Muffled sound on iPhone 7. The iPhone speaker has become quiet - why the sound is muffled. Could there be a software problem?

Quite often, owners of Apple smartphones come to me with a complaint that the iPhone speaker has become quieter, the interlocutor has become difficult to hear and they have to strain their ears significantly. In a noisy street, this becomes terribly annoying. Skeptics immediately begin to criticize Apple and the iPhone, complaining about the Chinese assembly and high cost. In fact, in most cases, the reasons that the iPhone has a quiet speaker and dull sound lie not in the device itself, but in its accessories. But first things first!

So, if for no reason your iPhone speaker starts to work quietly, start by simply rebooting it. After that, call one of your friends and during the conversation, use the buttons to adjust the speaker volume from minimum to maximum and back several times. This helps in cases where sound problems are associated with a simple malfunction of the device.

The second, quite common case is a crooked protective film or glass.

But here, as a rule, the problem arises immediately after you have glued the protective accessory to the device. Accordingly, you need to re-glue the film or glass correctly and everything will be fine.

It also happens that the iPhone became quieter due to the case, which became deformed over time and partially covered the speaker. Again, checking this is quite simple - just remove the case and make a call.

Cleaning the iPhone speaker

Now let's consider a more serious case, when the sound on the iPhone is muffled and the interlocutor is hard to hear at maximum volume due to contamination of the speaker. This could be various small debris from a pocket or bag, some sweet or viscous liquids that accidentally fell on the phone’s body, or ordinary dirt. To clean the iPhone speaker, you will need a stiff brush or toothbrush and alcohol.

First you need to moisten the pile with alcohol and squeeze it thoroughly so that it is damp, but not wet. Roughly speaking, our task is to prevent alcohol from getting inside the smartphone during the cleaning process. The best option is to run the lint over a piece of paper several times. After this, we try to clean the iPhone speaker grid with careful movements.

Note: A toothbrush can also be used to clean the main speaker of an iPhone. The only condition is to use it without alcohol. The fact is that its holes are much larger and alcohol can get inside the device.

Phone hardware problem

Unfortunately, iPhones also break, which means the speaker can also fail. How can this be checked? Simple enough. Here are two ways.

First, use headphones. In this case, there will be excellent audibility through them, but the iPhone speaker will still be deaf.

If it turns out that the iPhone has become quieter because the speaker is broken, then the only solution is to take it to a service center.

Before you begin to describe the malfunctions and answer the question - Why is it hard to hear your iPhone interlocutor during a conversation and what to do in such a situation, you need to study the smartphone device and divide the breakdown into mechanical and software.

The iPhone has two speakers, the lower speaker, which is responsible for speakerphone, playback of music and call sounds, and the upper auditory speaker, which is responsible for hearing the voice of the interlocutor on the iPhone.

Symptoms and Causes of Mechanical Speaker Failure

During a call, you can’t hear the person on your iPhone who is on speakerphone, which means the problem is in the bottom speaker.

• Faulty Mini-Jack 3.5 mm.

Often, this is due to a failure in the 3.5 mm plug. Perhaps the contacts are shorting in it. Sometimes it helps to connect and disconnect the plug several times, 10–20. So, you clean the connector from oxides and other debris deposited on the contacts.

But this is just a life hack that does not guarantee 100% results. If it didn’t help, then you need it. On newer iPhone models, the headphone and charging jacks come in one piece.

• - “Mute” key and volume rocker.

If you recently became the owner of an iPhone and do not understand the device and buttons, then on the left side there is a key to switch to silent mode (Mute) which could be accidentally touched during a conversation.

It's worth checking to see if you've pressed the volume control or muted the sound. Try calling back and holding down the volume up key. If you can’t hear your iPhone interlocutor, it is possible that the problem lies at the other end of the “wire.”

• - Faulty top speaker.

Often, people contact the PlanetiPhone service with a broken hearing speaker. It fails due to the ingress of water, dirt and dust. Water penetration causes a short circuit and leaves oxides on the contacts, interfering with the signal conduction from the speaker to the motherboard.

The mesh on the speaker, which performs a protective function, can become clogged with small particles of dust and dirt. It is extremely difficult to hear the person calling. In this situation, you will need to clean the iPhone from water and dust, and you will need to dry it and clean the contacts from oxidation.

• - iPhone crash.

If an iPhone falls from a height, not only the speaker, but also the microphone of the iPhone fails.

During a call, it performs a noise reduction function. Due to the fall, the audio codec or cable fails, which is why the smartphone perceives all sound coming from the subscriber as noise and dampens it. He is checked by recording his voice.

