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Level 1

0 points

Text message alert sounds disappear (3G)

I dunno if anyone else is having the same problem, but..

I got the iPhone 3G over the weekend, and I've noticed that my text-message alert sounds kind of go away. The phone will vibrate, but the alerts don't sound off.

Before you say anything, Yes the phone is on Loud (it's not on Vibrate), Yes my text message alerts are enabled in settings, Yes I've double checked.

So far the only way I've been able to fix this is to restart the phone.. which can get really annoying when you do it over and over.

I THINK that it's caused by the headphones.. I've noticed that the text alerts work, but when I plug in the headphones and then unplug them the sounds stop working.

So, has anyone else had this problem?? If so, does anyone know how to fix it? Or what I can do?

iPhone 3G 8gb, Windows XP Pro

Posted on Jul 14, 2008 1:52 PM

65 replies

JLinde

Level 1

0 points

Jul 16, 2008 7:01 AM in response to TCullum

I tried the new firmware-I figured I'd rather do it now before I added tons of apps/music/pics to my phone. I was pleasantly surprised to find because I have 'mobile me' set up, everything synced properly after, and my music and pics I had set up for syncing were added with no problem. I did not lose any information as the phone was backed up before restore. I have not had the text alert issue again, but I also have not plugged in the head phones. I know some think that was a cause, I included. I will let you know if the problem returns.

Jul 16, 2008 7:36 AM in response to JLinde

Its a bug even on 347. I am looking forward to 2.0.1. I hope Apple fixes a lot of these little bugs.

jwh7031

Level 1

0 points

Jul 16, 2008 8:35 AM in response to Jibeker

I am having the same problem, and i too came to the discussion page just to see if anyone else had the same issue. I have never used the headphones yet, so I don’t see how that’s causing the problem. For the sound to restore usually turning the phone off and on usually is a quick fix but not a permanent one. I have the older iphone as well with the new software installed and the problem is not seen in the first generation. I believe there is some sort of bug in the new phones, has anyone heard anything from Apple??

matttye88

Level 2

496 points

Jul 16, 2008 8:38 AM in response to Jibeker

I've also noticed that if I receive a text message while listening to music, the music surges really loud for a second before the text message alert plays. I think Apple have done something weird with the sound with this update 😟

sjsimbo

Level 1

5 points

Jul 16, 2008 11:09 AM in response to TCullum

yeah my new 3G sound does not work on one particular text message tone, i thought at first it was because i was out and about and couldn't hear the tone because of traffic etc, but this was not the case. My iphone is also "laggy" sometimes when typing a text message and scrolling through my contact list. By this i mean it can be quite slow. A separate discussion on the lagging problem also mentioned that the 2.0 software was the problem and could this be the same problem with the tones??

TCullum

Level 1

10 points

Jul 16, 2008 12:14 PM in response to Richard Spangler

Yes, I concur with Spangler.

Installed 347 yesterday but after getting home last night, used headphones to not wake the wife, and no audible text alerts come morning time.... when at&t decided to send a "friendly" text at 7am!!

Jul 16, 2008 12:16 PM in response to Jibeker

I noticed the same problem with my phone. On the side of the phone, there's a "Hold" button. If it's slid down and shows red, you won't get any sound from the iPhone 3G. If it's slid up to where you can't see the red, you'll hear sounds. Took me 3 days to figure that out after a buddy at work was messing with it and put the hold on.

Jul 16, 2008 12:41 PM in response to Blitzinger

The hold button issue doesn't have any bearing on the problem with my 2 3g's.

I've never plugged the headphones into one of the 3g's, yet they're both having the same issue. It doesn't matter what ringtone is associated with SMS, they all do it, it also doesn't matter what screen you're on when the text comes through, sometimse it'll ring, sometimes it won't.

Has Apple even acknowledged this problem as being a bug?

Jul 17, 2008 1:12 AM in response to Jibeker

duude! i'm having the same problem! like does ure phone after a few texts it works right? n then later on it just vibrates? doesnt alert when u get a new text??

Jul 17, 2008 6:55 AM in response to Jibeker

I came to this with the exact same problem. Took it to the Apple Store to see if they knew what was going wrong. I was just told to restore my phone and see if it helps. I've restored two times since I got the phone and both times have the same result. I just tried switching to a different ring tone for text messages and it seems to be working now. But I really like the tri-tone alert sound! 🙂 Apple really needs to fix this in their next iphone update.

Wobbit45

Level 1

0 points

Jul 18, 2008 9:58 AM in response to Jibeker

Same issue here. The text messages will work, then completly stop and just vibrate. If I go into the settings and change it to a different ringtone it works....for a couple of text messages then stops. This is really annoying.

My friend has the White Iphone 3g, and hasnt had any issue whatsoever with his. Except a laggy keyboard which was solved for him with the restore function. I thought I would restore mine to see if that would help...it did! for 2 days...then WHAM!! no text message sound.

This really bums me out. I am an avid Texter, and to not be able to hear when i get a text message and have to manually keep texting...is a major dissapointment....

I hope this get's resolved FAST!!

Jul 19, 2008 11:45 AM in response to Wobbit45

i'm relieved to see that this is happening to everyone, and that i don't have to go back to the apple store. i can confirm it's only with the tri-tone sound. have never attached headphones. don't listen to music on the phone. i must say there really are no sounds as cool as the tri-tone, but i've switched to chime for now. hope they address it in the next fix!

these boards have really helped me, btw. 🙂

Jul 19, 2008 11:49 AM in response to vickchick

i forgot to mention that turning if off and on, not resettign or restoring, does do the trick, but like many of you, i text a lot. i will also mention that if my phone is still on the text screen when i receive the next one, along with the vibrate is does make the ichat sound.

Jul 19, 2008 12:19 PM in response to Jibeker

hi. i spoke with apple iphone support on the phone. she said that according to their bulletin and database, this is not a known issue. she said to post in this forum and that apple engineers will see that it is a problem.

i have the same issue. the only way to fix it is to turn the phone off and back on again (which i find unacceptable).

kterry

Level 1

0 points

Jul 19, 2008 7:09 PM in response to pixelchild

Telling you that it is not a know issue is one way of avoiding you for a little while. I know this well from Apple. I love the company, but like all customer service departments, they are told to lie.

I too am having the issue. As are everyone else I know with the phone. We just have to wait for a firmware update.

Text message alert sounds disappear (3G)