Why is the volume low on my Apple Watch Series 10?

Finally! I have an update for everyone fighting this Watch Series 10 low volume+distortion issue. You are not alone and an escalation fix request is underway - via a firmware update! (per Apple Store)

Unfortunately, no timeline for the fix was available.

First, note that this is NOT a cleaning issue at least for my Series 10 watches (on #2 now) - my watch is always CLEAN with NO lotion or other gunk. Also do NOT get it wet, admittedly for mostly gray-hair paranoia reasons. Neither force-restart nor re-pairing the watch helped.

After a warranty replacement for my Series 10 and another repair disposition of "unable to reproduce" (but yet volume came back Ok again for a couple of weeks), this is starting to make sense. On the last "non-repair", I'm told the techs have a way to reload the firmware that fixes the volume... for the usual 2-4 weeks, before it backslides to useless. Now it's sounding like a firmware bug vs design problem.

Let's hope Apple prioritizes this firmware fix. In the meantime, sent my watch in for yet another replacement or firmware reload.

Taking calls is THE key feature for me, so this is a massive problem. Besides, running for my phone is sooooo 1997 ;)

Hope this helps folks suffering through the same pain. Hang in there!

Did the exact same thing and the problem is solved. The solution is to activate the 💧 eject with water in it

[Edited by Moderator]

Push the side button then from there tap the water droplet. Then to use the eject function, push and hold the Digital Crown

Circling back on this post I made. I followed some of the tips in this thread (cleaning the holes, soaking the watch, using the water eject several times etc) and I have progress getting the speaker sounding better. It still does not sound as good as my Apple Watch 7, but it certainly is improved. I think the smaller speaker holes are the real culprit. They hold dirt and grime better than the larger speaker holes on the AW9 and earlier.

I cleaned my watch gently with a soft new toothbrush and rinsed it with water and it’s nice and loud again . I don’t know if an update helped but between the both of them it’s as good as new

I have had an Apple Watch for YEARS and have had NO problems. Then I got a new Apple Watch Series 10 in November 2024 and by December the sound was so low you couldn’t hear it when it was on full volume. I turned it in on a warranty and they sent me a new one - then the new one started doing it too! Sounds like when a speaker is blown! Full volume and I can’t hear it! Took it to the Apple Store yesterday and they are sending it out for repair!!! I’m about to try finding an older used Apple Watch so I don’t have to deal with this seemingly constant problem! Apple-please fix this problem with your watches!

One thing I found that worked is to immerse the watch and water for a while, and then use the function to expel the water at the same time kind of brushing the speaker on the outside. The sound is quite a bit better than it was. I don’t know if it’s supposed to be loud but it’s pretty good. All these people saying to go to haptics and turn up the volume duh. You watch a good soaking and then ejector propeller of the water. It seems to help with the speaker at least that’s what I found.

Another option would be:

...

With Apple Watch Series 10, you can use a soft bristle brush to remove debris from the speaker ports.

...

copied from: How to clean your Apple Watch - Apple Support

That sounds like a possible hardware problem.

1. check the speaker port is not blocked by debris or water.
2. How old is your Apple Watch? Any Series 10 must be less than 12 months so still in warranty or AppleCare+. Arrange an Apple Store appointment to get it checked by Apple

If your Apple Watch Series 10 has low volume, check the volume settings in the Sounds & Haptics settings, ensure Silent Mode isn't on, and try a force restart of the watch. 

Yep, solution from sr. support was to replace the watch again - 2nd watch and 2nd fix in 2 months.

definitely a firmware bug. Still no improvement with current phone/watch versions.

Same here (Watch 10): Not loud enough. I think my Watch 4 was far "louder".

Volume set to maximum, but wake-up or timer alarms barely audible. Did the water-fix several times but no changes.

For the moment, the "vibration" is my solution for alarms. But, I think, Apple should to research and offer a bug fi for this problem.

I had same problem went from Apple Watch 8 to a 10 had volume issues sent in for service they said they had to clean the speaker just got back. I got a notice to update software and now it's louder but volume is allot lower. I think the update lowered speaker volume and I can't get it were it was before update. I can't hear my music like I use to.

Leonardo4605 wrote:

...another user complained about auedga what, .....?

No idea what that means

try How to adjust various sound volumes on Ap… - Apple Community

How to adjust various sound volumes on Ap… - Apple Community