If it plays with interference, noise and wheezing, you should come to our service for iPhone diagnostics. This may be the very answer why it’s hard to hear the person you’re talking to on your iPhone.

Software glitches and errors

Now we will analyze software malfunctions that we can fix ourselves without resorting to the help of a service.

• - Bluetooth headsets.

It’s worth remembering if you connected speakers or headphones via Bluetooth? iOS may not properly disconnect the headset and think that it is still connected to the phone. Just go to settings and turn it off again.

• - Third party programs.

On the iPhone it is difficult to hear the interlocutor due to the use of third-party software. Remember what you installed before the problem was discovered. Try removing them and rebooting. Hold down the Power and Home keys.

• - iOS crash.

If the sound does not always disappear, but only intermittently, this may be a glitch in the iPhone operating system. Try updating the firmware.

What to do if you can’t hear your interlocutor on iPhone?

From the possible breakdowns and their symptoms described above, it is extremely difficult to correctly diagnose the location and cause of the breakdown. If you have little experience, it is better to start checking by checking the volume level in the settings and the silent mode key.

The best and simplest answer to the question why you can’t hear your iPhone interlocutor is to come to the PlanetiPhone SC for a free iPhone diagnosis.

Stages of repair in PlanetiPhone.

• - Come to your nearest service center and tell us in detail about the breakdown or call a technician to your home by leaving a request on the website. (Master's visit to Moscow - Free)

• - First of all, before starting any action, a check is performed to identify all hidden problems and their causes. (This is done free of charge, even if you later decide to postpone the restoration until later.)

• - Next, we announce all the faults found, the time it will take to fix them and the final price. (The price already includes the price of the part and the work of the master! No extra charges after repairs!)

• - The agreed procedures and full testing of the smartphone are carried out.

• - You pay for the services and you are given a fully restored iPhone, a warranty and a discount card.

*Get a discount now by simply filling out an application on the website.

Why should you contact PlanetiPhone?

Our service has advantages that clearly distinguish us from all competitors in Moscow. These include:

• - Unlike other top workshops, we have an affordable cost of repairs in the capital.

• - Free computer check of the gadget, even in case of refusal to repair it at the service center and a specialist visiting your home in the capital.

• - Only original components, which are always in stock.

• - Modern equipment and experienced craftsmen.

• - Free delivery of equipment to the service center and back to your home in the capital.

We didn’t find an answer to the question - why can’t you hear the iPhone interlocutor? Come to PlanetiPhone and we will quickly find out the reason!

In September, official sales of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus smartphones started. Not a single launch of new Apple products is complete without close attention from the media, so any bug risks becoming a tragedy on a global scale. One has only to remember the problem with the deteriorating connection in the iPhone 4, the peeling paint in the iPhone 5, and the bending iPhone 6 Plus.

No serious defects have been found with the iPhone 7 yet. Most problems can be solved by rebooting the smartphone, others can be fixed with the release of the next update.

1. Hissing sounds during intense work

The day after the start of sales of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, the first customer complaints about the operation of the devices appeared on the Internet. We are talking about the A10 Fusion processor, which tends to make “mysterious sounds” when the smartphone is used intensively.

According to the owners of the "Seven", the new 4-core processor begins to hiss during high loads. The sound can be heard through the body even at a distance from the gadget. This happens during moments of intensive operation of the computing module, which is not typical for any other Apple processor or competing chip from Qualcomm and MediaTek.

At the moment there is no simple way to solve this problem. If you feel that the sound is excessively loud, replace the device under warranty.

2. Low battery life

There are a number of problems with iOS 10 that specifically affected the use of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. It happens that the smartphone simply stops responding to touches or cannot connect to the Bluetooth network, and the mobile Internet does not work properly. However, many have traditionally complained about the battery life of the iPhone 7.

In 9 out of 10 cases, abnormal discharge of flagships is caused by the background operation of one or another application. In such cases, you need to go to settings, Battery section and look at the list of the most energy-intensive tasks. To improve the autonomy of smartphones, you need to return to the main settings screen, then go to the General -> Content Update section and disable this option for the “faulty” application. The energy saving mode will also help extend the operating time away from the outlet: Settings -> Battery.

3. Poor sound quality during a call

Some iPhone 7 users have reported poor sound quality during phone calls. The corresponding complaints appeared on the Apple technical support website. The first to report the problem was a user named Stefan Fischer. His message dates back to September 16, the day iPhone 7 sales started.

In the thread discussing the problem, users left many comments with similar complaints. Most of them are iPhone 7 Plus owners.

