver download file on your device and following the on-screen prompts.
5. Restart your device after the driver installation is complete.

With updated drivers, any software-related volume glitches should be resolved. Just be sure to only download drivers from reputable sources like your device manufacturer website to avoid potential system issues.

Test Hardware Volume

Before seeking repairs, it’s important to rule out any hardware malfunctions that could be causing volume issues on your Android device. Try testing the hardware volume in a few ways:

First, check if the volume buttons on your device are physically broken or stuck. The volume buttons control the hardware volume, so if they are damaged, it can prevent you from adjusting volume properly. Try pressing the buttons in different ways to see if they respond.

You can also test the headphone jack hardware by plugging in different headphones or speakers. See if you have the same low volume issue with multiple external devices. If the volume is low across various headphones, it likely indicates a hardware problem with the jack itself.

Finally, test if the problem persists in safe mode. Boot your Android into safe mode, then try to adjust volume. If the issue goes away in safe mode, it’s software-related. But if volume is still stuck, it points to a hardware defect.

If hardware tests fail across multiple methods, the volume components in your device may need professional repair. But first try software troubleshooting, as the culprit is often a software issue rather than hardware.

Reset Audio Settings

If the volume controls seem to be malfunctioning or behaving erratically, restoring the audio settings back to their default configuration can help resolve the issue. This will clear any problematic customizations and revert to the original volume behavior programmed by the manufacturer.

To reset the audio settings on Android, open the Settings app and go to System > Reset options > Reset app preferences (Samsung, LG, Motorola) or Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth (Google Pixel). This will restore default volume levels and audio configurations without deleting your personal data.

Alternatively, you can reset audio settings by going to Settings > Sound & vibration > Volume and tapping the three dot menu in the top right corner. Choose “Reset” to restore default volume for media, alarms, and ringtones (1).

After resetting audio configurations, test the volume buttons and controls again. This should resolve any software-related volume issues stemming from customized settings.

When to Seek Repairs

If troubleshooting your volume does not solve the issue, then it may be time to seek professional repairs. There are some signs that indicate permanent hardware damage that cannot be fixed through software solutions:

The volume buttons are visibly damaged, loose, or unresponsive. If the physical buttons don’t work properly, the hardware likely needs to be replaced.

You notice cracks, dents, or perforations on the device casing near the speaker. Physical damage on the phone exterior often correlates to internal component damage.

You hear distorted, scratchy, or muffled sounds from the speaker even at full volume. This can signify a damaged speaker that needs to be replaced.

There is no vibration when you toggle vibration modes. The vibration motor may not be getting proper power.

The issue persists after factory resetting your device. Hardware issues will remain even after software resets.

Third-party repair shops can diagnose issues and provide replacements for damaged components like speakers, microphones, vibration motors, and more. Costs vary depending on the repair. For example, speaker replacements for an Android phone can range from $40-$100.