Q: IOS 5.1.1. update bug (Volume Control)

I just recieved a replacement iPhone 4S from Apple on Friday and, today (Saturday) this started happening to me also. Tried restoring etc but nothing happened... sigh seems like a lot of people are havign this issue also. 

Not looking forward to going without a phone for another week to get this one replaced via mail in again. How can I get them to send me the replacement phone (im assuming they have to replace it as there doesnt seem to be a fix) first and then I can send them back the faulty one, so I dont have to go without a phone for a week.

I wanted to add that, i saw a setting in 'settings/sounds/ringer and alerts' then under 'change with buttons'. Mine defaulted to 'on'. I set that to 'off'. Now, when i press the volume buttons, it no longer says 'ringer'. It adjusts the volume. Hope this helps others too. :)

I've had the same issue, tried the same steps, and I found the volume to be restored once I re-installed the Apple Podcast app. The volume issues began when I started to use it to play Podcasts. As it seemed to be the root of my problems I removed it from my device. That didn't help so I reloaded it, and once I started the app back up my volume control was restored immediately.

We'll see if it's a permanent fix but for me it is definitely linked to the Apple Podcast App. Now I can listen to my Hardcore History podcast again...

Add another one to the list... Heading to the Apple store this weekend to see if they can replace it, or at least fix it.

Went to the Apple Store already, they replaced without question. Gentleman said he's had to replace a few of them already this week with the same issue, so even though this topic is 10 pages there's definitely a rather large problem with it.

Yep me too...This is becoming very frustrating, im really not keen on having to go and replace my entire iphone at the store a simple patch should be able to fix the problem. This is really starting to make me lose faith in apple...might be time for a change...

I don't believe this is a software issue. After giving my dock connector a good clean my sound came back. The nature of the problem would indicate that the phone thinks it's docked to another device and is routing sound away from the internal speaker. It may be partly due to a software issue but given that cleaning the connector worked after numerous other 'fixes' I'd say it's likely that your dock connector is dirty.

Hope this helps!

If the issue was solely the dock connector being dirty then they wouldn't be warranting the phones.

If it was a software issue then they wouldn't be warranting the phones either.

My guess is the Apple Store guys are attempting the standard software fixes (restart, reset, restore) and if they fail then they're swapping them out without throrough checks on the dock connector. It took several attempts for me to fully clean the dock connector before it worked. Only on my last very thorough clean did it start working.

I can't guarantee that this would be the case, but I think it likely.

I had this exact same issue about 4 weeks ago. I cleaned the dock connector a few times and it's been working ever since. My theory is that the charging cable which is often laying around open to dust, has picked up some dust and then when plugging in the cable we push this into the connector in the phone. Do this a few dozen times and it builds up and shorts the dock connector. By cleaning it (which obviously takes longer for some people) seems to fix it. On one response a user used a paper clip to clean it which I wouldn't recommend.

I used a small brush in my wife's makeup kit after failing with a toothbrush.

I think the reason for the replacement would be to keep the customers happy.

Good luck!

i keep using my solution of running a game called Wolfenstein and it fixes my audio

so i can't see how its hardly only

I cleaned the dock connector using a this lens cleaning cloth (the one which comes with a pair of glasses) folder over a sheet of paper which gave it some rigidity. I then used a paper clip to carefully remove any dust which had build up at the sides. Don't use a paper clip to touch or scratch the connector. Common sense should tell you that isn't going to be good!

Running the game may assist in kickstarting/restarting something on software side but it could be dirt or dust which is making this issue reoccur for you. Clean your dock connector well and see if the issue returns. Would be good to know if this does help.

Adding to the thread as I have had the same issue right after upgrading to 5.1.1 earlier on my wifes 4. My 4s updated several weeks ago has no issues. Nothing seems to fix it for me, tried all the suggestions. There is no way this is only a connector issue. It is software related somehow, even though it seem to be affecting the hardware directly.

Just an update, I returned from the apple store after experiencing the same issues everyone is having after updating to 5.1.1 and their explanation was there was an existing condition with the sound/speaker/Volume Control and the update just brought the issue out in the open. I have tried to understand this and in the end paid the $149 swap fee as I was out of warranty. However I cannot fathom this being the reason, or why an update would bring to light such a consistent problem for so many people.

I mentioned that the support forums had a 10 page thread with similar issues and was told they sell millions of phones so this little sample would not prove there is a bug in the update. Maybe not, but it seems a very funny issue. It was also mentioned that these are the reasons they sell extended care warranties, and my response was I never knew I needed extended care to guard against your software updates.

Anyway, expensive issue and will make me start to judge my future purchases and expand my product review instead of being exclusive to apple if this becomes a recurring issue.

Message was edited by: kdeary