Apple has not officially commented on the problem, but there is an article on the company's website entitled "Missing or distorted sound from iPhone speaker." In case of such defects, it suggests increasing the sound, rebooting the device, or removing dirt from the speaker using a brush with soft bristles.

4. iPhone 7 does not find the network after turning off Airplane mode

Some iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus buyers are complaining about an issue with Airplane mode. After disabling the function, your cellular connection is lost.

Apple is already aware of the failure and has provided technical support with appropriate instructions. Anyone experiencing this issue is advised to restart their iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. If this does not help, then remove and reinsert the SIM card.

5. Problems with Lightning headphones

Some iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus buyers have encountered incorrect operation of Lightning EarPods. According to users, from time to time the remote control on the Apple branded headset stops functioning and seems to freeze. This happens if you leave the EarPods connected to your iPhone 7 for a few minutes. The sound continues to work, but the buttons do not work. Users cannot switch songs or adjust audio volume, although the microphone works fine.

The problem with sound loss was resolved in the iOS 10.0.2 update. In order to restore the correct operation of the headphones, you need to update your iPhone 7 to a new version.

6. Problems with activation

In some cases, after you turn on your iPhone 7 for the first time, you may not be able to activate the device. Activation failure usually occurs when there are problems accessing the Internet. Check your network connection. If the problem persists, try switching to a Wi-Fi network. If the problem persists, try restarting your smartphone several times, or activating it by connecting to iTunes.

7. Unstable Bluetooth operation

Owners of recently released gadgets also complain about unstable Bluetooth wireless connections. On Apple forums, customers write that they cannot connect the iPhone 7 to their car stereo.

Some users of the device report that the smartphone works, but voice calls through the on-board system are distorted. Some users complain that the iPhone 7 disconnects from the car's on-board system after 10 seconds, after which the gadget can no longer be connected to the system. Most complaints come from BMW car owners.

If you encounter a similar problem, all you can do is wait. According to company representatives, Apple is currently working on an update that should fix the problems.

Modern telephones have not been used for their intended purpose for a long time. Now it is a music player, video and photo camera, GPS navigator, etc. For conversations, of course, phones are used, but less often than before. But even if the interlocutor is hard to hear on the iPhone 6, then this is a reason for concern for the owner. Such expensive gadgets from Apple should work properly.

Unfortunately, not a single phone is immune from this. Even the new flagships iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are subject to this risk.

Add volume

Let's start with the banal. Inexperienced users simply turn down the volume of the speaker during a conversation by involuntarily pressing the volume down button on the side panel. In this case, you don’t even need to open the iPhone 6 settings. To set the maximum volume, you need to call someone and, during the call, use the side keys to increase the volume.

Judging by messages on various forums, a simple action helps many users: inserting and removing the headset. If it helps, then that's great, but if not, then move on.

Shipping film and covers

Another reason: shipping film. After purchasing a new smartphone, there is always a film on the screen that for some reason people don’t remove. They do this supposedly in order to preserve a beautiful appearance, but this film may simply block the speaker, making it difficult to hear the interlocutor.

Cases can also block the sound. They usually have a hole for the speaker, but it sometimes gets clogged with debris. Try cleaning it and test your phone again.

Cleaning the speaker mesh

If the mesh that covers the membrane and serves as some kind of protection against debris could become clogged, then to clean it, you need to use a cotton swab with alcohol or a toothbrush. Also try blowing it out and removing the debris.

If cleaning helps, that's great. True, dirt accumulates not only outside, but also inside. Therefore, sometimes the phone needs to be disassembled to clean out debris from under the mesh.

For disassembly, special star-type screwdrivers are used. Most likely, you do not have them, so you will have to contact a service center. If you have the necessary tool, you can try to remove the cover yourself. But do it carefully so as not to touch or tear off the cable.

Did it help? If not, then we will look for the reason.

Looking for a reason

It is important to remember why it became difficult to hear the interlocutor on the iPhone 6. For example, after the gadget falls out of your hands or you spill a glass of water on it. It is possible that sand got into the speaker after relaxing on the beach. Anything could disrupt its operation, but most often it is the owner who is to blame. Speakers themselves rarely deteriorate. After all, this is a simple module in which there is nothing special to break.

Unfortunately, only a few users can repair their iPhone 6 on their own. This cannot be done without special screwdrivers, so the simplest, laconic advice is to take the phone to a service center.

