Listening to podcasts, audiobooks, and music, or even calling a loved one through headphones, is a great way to enjoy a moment alone. Listening through headphones is especially useful in busy or noisy environments.
But nothing spoils the experience like a very low sound volume. Is your iPhone volume too quiet when you try to listen through your headphones? Can’t it be louder?
I’ve compiled a list of things to check and troubleshooting tips to help you fix low headphone volume on your iPhone.
- Check your headphones
- Check your environment
- Check your iPhone settings
- Disable headphone safety feature
- Disable Phone Noise Cancellation on iPhone
- Enable/Disable Airplane Mode
- Turn Bluetooth off and on again
- Restart your iPhone
- Update your iPhone
- Adjust sound volume balance
- Use the iPhone Music Equalizer
- Power up with the app
- Seek professional help
1. Check your headphones
Before we move on to software fixes, let’s look at possible external issues.
- Check your headset: it could be a hardware defect that is causing the sounds to be so quiet. This may be the case if you just bought the headphones or if they are worn out after a few years of use. To check, connect the headphones to another device.
- Check if they are connected correctly: check the connection between the audio jack of your device and the headphone jack. Incorrectly connected headphones can cause static noise, no sound in the ear, or sound that is too quiet. You should feel a distinct click when you insert the Lightning plug or connector into the iPhone jack.
- Check for blockages: Dirt, lint, dust, or other debris can also prevent the headphone jack from connecting to the audio port. Clean the Lightning socket or connector with a cotton swab moistened with alcohol. Also check your headphones; it’s not uncommon to see earwax buildup on your headphones, especially when you’ve been using them for hours on end. This may cause sounds to become muffled.
- Check for damage: look for breaks in the cords, as earbuds get pulled and cut quite often. Most often, the area where the wire meets the connector is damaged.
- Check if they are sufficiently charged. If you use wireless headsets, make sure your hearing aids are sufficiently charged. Bluetooth headphones running on a dead battery may affect the quality and volume of the sound they play.
- Ensure proper placement and fit: everyone’s ear shape is different. Make sure you are using the correct earbud size for your ear to ensure a good and secure fit.
2. Check your environment
Sometimes the environment is really too loud, which makes it seem like the sounds you hear in the headphones are too quiet. If you’re using wireless headphones, metal tables or physical obstacles can cause connection issues between your headphones and iPhone.
Therefore, try the headphones in a different environment and remove all obstacles.
3. Check your iPhone settings
If you’ve tested your headphones and they work fine with other devices, the problem might be with your iPhone. Here are a few things you can check: