One of the reasons whyiPhones offer better resale valuecompared to their Android counterparts is the robust hardware. But that doesn’t mean it’s immune to failure. If the iconic home button is known to ill-function after being worn out, it’s no surprise that the volume keys could either get stuck, become unresponsive and mushy, or stop offering the needed feedback when your iPhone gets old. It’s the sort of issue that hurts the user experience and can start to get frustrating over time. If you are facing this issue, try out these 11 handy tips and tricks when your iPhone volume buttons are not working.
Before going through the solutions to fix the iPhone volume key stuck or not working issue, let’s first briefly check out the possible causes! Then, we have listed the 11 best tips and workaround for this common iPhone issue.
Even though hardware failure is the first thing that comes to mind when the volume buttons of the iPhone become unresponsive or stop working, you should not jump the gun and visit a service center straightaway. Things like dust pile up, the pronounced but unresponsive buttons of your case, a rare software bug, or an outdated version of the software could also be causing the issue. So, we will look into each possible cause and try out solutions accordingly.
Along the way, we will also talk about some reliable workarounds to let you control the volume on your iPhone without having to use the physical volume buttons. With that said, check out these possible fixes for the iPhone volume button issue at hand:
Not many iPhone users may know this, but iOS comes with a setting that allows you to enable/ disable the volume buttons on your iPhone. So first, make sure it’s turned on.
Believe it not, there are several cases (especially the cheaper and rugged ones) that lack tactile buttons. So, if you have installed a case on your iPhone, remove it and press the volume buttons to check if they are working or not. If the volume buttons are working fine, your case was the culprit and not your iPhone hardware. If you want to buy a case with responsive buttons, we suggest you check our roundups of thebest iPhone 13 cases,iPhone 13 Pro cases, andiPhone 13 Pro Max cases.
It’s easy to overlook the presence of dust or gunk that never misses any chance to sneak into ports and holes. If the volume buttons seem to be stiff or stuck, there is a high possibility that dust/ grime may be causing the volume buttons to not respond. You can use compressed air to blow out the dust from the volume buttons. Besides, we suggest youdip a cotton swab into isopropyl alcoholand use it to clean the volume buttons gently.
Hard reset (also known as force restart) comes into play when dealing withcommon iOS 15 problems. Due mainly to its ability to quickly fix several issues, it’s considered a go-to troubleshooting technique by most iPhone users. So, we should give it a shot to solve the iPhone volume button not working issue as well.
After your iPhone reboots, check if the volume buttons are working normally and if you have gotten rid of the issue.
If the volume buttons of your iPhone are still not working,try resetting your iPhone to the factory default settings. Note that it will wipe all the existing settings of your iOS device and return them to their original state. However, your personal media and data will remain safe.
While this is not a solution to fix the volume buttons, you canuse AssistiveTouchto adjust the volume on your iPhone with utmost ease. So, if the volume buttons on your iPhone are not working, AssistiveTouch could be a good workaround for your problem.
Now onwards, you can adjust the volume on your iPhone using quick tap gestures. Simply tap once on the AssistiveTouch icon to increase the volume. And tap the icon twice to decrease the volume. So handy, isn’t it?
Alternatively, select “Single Tap” and chooseOpen Menu. After that, tap the AssistiveTouch icon -> Device and tap theVolume Up/ Down buttonto adjust the audio output if your iPhone volume buttons have stopped working.
Another reliable alternative that you should try to adjust the volume on your iPhone with ease is the volume slider integrated within the Control center. It’s pretty neat, and you can use the volume slider to increase/ decrease the sound output.
Most audio and streaming apps on iPhone come with a dedicated volume slider to let you adjust the volume with the desired convenience. So, when usingapps like Spotifyor the Apple Podcasts app, look for the dedicated volume slider and use it to adjust the volume instead of using the physical buttons.
Outdated software is often responsible for miscellaneous issues on iPhone that are hard to explain. So, if the issue hasn’t yet been fixed, try updating the software (andlearn how long it takes to download the iOS 15 updateright here). As mentioned above, the volume buttons not working issue might be because of a rare software bug. So, follow the steps below to update the software:
When faced with a persistent issue that you can’t resolve with basic tips, make sure to try out this nuclear solution – Erase and Restore. It erases your iPhone and gives you the option to either set it up as new orrestore it from a previous backup. But before you even think of giving this radical solution a try, make sure to fully back up your iPhone.
With iOS 15 or later, youget free temporary unlimited iCloud storage, which you can use to back up your device to the cloud and restore it later. If your device is running the latest iteration of iOS, follow the linked guide to get free iCloud storage.
None of the solutions above helped fix the volume buttons not working issue on your iPhone? Well, if the volume keys on your iOS device are still unresponsive, it might be a hardware issue. It would be wise tocontact Apple Supportwithout any delay to get the issue resolved. Some hardware components might be broken or damaged, hence, a timely hardware repair will help you fix the problem.
[Fixed] iPhone Volume Buttons Not Working? Best Solutions!
Hopefully, the volume buttons on your iOS device are working again, and you can adjust the volume with ease. Many a time, the basic tips, including a hard reset can help you overcome the problem. Besides, you should always ensure that the buttons of your case are responsive and there is no grime collection in the volume buttons, which could hinder their functioning. By the way, let us know the trick that helped you fix the ill-functioning volume buttons. And if you have any trusted solutions missing from this guide, do let us know in the comments section below.
An old school bibliophile who turned a tech nerd out of obsession. When he is not digging into hacks and tracking down stories that are breaking the internet, you may find him reciting poems.