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iPhone 4 not vibrating at all

So my phone isn't vibrating at all for calls or sms on either loud or silent. Vibrate is enabled in settings for both. Am I doing something wrong here? Any suggestions? How long do we think it will be before I can get a replacement?

Windows 7

Posted on Jun 24, 2010 9:41 PM

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137 replies

Jun 25, 2010 2:23 AM in response to whoknows7

I had the same problem.

Looking at the iFixit dissection of the iPhone 4, the vibration motor is in the top right hand side of the phone when looking at the rear surface. It is right next to the headphone socket. Reading other forums, it could be that the motor is jammed or stuck.

What I did was this:

Enable vibrate in both modes
Download a free vibrating app like "iBrate"
Activate vibration via the app
Gently tap the area where the vibration motor is and it kind of wakes up if that makes sense
It will stutter and come on and off but after a while it becomes a bit more regular

I also exercised the motor by leaving the vibrate on via the app for a few mins to get it going

I hope that helps as it has for me. I realised the problem last night and since the last hour it has been spot on.

Worst case is to get Apple to check it out as it has 12month warranty.

Jul 16, 2010 11:58 AM in response to mrshinyteeth

holy crap man! i wanna thank you! ive been stuck for days trying to get my iphone to vibrate. i downloaded the app, i listened to it carefully (when vibrate wasnt working) i heard clicking probably indicating that the vibrator was stuck. i didnt exactly tap the area you recommended. i smacked it against my palm then it unjammed it. when people were suggesting smacking the iphone, i was really sketchy because i didnt wanna break an expensive piece of electronic. But all in all thanks dude, really made my day!

Jul 19, 2010 4:03 PM in response to mrshinyteeth

I was able to get mine unstuck as well by following your method. I could hear a clicking when I held it up to my ear when running the iBrate app, and I had been trying every now and then for a few hours by hitting the backside against my palm and my knuckles (not hard enough to hurt), but no luck. Then I decided to hit a little bit harder, and when I hit the left top side of the phone against my palm it immediately started vibrating like it should, and is still working.

Aug 2, 2010 4:16 PM in response to mrshinyteeth

mrshinyteeth's fix worked for me as well...

I installed iBrate, turned it on constant vibration, then smacked my phone a couple times. It started buzzing again! The vibrating was a little intermittent at first, but has smoothed out, and now seems to be fixed. Like others, I'm wondering if this is a problem that will come back later. I've missed a number of calls because of it.

Then again, I don't relish the idea of a refurb replacement.

Aug 6, 2010 5:41 PM in response to mrshinyteeth

Hi, just another person with the same issue and the same successful cure! I downloaded the iBrate vibration app for free and double tapped the screen to get a constant vibration. I listened carefully near the headphone jack and heard the small clicking sound you described. As others have mentioned, it felt sketchy whacking my phone, but after 4 or 5 good whacks on my palm it rolled into action. The vibrate works fine now! Excellent problem solving! Thanks.

iPhone 4 not vibrating at all

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