How to fix an iPhone 7 Plus that plays notification sounds even in silent mode (easy steps)

While this may not be a big deal as other problems transpiring in iOS devices, there are times when you’ll get bothered and find the need to make things right. Just like when an iPhone plays notification sounds in silent mode. Apparently in this case, the iPhone system is not working as intended and therefore it needs to be fixed. Highlighted in this context are a few recommended workarounds and potential solutions to a similar issue on the iPhone 7 Plus variant. Feel free to refer to this walkthrough if you’re searching for more inputs. Read on to learn more.

But before anything else, if you have other concerns with your iPhone 7 Plus, make sure you drop by our troubleshooting page for we have already addressed some of the most commonly reported issues with this new iPhone. If you need further assistance or if you can’t find what you’re looking for in that page, fill up our iPhone issues questionnaire and hit submit. Don’t worry, it’s a free consultation service so you don’t have to worry about anything. Just give us more information about the problem and we’ll do our best to help you fix it.

First solution: Reboot your iPhone (soft reset).

What you’re dealing with is certainly attributed to software errors on the iPhone. It can be due to a faulty update, errant app, or improperly configured settings. As first recommended solution when dealing with software problems like this is a soft reset or device restart. It helps clear the internal memory and wipes any minor glitches from the phone system, including those that caused the audio system to act oddly. Here’s how it’s done:

Press and hold the Power button until the Slide to Power off menu appears.
Drag the slider to the right to power off your device.
After 30 seconds, press and hold the Power button again until the Apple logo appears.

No data will be affected in the process, hence creating backups won’t be necessary.

Second solution: Turn silent mode off and on again.

Your iPhone’s audio system is apparently glitching because it still plays notification sounds even when it’s already set to silent. Many people who have encountered the same issue for the first time have found a quick fix by simply switching silent mode off and then on again shortly. Should you wish to give it a try, then here’s how:

Flip the ringer button on the upper side of your iPhone to turn silent mode on (up) and then off (down) again.

If the ringer is set to silent or mute, the orange bar is visible. Otherwise, it’s set to ring mode and so you need to flip it again. Alternatively, you can press the Volume controls on the left side of your device beneath the ringer switch. These are by far, the easiest ways to mute your iPhone.

Another way to mute your iPhone is through sound settings. Here you can configure the sound settings for various types of notifications for texts, calls, messages, and emails you received.

Third solution: Manage DND settings (if applicable).

If Do Not Disturb (DND) feature is enabled on your iPhone, it’s possible that some notifications or alert sounds are customized with some exceptions. There are certain DND options that can be turned on to enable alert sound for significant phone calls. One of these is the Allow Calls From option. With this option enabled, you can choose from whose calls to allow.

To check on it, go to Settings-> Do Not Disturb-> Allow Calls From. You set this feature off, if necessary.

Alternatively, you can just disable DND then mute your iPhone using the physical ringer button.

Fourth solution: Reset all settings on your iPhone 7 Plus.

When reset all settings on your iPhone 7 Plus, all settings and options you’ve customized will be cleared as original options are restored. This won’t affect any data and personal information saved in the internal memory though. It is helpful when dealing with issues like this that are inflicted by invalid settings and options configuration. And here’s how it’s done:

Tap Settings.
Tap General.
Scroll to and tap Reset.
Select Reset all settings from the given options.
Enter your device passcode, if necessary.
Tap the option to confirm all settings reset.

Reboot your iPhone to apply the recent changes then try to see if that fixed the problem

Fifth solution: Reset your iPhone 7 Plus to factory defaults (master reset).

If none of the mentioned solutions is able to fix the issue and your iPhone 7 Plus still plays notification sounds in silent mode, then you may resort to a full system reset. This can potentially resolve the issue if some tough bugs are inflicting it. A master reset wipes everything from your phone’s internal memory including system errors and malware. This however will result to data loss, thus creating a backup beforehand is recommended. The simplest way to perform a master reset is through the Settings menu. Here’s how:

Tap Settings.
Tap General.
Scroll to and tap Reset.
Select the option to Erase all content and settings.
Enter your device passcode, if prompted.
Tap to confirm iPhone reset.

Alternatively, you can reset and restore your iPhone 7 Plus through iTunes on your computer. Just connect your iPhone to your computer using the USB cable or Lightning cable, open iTunes, then follow the onscreen instructions to reset your iPhone or restore iOS.

Allow your iPhone to finish wiping contents and then restarts automatically. After the restart, you can set up your device as new. If the problem continues, then you need to consider other options including the subsequent suggestions.

Other options

Update iOS to the latest version. Check for new updates available for your device and if there is, update iOS. This can be the key to fixing the problem if system bugs are to blame. The latest iOS version rolled out by Apple since the last week of April this year is iOS version 11.3.1. It contains new features and security enhancements to fix existing bugs that caused various type of problems in different iOS devices. You can update your iPhone wirelessly (over-the-air) or use iTunes on a computer.
DFU mode restore. If the problem instigated from an update and persisted even after performing a factory reset, then most likely it’s due to a complex bug that requires more advanced fixes. In this case, you can try performing a DFU mode restore on your iPhone 7 Plus through iTunes. DFU stands for Device Firmware Update, the most in-depth type of system restore done on an iPhone. In this mode, your iPhone can communicate with iTunes on a computer even without activating the bootloader or operating system. You may opt to restore your iPhone to a previous iOS backup or downgrade iOS, if necessary. A more detailed walkthrough on how to put your iPhone 7 Plus in DFU mode can be found in our Tutorials section. Just head over to our Troubleshooting Page, if needed.
Contact your carrier/Apple Support. If your iPhone 7 Plus started to play notification sounds in silent mode after implementing the new iOS update, then it must be a post-update issue you are dealing with. In this case, you may escalate the issue to your carrier or Apple Support for them to become aware of it, make further assessments, and if necessary, develop a new fix patch to address the problem in the next update rollout.

Connect with us

If you need more help with the use of certain functions and features of the new Apple iPhone 8 smartphone, feel free to visit our Tutorial Page. There you can find a list of how-to contents, step-by-step tutorials, as well as answers to FAQs regarding iPhone 8. If you have other concerns or encountered some troubles while using the phone, you can reach us through this form. Just be sure to tell us more details of the problem or device issue(s) you may have and we will be more than happy to assist you further.

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