iPhone sounds: no sound

paulbart wrote:
I also ran into this issue today (loss of mail notification sound effects).

I was NOT using headphones, nor was I using the 'silencer' switch (above the volume switch).

But, I did plug the iPhone into the "dock". I've noticed several times before (and today) that when I plug-into the "dock", I randomly get a popup message saying "This accessory is not made to work with the iPhone". It then asks me if it should turn off WiFi to reduce audio noise. If I hit "No", several seconds (or several minutes) later, I'll get the same pop-up.

Since the "dock" has a line-out connector, I assume that the iPhone is recognizing this 'audio output device' and switching the audio outputs to it. I don't see this problem when I connect directly to the USB cable (remove the stand-up dock and just connect the cable).

So, I think the iPhone switches the audio output when it (randomly) sees this problem. Because it's obviously confused about whether/not the 'audio device' is plugged in, I think it left it in a goofy state when I unplugged it from the dock. After unplugging it, I noticed that email notifications stopped working.

I'm not sure exactly what I did to fix it. I re-sync'd with iTunes, and I rebooted the iPhone.

It seems to work now. I plan on avoiding the "dock" from now on. (of course, I could still run into the similar issue others are seeing with the headphone adapter, but I don't use them often).

- Paulb

I had the same exact problem (aside from losing my sound), and after some research on the Apple support site for that particular error message, I discovered that it can be caused by debris in the dock connectors. I blew them out like an old NES cartridge and the error message stopped popping up.

By the way, the earbud jack solution worked perfectly for me.

i had same problem no sound from keyboard typing or ipod songs videos youtube though the iphone speaker. sounds work good thought the earphone
i fix it by accident i was listen ipod thought earphone when someone called me switched to call the ended it resume mp3 and unpluged earpiece pushed play on mp3 and it works. hope this helps out

It seems that it's always something as simple as possible! I'm so glad I saw your answer before I did a restore. I must have hit the lock button, too!!!Now all is well.

Same problem - I fixed the incoming and outbound phone issue with the flick of the silent side switch but I am still NOT able to play the iPod through the speaker

Thanks!! This worked for me as well.

I had the same problem most folks here did: after I used the dock (first time I'd used it since the 1.1.1. update), I couldn't hear through the handset (had to use speaker phone or my BT headset), and the iCal alert sounds and text message sounds were not chiming. Many thanks to the suggestions posted here (play an iPod song and insert/remove headphones from the jack until the song plays from the speakers). It only took me about four insertions/removals.

Before I found that fix, I did a hard reset on the iPhone, and it didn't fix the problem. I thought I was going to have to visit the Genius Bar, but I don't now. I just don't plan to use the dock until I hear the issue is corrected.

i'm having the same problem

I have no sound when using Ipod mode and keyboard clicking
but using earphone ,the sound is ok.

I don't know why but tried very much to use insert and removing earphone trick but it does not work

anyone have this kind of problem and can fix it? please provide solution thanks

I had the same issue, and this did the trick. The problem started yesterday after using the iPhone to listen to music in the car (via an audio cable hooked into the headphone jack). I had tried everything else and was lamenting a trip to the Apple store, but plugging and unplugging the headphones restored all sounds.



I hope more people with this issue can find the solution easily. I was quite alarmed today when I received phone calls and could not hear the person on the other end (nor could they hear me) without using speaker mode. Something must be up with the headphone jack that causes this error.

I recently experienced the exact same problem. I rarely use the iPod feature of my iPhone because I wasn't a big fan of the interface. However, I recently have started using it more and will likely rely on it exclusively when I travel.

Today I noticed none of my sounds were playing except my ring tone. The speaker worked with the ring tone, but no other sounds. I couldn't hear volume from the ear speaker when I called people, but I could transfer it to the speaker phone and could hear them fine. The Bluetooth ear piece also worked fine.

After doing a little Googling (or doing "the Google" as Bush says), I found this thread. Good thing I Googled it because I was about to take my iPhone to an Apple Genius for exchange. Resetting it and restoring it didn't do anything. However, repeatedly unplugged and plugging in my iPhone's headphones fixed it.

This should definitely be addressed by Apple. I'm not sure if this is a hardware issue or not. I have a feeling it is a software issue where the iPhone is not recognizing the headphones have been unplugged.

I also had this problem within the last hour. Plugging the headphone in and out eventually solved the problem.

Ditto that Apple needs to address this problem...

also had this problem twice. no sounds working except the ringer. no sound using phone unless using speaker phone. very frustrating! full restore did nothing. pulling headphone jack in and out a few times "fixed" the problem.

just wanted to add my name to the list so perhaps apple can add this to the bug/fix list. and hoping this is not a hardware problem!

I had the same problem as well. I used the headphone trick and it worked, but not before I foolishly restored without backing up my contacts. I lost all of my phone numbers thanks to this stupid issue. Apple really needs to get on little stupid issues like this. Ridiculous.

Same deal here, wanted to add another voice into this discussion. For me it happens after using headphones, i'll pull them out to go to lunch or somehting. Then when i get a call the ringer works, but no sound comes out of the little speaker at the top of the phone. Speaker phone works. If i plugin the headphones then take them out it works. But man its annoying and always seems to happen at the worst times. This sounds to me like a hardware issue, unless the phone is not detecting the headphones are unplugged through software? Whatever it is i hope it can be fixed, im not diggin haveing to plugin and pull out the headphones to fix it.

I agree that Apple needs to correct this. I've run into the "no sound" issue twice in the past week.
Now, when I use my earbuds I make sure that I stop playback before unplugging them. After that, I double check that my on/off click sounds correctly and that I have full functionality of the earpiece speaker before putting the earbuds away. I think that stopping the playback and making sure the iPhone knows you are unplugging the earbuds is the key to avoiding this, for the moment. Until then, it's plug & un-plug until you get some sound back.

Most headphone jacks have a mechanical contact that is opened when the male jack is inserted and this shuts off the speaker. As with any connection of this type, if the contacts get dirty or compromised then the connection fails and the speaker stays off. That's why exercising the jack seems to solve the problem. Since so many of us are having this problem, I suspect poor manufacturing by the company that made these jacks. Another possibility is that since this jack opening has no cover (as do some other PDA/Phones) dirt, moisture and lint can get right in to this contact area and cause problems. Are you listening Apple? In any case Apple should replace them. Although it sounds like a royal pain to change out headphone jacks in thousands of iphones.
Spread the word to your friends with iphones and hopefully we can save them from going through unnecessary software restores.