Unable to adjust volume on iPhone 4

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Unable to adjust volume on iPhone 4

Hi,

My iPhone 4 has developed a strange fault. Sometimes when I try to adjust the volume, either with the hardware buttons or using the software interface, the phone registers that I'm changing the volume but it doesn't actually get any quieter (or louder). The problem is the same whether I'm using the headphones or the speaker.

The only way that I can resolve the issue is to turn the phone fully off and then reboot it.

I think this issue only happens once the phone has been connected and then disconnected from my in-car bluetooth handsfree system, although I haven't exhaustively tested this yet.

Anyone got any ideas?

Thanks in advance,

Tom

iPhone 4, iOS 4

Posted on Jul 25, 2010 2:53 PM

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Answer 1

Jul 25, 2010 3:17 PM in response to tfm20

If you have an audio external device plugged in to the iPhone's 30-pin connector, the iPhone detects this as a replacement speaker source (ie: BoomBox Alarm Clock recharging dock, car's speaker feed via 30-pin iPod out connection to Ford Sync/Scosche/other stereo system, etc). While plugged in, the volume buttons on the iPhone are disabled.

After removing the external device, the volume buttons will work again. If you have a BT headset that is not an external audio device plugged in the 30-pin connector, the volume buttons work on both the iPhone and BT device. Recharging the iPhone on a non-audio device will keep the volume buttons working.

The BT device you can set the volume to the max and the iPhone you can adjust the audio being sent to the BT device.

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Answer 2

tfm20 Author

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Jul 25, 2010 3:29 PM in response to Joe Z in VA

Hi, thanks for your prompt response. My issue occurs when the iPhone is no longer connected to any kind of external speaker. It's as though the iPhone hasn't detected that the handsfree system has been disconnected.

This problem remains for 7 or 8 hours sometimes after the phone has been disconnected.

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Answer 3

gareth26

Level 1

31 points

Jul 25, 2010 3:33 PM in response to tfm20

take it back, my friend has the same problem, only fix is get another one, iphone 4 has unfortunately got loads of problems!

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Answer 4

ed2020

Level 1

68 points

Jul 25, 2010 4:20 PM in response to tfm20

Surely this is a software issue if a reboot fixes it (albeit temporarily)?

Have you tried restoring the phone (from backup and also as a new device)?

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Answer 5

tfm20 Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 26, 2010 1:10 PM in response to ed2020

I agree, it's almost certainly a software issue. Have restored from backup although not yet as a new device. I think I'd almost rather keep having to switch the phone off and on again than go through setting it up from new.

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Answer 6

Jul 28, 2010 4:56 PM in response to tfm20

The exact same thing happens to me, and I never connect it to external speakers.

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Answer 7

Scoyle17

Level 1

13 points

Jul 29, 2010 7:33 AM in response to tfm20

I'm having an identical problem with mine, I never have it connected to any handsfree kits, only a pair of Apple Earphones.

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Answer 8

Evgenyyy

Level 1

10 points

Jul 29, 2010 7:51 AM in response to Scoyle17

Any of you guys by any chance have skype installed?

It is a bug with skype - once you make a skype call, it takes over your volume controls and switches the sound to the top speaker. Once you exit skype, it keeps using the top speaker rather than the bottom speaker.

To fix it - open skype, make a call and change the volume to 'speaker' during the call. Then exit skype and sound should be fixed.

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Answer 9

Jul 29, 2010 8:54 AM in response to Evgenyyy

I do have Skype installed. Interesting.

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Answer 10

Tracis30

Level 1

0 points

Jul 29, 2010 9:24 AM in response to tfm20

I have this same problem! I thought it was just my imagination until I noticed it on this forum! Thanks! I don't have Skype installed though.

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Answer 11

Verao

Level 1

5 points

Aug 1, 2010 10:31 PM in response to gareth26

I had posted another thread of my own about this problem and now I found this one. Did your friend get another iPhone 4, and did it solve the problem?

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Answer 12

madhava

Level 1

0 points

Aug 2, 2010 1:08 AM in response to Evgenyyy

Skype fix worked great with me, did exactly as was instructed and all good now, thanks a lot.

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Answer 13

DCNY69

Level 1

20 points

Aug 2, 2010 1:24 AM in response to Evgenyyy

This is exactly what happened to me. The volume would not work. I noticed I had skype on, turned it off, removed it from the background and the sound was back to normal.

Buggy.

D.

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