If your iPhone SE 3 suddenly stopped making sound—no ringtones, no alerts, and no audio from apps—you’re probably dealing with a settings issue or a minor software glitch. Don’t panic yet. There are several things you can try before heading to the Apple Store.
Here’s a list of fixes that can help get the audio working again on your iPhone SE 3.
1. Check the Ring/Silent Switch
It sounds simple, but the mute switch on the side of your iPhone might be the culprit.
- Look at the switch on the top-left edge of your iPhone.
- If you see orange, your phone is in Silent Mode.
- Flip it the other way to switch back to Ring Mode.
Once you flip it, try playing a ringtone or alert to test the sound.
2. Turn the Volume All the Way Up
Use the Volume Up button to max out the volume. You can also go to:
- Settings > Sounds & Haptics, and make sure the volume slider is turned up.
Try playing a video or song to check.
3. Restart Your iPhone
A quick reboot can often fix temporary software glitches—especially if your iPhone got stuck in headphone mode or experienced a minor iOS bug.
To restart:
- Press and hold the Side button until the power slider appears.
- Slide to power off.
- Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the Side button again until you see the Apple logo.
4. Make Sure “Do Not Disturb” or Focus Isn’t On
If your phone isn’t ringing or giving you alerts, you might have Do Not Disturb or another Focus mode enabled.
- Go to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb and toggle it off.
- Or open Control Center (swipe down from the top-right) and check if Focus is active. If it is, tap it to turn it off.
5. Turn Off Bluetooth
If your iPhone is connected to a Bluetooth speaker or headphones, it might be sending the audio there instead.
- Go to Settings > Bluetooth and toggle it off.
- Or open Control Center and tap the Bluetooth icon until it turns gray.
Once it’s off, test your iPhone’s built-in speaker again.
6. Disable “Silence Unknown Callers”
If you’re not hearing incoming calls, this setting might be silencing them.
- Go to Settings > Phone.
- Scroll down and turn off Silence Unknown Callers.
Try calling your iPhone from another number and see if it rings now.
7. Try Playing Sound Through a Different App
Sometimes sound issues are isolated to one app. Try playing music through Apple Music, YouTube, or even setting a timer to test the alert sound.
If you get sound from one app but not others, the issue may be app-specific.
8. Remove Your iPhone Case
Some third-party cases can accidentally cover or press the volume buttons or mute switch. If you’re using a case, take it off and recheck your sound settings and switch.
9. Reset All Settings
This won’t delete any of your photos or apps, but it will reset system settings like Wi-Fi passwords, app permissions, and sound preferences.
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset > Reset All Settings.
- Enter your passcode and confirm.
After the reset, test your iPhone’s sound again.
10. Update iOS (If You Can)
A bug in iOS might be the reason your iPhone has no sound. Apple regularly releases updates with fixes.
If your iPhone can connect to the internet:
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- If an update is available, tap Download and Install.
If you don’t have Wi-Fi, connect your iPhone to a computer and update through iTunes or Finder.
Still No Sound? Try This
If none of the fixes worked:
- Check for water or drop damage. Audio issues after a fall or spill could mean speaker damage.
- Try headphones or a Bluetooth speaker. If you hear sound through them but not your phone’s speaker, the internal speaker may be damaged.
- Contact Apple Support. If you’re under warranty or AppleCare, they can help determine if it’s a hardware issue.