Hello iOS fans and welcome to another post that deals with sound issues on the #iPhone7. We answer 4 problems submitted by some iPhone 7 users in this one so hopefully you’ll find our suggestions helpful.
If you are looking for solutions to your own #iOS issue, you can contact us by using the link provided at the bottom of this page.
When describing your issue, please be as detailed as possible so we can easily pinpoint a relevant solution. If you can, kindly include the exact error messages you are getting to give us an idea where to start. If you have already tried some troubleshooting steps before emailing us, make sure to mention them so we can skip them in our answers.
Below are specific topics we’re bringing for you today:
iPhone 7 no sound when playing Facebook video, how to control volume
Problem 1: Only 1 speaker works when iPhone 7 is upside down
So I just bought an iPhone 7 on Saturday and I was surprised that my right speaker doesn’t work anymore. It used to work so now the voice comes from the other speaker which is on the top next to the flash and the front camera, and when I move the phone upside down the bottom speaker works and the upper doesn’t!!! So I’m having a problem that the two speakers don’t work at the same time? Specially the bottom right speaker it doesn’t work till I move the phone upside down. I’d really appreciate it if you could help me. — Lalo
Solution: Hi Lalo. The iPhone 7 sports two speakers — one is located at the top portion while the other is located at the bottom right side. If you put the phone in landscape mode (on its side) and you’re playing a stereo audio track, both speakers will give the impression of playing a true stereo sound. Turning the phone upside down on the one hand will only allow one speaker to work so it’s really not a problem. That’s how Apple designed it and for whatever reason, they made the device to only use the earpiece speaker to work when you flip the phone. We don’t know why you would want to use your phone when it’s upside down (and we’re not judging your) but we can confirm that there’s no hardware or software problem when only one speaker works.
Problem 2: iPhone 7 plays no sound when playing Facebook video, how to control volume in iPhone 7
Bought brand spanking new iPhone 7 plus jet black, 128GB. Sweet. Problem: My volume/ringer controls speakers/applications are all confused with each other. If I want to play a video on Facebook, the volume is super quiet even though my “Volume” indicator is all the way up. How I found out I can fix the issue is to manually go to the control center and choose the “iPhone speaker” option, go back to Facebook and press play, then the audio projects like it normally would on my previous iPhone 6. So now I’m supposed to tell my iPhone that I want to hear the audio on speaker all the time? With my previous iPhone 6 this wasn’t an issue. If I pressed play on any video, it would start to automatically play out of the iphones speakers. Like normal. Not this time. It’s extremely frustrating because I have to exit my application, go to the control center, choose my audio output, go back to application, start video over again….I know, first world problems…but still. Really annoying. Especially with the price of this phone….O_O The ringer/volume control issue: I would expect that if I’m not running an application the ringer option would be my default action if I want to turn my ringer volume up or down. Nope. The “volume” option is what I got. But it does not affect the ringer volume. I have to completely exit all applications, restart my phone, wait…..okay, now fully booted up, then push my volume controls, and bam! “Ringer” control. My ringer control goes away when an application that would normally play out of the iPhone speakers is active or run but when I exit that application, I lose my ringer control and I have to reboot my iPhone 7 plus all over again….. Again, extremely frustrating. I almost think there is something wrong with the iOS version, even though it’s the most up to date. My iPhone 6 understands me. — Steve-iPhone 7 plus owner.
Solution: Hi Steve. We know your frustration. Sometimes, Apple’s iPhone 7 volume control can be confusing even for veteran iOS user. The important thing to remember though is this: the hardware buttons at the side won’t control everything. These buttons will only be able to control media volume that the device is actively playing. For example, if you are currently playing a video in Facebook, pressing the Volume Up or Volume Down buttons will only change volume level of the Facebook app. If you are in the Home screen and there’s no active app playing any media, pressing the volume buttons will change ringer and alert sounds.
If you want to tell your phone to remember the volume level for media you want to play in the near future, that is where control center comes in handy. For instance, if you want that your iPhone will play a Facebook video at 50% volume level in the future, make sure that you set volume in control center at this intensity. If you’ll change control center’s volume again after that, then don’t expect your media to play at your desired volume at the onset.
Now, if you don’t want the hardware buttons to affect ringer and alert sounds, you must go under Settings>Sounds and off the “Change with Buttons” option.
Problem 3: iPhone 7 sound disappears in the middle of the call, no sound during calls
When I am placing a call, the screen will tell me that it is calling that number. As soon as the timer starts and I realize that the call is connected, I can’t hear the other person – unless I click them onto speaker. This also happens if someone calls me, I answer, hear nothing and am forced to put them on speaker. The oddest part is that this happens about 50% of the time – so I never know if/when it will happen. It is also now happening in the middle of a conversation. I just stop hearing the person, look to see that we are still connected, and then have to push the speaker to continue the call. I have Bluetooth disabled, volume settings are good, have the latest s/w release, and have turned of/on the phone. I have also put the phone on silent, turned phone off and on. Any ideas? — Aurora
Solution: Hi Aurora. If the problem appears to occur randomly only, then it’s most probably caused by a content or app, or an operating system bug. Consider restoring the phone as a new device and see how calling works for a day when there are no third party apps installed. After the phone has been restored, try to replicate the issue by calling someone and by answering calls. Do it for at least 24 hours. This should be enough time to let you see any difference, if there’s anything at all. Again, make sure that you don’t install anything during the observation period. If the problem won’t occur, then go ahead with your app installation. If the problem returns after you’ve installed your apps, that’s a confirmation of our hunch — that one of them is causing the problem. Since there’s no way to identify which of them might be causing the problem, you must use the process of elimination. You can do that by uninstalling one app at a time. Make sure that you check how voice calling works after every uninstall. This will definitely take a long time to complete, especially if you have lots of apps but it’s the only effective way to getting rid of the problem.
For reference, here are the steps on how to fully restore your iPhone 7:
- Create a backup of your files. You can do that in a number of ways but the fastest and most effective way is by using iTunes in your PC or Mac. If you don’t want to create a backup at all, you can simply erase everything on the phone by following the steps in this link.
- Connect your iPhone to your computer with the cable that came with your phone.
- We assume you remember your phone’s passcode so simply enter it when you’re prompted for it.
- Select your iPhone once iTunes asks you for the specific device.
- Once you’re in the Summary panel or screen, select the option that will restore your device (Restore).
- Confirm by clicking on Restore button.
- Wait for a few moments while iTunes restores your device to its factory settings. It may also take some time if iTunes will need to install an updated operating system version.
- After this factory reset, all software settings should be restored to their defaults.
Problem 4: iPhone 7 no sound coming from left speaker
Hi, I have just purchased an iPhone 7 with no Apple care about a month ago but I have a problem with one of the speakers (the left one). I’m pretty sure it is from water which seems weird because the iPhone is water resistant. I don’t have Apple care so I’m not sure what to do. I have contacted a store which fixes phones but they don’t have anything for iPhone 7. Is there anything you recommend. I have an iPhone 7. — Laura
Solution: Hi Laura. If your concern is about the left side of “speaker” not making any sound, that’s perfectly normal. As mentioned above, the left side,although it may look like a speaker, only houses the barometric vent to measure atmospheric pressure. Thus, no sound is expected to come out of it.