iOS 7.1 update, ear speaker not working now?

Hey,

Checked this morning and there must have been a cancelation, got an appointment withy the Genius Bar.

I explained what happened and he told me that when an update happens it tests the hardware and it sees anything wrong it can disable that component. Anyway, he opened the phone and the two Screws that hold the speaker in place were loose which meant it wasn't grounding properly. He tightened both the screws and cleaned it with compressed air. Phone back working again. Very happy!!

Fantastic! Sounds like you got a real genius! Makes perfect sense too....hence the thumb massage. Thanks for posting.

This is a software issue, not a hardware one. My speaker worked fine before installing 7.1, and now it is so faint I can't hear the person on the other end. No change to my hardware, so the only thing that could have caused this is a software bug.

If as the Genius told you the problem was due to a short and that was being detected by the OS on start-up, then they changed the OS since it wasn't detected in version 7.0. Since this has broken more than one person's phone, it is a bug in the software, and not a hardware issue.

Unfortuantely, I don't have access to an apple store where a Genius can tighen my loose screws, so 7.1 has essentially ruined my phone...unless of course I want everyone to listen to my calls on speaker phone. UGH!

I just got a call from Apple Care regarding this issue. Apple engineering is investigating. I already had my phone repaired so they didn't want it, but I'd suggest anyone here who is still having this issue contact apple care again, they may want your phone before it gets fixed.

I got an email from them and have just replied.

My phone was checked over in the apple store and they tightened a few screws which brought the speaker back to life,

However the sound is distorted now and calls are hard to hear. I can't argue that whatever he did in the store fixed my phone but it is nowhere near as good as it was before the update.

I am actually contemplating buying a sim free android phone to use for calls, I have another year left in my current mobile contract and can't afford to be buying another iPhone.

never update your expensive apple toys or it will ruin your happiness!

I am experiencing the same problem and it all started when I upgraded to iOS 7.1. I belive it is a software issue. Has anyone find any solution yet?

iPhone 5 , same deal upgraded OS, now ear piece stopped working

Only solution to use speaker phone.

I drive a lot, and mostly on Bluetooth,

Still, I need the ear piece working.

Genius Bar, appt is on Tue. Will see what happens.

Hey, a Apple engineer, if you need the phone let me know.

It's a software bug. :-)

Kadam: any luck?

I'm having the same problem with IOS 7.1 and the iPad.

I have the same problem as well. Not directly, few days after update. I restart the phone once, and it solve the problems, only for a while, everything seems normal, no sound degradation or any indication that it was hardware problem. But now after it happened again, os restart can not solve the problem anymore until now.

I can confirm that the new update 7.1.1 has solved the issue. Thanks a lot all for your effort to raise the issue through genius bar and this forum!

Thanks for that suggestion, ilovetamales. I found this thread because I was having the same speakerphone issue since upgrading to 7.1. I tried the solution you mentioned, "massaging" the upper part of the phone, squeezing it in a number of places, and it appears that has fixed it ... at least for now, fingers crossed. Thanks again!

Hey Galanwarner. Glad something worked out. Eventually...that solution no longer worked for me. My phone became completely useless. Surprisingly, Apple engineers recognize that there is a problem. I was called and asked if I would give them my phone (whilst they replace with a new one!) so that they could study the problem. Unfortunately, I was tired of waiting (before I received that call) and I tried to fix the problem by opening the phone....which didn't end well. However, I wanted you to know that Apple knows this is a problem and you shouldn't have to deal with it. It's rediculous that a software update that is designed to improve your experience with their product, actually BREAKS THE PRODUCT! I wouldn't complain if the product were cheap....but it is in fact very expensive as you know. Best of luck.

I have to say in closing that the more issues I have like this the more I think Apple is making bad decisions about how people use their phones. A simple software downgrade (were it possible) could've tested the problem and perhaps solved it for the time being until a software update came along. Their will to control everything is making it hard to breath - making me think of moving back to the other side. iOS8 better rock.