8 ways to troubleshoot any speaker issues on your Android phone

Your Android smartphone is constantly exposed to the environment, making it susceptible to dust and debris. And if you’re not obsessed with neatness, you probably take your time when it comes to deep cleaning your device. While a lot of these conditions don’t necessarily harm your smartphone, any build-up over time could certainly affect the phone’s speaker.

More often than not, speaker issues on your phone can be easily tackled at home without having to rush to your nearest service centre. Here are some easy tips you can try out by yourself.

8 hacks to get your Android speaker working again

Unless the issue is severe, your phone speaker is most likely going to either have a muffled output or low volume. In both these cases, there are eight hacks you can attempt that could help you get it working efficiently again.

1. Check all settings
2. Manually turn off headphone output
3. Remove phone case
4. Reboot on safe mode
5. Do a hard reboot
6. Clean the speaker
7. Allow it to dry in case of a water accident
8. Software issues

1. Check all settings

While this may seem like a no-brainer, a lot of times, our phones have certain settings enabled, which could compromise the volume of our speaker. Make sure your smartphone isn’t set on DND and the volume is at its max. If you’re using an app to test your speaker, ensure the in-app volume for the media is at its highest.

2. Manually turn off headphone output

If you’re one of the fortunate few who still has a headphone jack on your phone, check if your headphones were unplugged correctly. A lot of times, after you’re done using an aux wire or wired headphones, Android fails to process this event. This process leaves your smartphone in headphone mode without being connected to the accessory. Try reinserting your headphones, turning them in the jack and removing them again.

3. Remove phone case

If your smartphone case is old, it might also be home to a lot of dirt and grime. This often blocks your phone’s speakers, making it difficult for you to hear the other person or the audio playing on your phone. Remove the case and test-play a media clip on your phone. Once through, don’t forget to clean the case before putting it back on.

4. Reboot on safe mode

Safe mode on Android is a diagnostic mode that lets you troubleshoot specific issues on your smartphone. It strips your device to only the essential system software, allowing you to tackle any apps that may be interfering with its workings. However, it is important to note that the steps to turn on the safe mode on your device may vary based on the phone you are using.

5. Do a hard reboot

If your speakers work on the safe mode, you could try identifying the issue once you revert to regular mode. However, if the issue still persists, you can try performing a hard reboot on your smartphone. This restores your phone to its original factory settings, ruling out any software issues that you may have picked up during any update. However, it is critical to note that this step will erase your data, and you need to have it fully backed up to be able to restore any of it.

6. Clean the speaker

Cleaning your speaker’s grills could remove any debris obstructing sound for you. Begin by gently blowing air into the speaker notch and using a brush to clean out any crumbs that may be lodged in it. Scrubbing your speaker grills with an old toothbrush can also help loosen any particles stuck in it.

7. Allow it to dry in case of a water accident

If your phone has been a recent victim of water damage, your speakers are undoubtedly going to be affected first. However, it is best to let your phone dry out before attempting to play any media on it. You can also turn to apps like Speaker Cleaner, that play vibrating acoustics to shake off any water that may have remained within your phone’s speaker. You can also check out ZipCare plans for your smartphones to rule out any unwarranted damage that could come its way.

8. Software issues

Sometimes, your phone may not have a hardware issue, causing it to malfunction. If you have been using an unstable OS version for your phone, chances are there could be a bug affecting your phone’s speaker sound. A reboot often fixes the issue; however, if you find it persists, it may be a good idea to take your smartphone to an authorised service centre and get the issue assessed.