iPhone ear speaker not working after update

The earpiece speaker on my IPhone 13 Pro stopped working after I recently updated my phone to the new IOS 16.0.02. There have been not settings changes, no physical damage and YES, I’ve already tried every single ‘fixing sound issues’ article on Apple Support along with YouTube. None of those things worked.


I noticed several other forums and commenters who faced the same problem.


Has anyone found a solution to this yet? Apple seems to be ignoring or avoiding the issue entirely


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 13 Pro, iOS 16

Posted on Sep 29, 2022 4:08 PM

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Posted on Dec 3, 2023 10:14 AM

Same issue after updating my phone to 17.1.2

58 replies

Dec 6, 2022 10:06 AM in response to Tiffee143

I have a similar issue. I have an iPhone 12 Pro and since 16.1.1 I have been unable to listen to any kind of audio message on ear. Yes, I’ve tried to raise the volume during the voice message but the buttons don’t work at all but they are completely fine during voice calls. I have also tried to force restart the iphone but of course it did not work at all. Also, I’ve tried to update to iOS 16.1.2 but it did not fix the issue at all. I am wondering what to do next, because I’ve tried to contact Apple Support by phone but the operator unfortunately could not do much apart from suggesting to reset all settings. I am quite frustrated so I’d appreciate if anybody could share some opinions or suggestions!

Dec 21, 2022 1:20 AM in response to Tiffee143

I can't adjust the volume of an earpiece speaker during calls, also while listening voice messages on WhatsApp etc. It is only about the earpiece speaker, not the main speaker and sounds. I contacted Apple support and tried factory reset and diagnostics, but it doesn't work. How can iPhone users have this issue, my phone is very new. Even with cheap android I never had such issues. But the most expensive phone has it. It is just super annoying.

Apr 27, 2023 6:13 PM in response to Tiffee143

Feeling frustrated and scammed after going through the troubleshooting steps and still not having the receiver work after an update.

It's unfortunate that the representative from Apple informed there was nothing they could do besides sending the phone in for repairs, on my own dime. it's important that Apple provides transparent and honest information to their customers about their options for resolving the issue.

It's also understandable that we all feel it's unfair to have to go through the hassle of sending in your phone, pay for the repair, especially since the issue was caused by an Apple update.

Dec 27, 2022 6:56 AM in response to Tiffee143

I had the same problem but I figured out a workaround that consists of a few steps:

  • Play a voice message and get the phone close to your ear
  • Take it away again and now the message will be paused
  • Open the control center and keep sliding the volume slider up with your finger while you get the phone close to your ear again (which will resume the paused message, at least on telegram)
  • Now you should be able to hear it from the ear speaker

Oct 1, 2022 3:12 PM in response to Tiffee143

Hello Tiffee143,


We see that you're having and issue with the speaker on your iPhone. We also understand that you've done quite a bit of troubleshooting to help to resolve this issue. Just to make sure we've checked everything, we'd like to have you go through the steps in the resource below that can help with this issue you're experiencing:


  1. "If your device has a Ring/Silent switch, move the switch forward—toward the device's display—so that orange isn't showing. If you're using an iPad, you can also swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center and make sure that Silent Mode is off. 
  2. iPhone ring/silent switch
  3. Open Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb and make sure that Do Not Disturb is off.

Contact Apple Support

If you checked the sound settings and your device still has sound issues, contact Apple Support to discuss service options.


If you want to try more steps on your own

If you prefer, here are some more steps you can try on your own. After following these steps, you might still need to contact Apple Support to discuss service options.

  1. Remove all screen protectors, films, or cases from your device. 
  2. Check the speaker opening to see if it's blocked or dirty. On iPhone only, make sure that the receiver isn't blocked or dirty. 
  3. If necessary, clean the speaker or receiver opening with a small, soft-bristled brush. Make sure that the brush is clean and dry.
  4. Go to Settings > Sounds (or Settings > Sounds & Haptics), and drag the Ringer and Alerts slider back and forth a few times. If you don't hear any sound, or if your speaker button on the Ringer and Alerts slider is dimmed, your speaker might need service.
  5. If you hear sound, try making a call with your iPhone and turn on speakerphone. On iPad or iPod touch, make a FaceTime call. If you still can't hear, or hear static or crackling, then your network or reception could be the issue. Try to call again later, or from a different location."


If you hear no sound or distorted sound from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch speaker - Apple Support


If the issue persists, you'll want to reach out to Apple Support for further assistance with this issue.


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iPhone ear speaker not working after update

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