Moreover, if you remember for sure that the speaker began to work worse after the fall, then you don’t have to rush too much. However, if you are sure (or at least there is such a possibility) that you determined the bad sound on the iPhone 6 after water got inside the case, then you must immediately turn off the phone, remove the battery and take the device to a service center. In this case, this is the minimum that you can do useful. The maximum is if you also dry the phone with a hairdryer for at least 5-10 minutes. Surely during this time the water will evaporate from the inside. After that, still take the phone to the technician.

If it turns out that water got inside and shorted the contacts, you will have to install a new speaker on the iPhone 6. Usually it is inexpensive, but if you pay for the work, it won’t be so cheap. It also cannot be ruled out that some contact or cable did not come off during the fall. In this case, repairs will not be expensive.

Could there be a software problem?

Maybe. The iOS operating system itself is wonderful. It is well optimized, easy to use, and constantly updated. But nowadays many users have popular jailbreaks. These are special programs installed on iOS. In other words - firmware.

Yes, they open up many possibilities for users, including the ability to install cool free programs that without jailbreak you would have to pay money for. But firmware is unofficial software, and no one is responsible for its performance. You shouldn’t be surprised that after some kind of jailbreak it will become difficult to hear your interlocutor on the iPhone 6. And although the problem in the software can be solved quite easily, a similar feature does occur.

So it is not recommended to install all sorts of complex software that can harm the system unless absolutely necessary. It’s good if the problem with the speaker is software in nature. In this case, iPhone 6 repair will not be required at all. It will be enough to simply install the latest official software through iTunes.

By the way, it is extremely rare that there may be a problem even with the official firmware. There have been cases when new versions of Apple software only harmed the phone. Therefore, you can try to “roll back” to the previous version of the software. It's unlikely that this will solve the problem, but it's worth a try.

If all else fails

If removing the jailbreak and installing the official software did not help and you are still hard to hear the other person on the iPhone 6, then you will have to contact a service center or, if there is no guarantee, some private workshop.

Well, as a last resort, just use a wired headset (it always comes with your phone) or a Bluetooth headset, and also communicate via speakerphone.

IPhone owners regularly receive operating system updates and high-quality warranty service, however, quality does not always guarantee absolutely stable operation of the device. Like any smartphone, the iPhone can malfunction from time to time. Let's talk about one of the most common problems of iOS users, when the IPhone has difficulty hearing the interlocutor.

We are looking for the cause of the malfunction

If you recently purchased a phone and the problem “the other person can’t hear me during a call” immediately appeared, make sure that:

• The microphone is located fairly close to the sound source. Despite its banality, this reason is the most common. Users may use speakerphone or hold the phone in such a way that the speaker is too far away;
• Physical barrier of the noise canceling microphone. Perhaps your iPhone case is blocking the microphone, which is why the muffled voice “like coming out of a barrel” is created. It is worth noting that not only external accessories, but also parts located inside the case can block the operation of a part. For example, the seal on the top cable could have moved, which is necessary for a tighter fit of the speaking microphone to the iPhone body;
• Absolute failure of the upper loop. If the cable stops working (and not just its component), the mute and volume buttons on the iPhone will not work well.

Also, the cause of poor sound may be an incorrect update of the operating system, an attempt to install a jailbreak, or interception of telephone conversations by other applications (including virus software).

Restoring iOS

It is worth noting that in 99% of cases, along with the problem of poor audibility from the interlocutor’s groans, the sound recording function through the standard application does not work on the iPhone. If you updated iOS before the problem occurred, try the following:

Clear your phone of recent installed apps and restart it. Some users note that programs such as Whatsapp, Viber and Telegram can affect the operation of the standard utility for making calls. The reason is bugs in the latest application updates.

Perform data recovery using iTunes or IClou d. According to standard settings, the iPhone regularly creates a backup copy of data and sends it to the ICloud service. A backup is also created each time the phone is connected to iTunes. You can roll back your phone settings by using a backup that was created before the OS crash occurred.

Wait for the new firmware version to be released. Very often the problem lies precisely in bugs from the developer that arise during the process of creating new firmware. As a rule, unsuccessful firmwares are eliminated within 1-2 days. iOS will be updated over the air automatically.

Replacing the top cable

In the event of a hardware failure, the only solution is to completely replace the top cable of the iPhone. There is no point in replacing individual components, because they cannot be purchased officially, and the use of uncertified spare parts will lead to complete inoperability of the iPhone (without the ability to turn on the device).

To replace the cable, you first need to disconnect the non-working part, as shown in the figure.

Take the new part and pay attention to the noise canceling microphone before installing it. It should have a protective mesh indicating the serial number of the spare part. In some cases, the microphone may be covered with black tape to reduce noise. Don't forget to peel it off before starting work.