Very low sound while calling on iPhone 11 Pro Max

After calling Apple support about this, I took my iPhone 13 (and recently upgraded to iOS 17.2) to Best Buy for diagnosis and they determined that the top speaker is not functioning. Repair will be $80.

I have an iPhone 13 with this issue. I chatting with Apple Support, who suggested that I take it to Best Buy for diagnostic. They are an hour from me, but an Apple store is 2 hours from me. Best Buy ran the diagnostic, said it would cost $80 to replace the upper speaker, but then when I took it back for repair, they didn't have the part and wouldn't order it unless they had my phone in their care and had no idea how long it would take for the part to arrive. Called Apple Support to ask about other options. I can mail my phone to them and it would cost over $400.

Not happy.

Try this:

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.

So, I had this issue in Nov and even had the bad upper speaker diagnosed at Best Buy. Apple was going to charge almost $500 if I shipped to them to repair and my cell phone insurance only covers it if it cannot make calls (a recent change I discovered as I investigated this.)

I decided to just use earphones or the speaker phone mode for awhile. Lo and behold, it works now.

I have upgraded to iOS 17.3.1 and dropped it a few times. Don’t know if that did the trick, but I am now consistently able to hear from the upper speaker.

I can’t explain it, but I’ll take it.

I struggled with this problem for years with my iPhone 11 and it kept getting worse. Used an electric toothbrush with water only on the speaker and it fixed it. Two minutes. Magic. Solved for me.

I just uploaded the latest firmware of 17.3.1 and it is still broken....If I get a call, and touch the speaker button, it goes to the earpiece speaker, then mutes the mic. So no one can hear me....It works with earbuds, but no Loud speaker. Seems to be reduced volume when I do not use the speaker function, but just the regular ear speaker and mic...I still get complaints that folks cannot hear me....Please get a fix for this....

I have an iPhone 11 that's been having the same issue since updating. Music volume is fine, I can hear the ringer when phone is not on silent, but any time I have a phone call I can't hear the other person unless I put the phone on speaker. I've checked my volume during calls (always maxed out) and the other person has always been able to hear me just fine, but to me it sounds like they're coming through a hidden speaker with the volume at its lowest point until I switch to speaker mode at which point it sounds like a normal call.

Clean the ear speaker with rubbing alcohol and a toothbrush. That will sort out the problem.

Yes, @LifeCereal - I am having the exact same issue. I am currently updating my iPhone 14 to iOS 17.2.1 and hoping that my phone's in-call volume is fixed. Just like you, I can do all things normally, except for hearing the caller's voice. The in-call volume is drastically low. I can faintly hear the caller, but it sounds extremely low. As soon as I enable speaker, the volume is accurate and appropriate.

I do not have a screen protector on my phone either.

Me too. I have exact same issue. It makes me want a new phone and i have no sounds issues when dragging the ringer back and forth. Its jst on a phone call and i cnt hear ppl loud enough. It is better if i had headphs in or its on speaker phone. Otherwise cnt hear person talking to and if you push volume up on call says its on loudest volume already (and its not loud, its barely audible) after so many years on a iphone im getting over it and maybe thinking diff brand of phone for first time. I have literally tried everything and also no my speaker is not dirty (& it also doesnt need replacing as it works fine for everything else). Its freaking annoying how apple also doesnt address this stuff at all. Im on iphone 13 pro

Both mine and my husband's phones (12 pro max) have the same issue once updated to 17. Now on 17.0.3 and still no better. Installing the update for 17.1.1 now to see if it's fixed.

Anyone else looking for a fix, try searching the following with your choice of search engine:

“iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro Service Programme for No Sound Issues”

I have an iphone 11, after updating IOS I experienced the same low volume on the speaker when receiving calls. I tried everything.

1) Sounds and Haptics settings

2) Reset All Settings

Nothing worked

I think I may have the same problem.

Could anyone verify, does your ringer, music etc. all work fine, but if you try to hear a call in a normal fashion, it’s there but barely audible? But then putting them on speaker is right back to normal volume?

I was perplexed bc the speaker works, it’s seems to just be malfunctioning for that very specific task. Had not thought of a bad update, but that would explain it.

if anyone can just verify if the issue is the same for them, I’d be grateful.

I was pretty behind on updates and still in the 16’s but recently updated to 17.1.1 and I’m extremely aggravated as I’m experiencing the same volume issue during calls since this update. This is super annoying and inconvenient as my volume is up all the way and I can hardly hear a thing! I have an iPhone 12 mini.