How to clean an iPhone speaker when the sound is muffled

Step by step: how to clean an iphone speaker when the sound is muffled

1. 1

   Rule out settings first

   Check that the volume is up, the phone is not in silent mode, and no Bluetooth headphones or speaker are connected. Play a song through the speaker to hear whether the sound is actually muffled.

2. 2

   Turn the phone off and strip it

   Unplug any cables and turn the iPhone off. Remove the case, any screen protector and any film. Apple lists this as a first step, because a protector that covers the earpiece is a common cause of quiet calls.

3. 3

   Inspect the openings with a light

   Shine a flashlight on the speaker grilles at the bottom edge and the earpiece slot at the top of the screen. Pocket lint looks gray; makeup and skin oil look like a dark, shiny film in the mesh.

4. 4

   Brush the bottom speaker grilles

   With the phone tilted so the grilles face down, brush across the holes gently with a small, dry, soft-bristled brush. Let gravity carry the dust out rather than pushing it in.

5. 5

   Brush the earpiece mesh very lightly

   Brush the mesh in the earpiece opening with the lightest pressure, moving along the slot. Apple warns to take extreme care here, because a microphone sits inside the same opening.

6. 6

   Lift stubborn lint with tape if needed

   If lint stays in the earpiece, press a small piece of low-tack painter’s tape onto the mesh with a fingertip and peel it off. Use a fresh piece each time and do not press into the holes.

7. 7

   Wipe and test

   Wipe away loosened debris with a microfiber cloth. Turn the phone on, play audio and make a test call. If it is still muffled, restart the phone and check for an iOS update before contacting Apple.

Which iPhone speaker cleaning methods are safe?

A dry, soft, non-metal brush is the method Apple describes, and it is the one to start with. Apple’s sound troubleshooting page says to brush the speaker and microphone openings and the receiver mesh, then wipe with a microfiber cloth. Here is how the popular alternatives compare.

What to do if water got into the speaker

Let it drain and dry, with the speaker grilles facing down. If the phone also shows a liquid alert at the charging port, follow Apple’s liquid-detection steps: tap it gently against your hand with the connector facing down and leave it in a dry place with some airflow.

• Apple says it can take up to 24 hours for an iPhone to fully dry.
• Do not use a hair dryer or other heat, or compressed air, and do not put the phone in rice.
• Sound often comes back to normal on its own once the water is gone. If it stays crackly or quiet after a full day, have the phone checked by Apple or an authorized service provider.

How to keep the speaker from clogging again

Most clogs come from pocket lint and skin oil, so a few habits keep the grilles clear for much longer.

• Choose a case with open cutouts over the speaker grilles rather than a cover or flap.
• Check that a screen protector’s earpiece cutout lines up with the slot at the top.
• Keep the phone out of lint-heavy pockets, or turn them out now and then.
• Wipe the phone regularly. Apple’s iPhone cleaning page allows a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth and 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipes on the exterior, as long as no moisture gets into the openings.

The charging port gathers the same lint; see our guide on cleaning an iPhone charging port.

Mistakes to avoid

• Poking a toothpick or SIM tool into the speaker holes.
• Using compressed air, which Apple says not to use on an iPhone.
• Scrubbing the earpiece hard, where a microphone sits behind the mesh.
• Dabbing the grilles with alcohol or a wet swab.
• Cleaning while a screen protector still covers the earpiece.