iPhone 4 speakers not working

My external speaker was not working for some things. Music, podcasts...

I read the forums and reset it, blew on the jack.... One of the things I tried was turning Change with Buttons off. Then I tried a few more things. It started working after I turned Change with Buttons back on.

I don't know whether this had to be done in some combination of the other things I did.

That was only a few minutes ago, so I don't know whether it is a permanent solution.

On my second iPhone4s, they are aware of this problem at Apple. A complete factory restore even when not choosing from old backup will result with the same issue even on a new phone. This has nothing to do with hairdryers or mute buttons. And if it was a hardware issue then why does the speaker work when a phone call is coming in or when you put someone on speaker phone? Why do the speakers work when you are on Wi-Fi vs Internet? I know about 10 people with an iPhone 4S who were not having this problem but several of you like me are? Does anyone here have a solution that doesn't involve removing lint or hairdryers? Sincerely disappointed.

Had my 4s replaced due to 'liquid damage' which I did not have to pay for, still unsure how the liquid got there! But anyway, I have a new 4s (or possibly refurbished) from the store. It was working fine until I updated it a few days after i got it. Now no sound during phone calls or music. Ringtones/alarms work fine. Everything else sound wise does not... tried restoring it,turning on and off again, wiping and blowing in the jack, holding various buttons etc. I have not dropped it or put it into contact with liquid (I am sure of this because I have been extra careful with this one!) It has a thin plastic case and a screen cover that is also thin and I'm sure isn't effecting the sound. I don't want to mess around with it too much so they cant blame me for anything.Any help much appreciated! Will be ringing apple store tomorrow to book an appointment. Software issue?Seems to be a lot of others having trouble with the same model.

The speaker (bottom right) on my wife's iphone 4s, which was purchased about a month ago, stopped working suddenly. She uses the speaker a lot when she's on the phone. Phone had 5.1.1. The headphones had no problem. She doesn't often use the headphones. Tried rebooting the phone, no use. I refused to try "restore (first from backup then as new)" which is so often what you are told to do here on this forum, and which so often is completely irrelevant and a waste of time.

Took it to Verizon first. They offerered to send a new phone by Fed Ex, to be delivered in three days.

Before going ahead with that, we checked the apple store. They finally agreed that it was a hardware problem and gave us a new phone on the spot.

On my 3rd phone which finnally does not have the speaker problem;however, it does have the initial hazy flash issue that causes photos to be grainy/smokey. What a joke this 4s is, I have finnally succumbed to the fact that the 4s is in such high demand that they have been mass producing these paper weights in China with the cheapest of materials and workmanship. Apple fail.

PS. Make sure you are not charging the phone while trying to play audio files, or using a non apple charger, or have the phone on mute, this will mimic the speaker issue that many are having.

Thanks, quickstr saved my sisters iphone

Thanks so much Quickstr. I don't know how you figured this fix out but I tried it this morning and it worked for me! You are wonderful! 🙂

Goddammit! I had this problem before and the trick about the Qtip with windex didn't work this time. Since I keep getting posts on this thread I decided to re-read some and Tadaaaaaa! I am an idiot. Thanks to TwelveRaptor, "check the basics......silent tab on side of phone." Duh! I NEVER use this tab and forget it exists as it hides in my rubber jacket. Thanks again for stating the obvious.😝

iPhone 4's speaker randomly stopped working after using a 'cheap' charger. Tried a restore and that did nothing.

Based on this I just tried plugging it into a wall adapter and the sound came back. Thanks for the hint. All good again.

I do iPhone repairs --

There are many reasons why an iPhone's loudspeaker might not work (and there is only one in any iPhone).

If the headphone socket is playing up, it will say 'headphone volume' when you adjust the volume, even though the heaphones are not plugged in

The speaker is quite recessed, so if a water drop is affectiing it, it would just be affecting the sound port (unless it got a real dunk).

Do a hard-reset before panicking. And try a backup and restore, but w/o the back up back on it, as well. If there still is not sound for anything, from ringing to music to putting to sleep, and all sound functions are on, then it might be the speaker.

I haver NEVER seen a speaker fail in an iphone 4 (that was not heavily water damaged). However, I have seen a few fail in the 4s, even though it uses the same speaker as the 4 (yes, the same one). So there appears to be a bad batch of speakers that ended up in some 4s's. So if all loudspeaker functions are dead and out-of-the-blue, then a warranty repair is for you

I'm in New Zealand, BTW (ilab.co.nz)

Cheers!

I've had similar sound problems. It seems that if I blow on the contacts like its a Nintendo cartridge that helps. I guess technology hasn't advanced as far as we had hoped.

I should add that it seems the majority of issues I have experienced with my iPhone relate to the contacts. Why are these not protected by a hinged flap to keep lint and debris out? (think MacBook Pro express slot)

All ports can be protected if you choose the right case. This problem is one of the main reasons that I did - but one has to prefer function over form, which is not the average Apple kit owner's choice. 🙂

It was my understanding that the Apple design philosophy implements the form follows function ideology. I don't understand why Apple would elect to relegate the end user experience to a 3rd party. In my humble opinion, if Apple were to develop a phone that had no need for any sort of case there would be a remarkable response from users.

The issues around the playing of music without headphones have plagued me on/off for weeks. will work/ wont work! I tried all of the above suggestions eventually blowing out the charging jack/socket point on the bottom with an airline? Hey Presto.. Magic......