Broken volume buttons are a real pain in the ass. After all, we often don’t realize how much we use them until we can’t use them anymore. It’s a real pain to not be able to turn down the volume when an annoying video starts playing or the song you’re listening to is too loud.
If your iPhone buttons aren't working properly, you should get them fixed as soon as possible. Luckily, there are a number of solutions, many of which you can do yourself.
Make sure the volume buttons on your iPhone are turned on
Some people may not know this, but there is a setting that can enable and disable the volume buttons on their iPhone. This setting is enabled by default on all devices, but it is possible that someone may have accidentally turned it off without realizing it.
To check, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Change with Buttons . If this option is not enabled , then this is the reason why your volume buttons are not working. If the setting is enabled, proceed to the next troubleshooting method.
Enable volume buttons
Are the buttons stuck? Try cleaning them with alcohol
We use our phones so much that sometimes dirt and grime get into the buttons, especially if we don't use a case. Try pressing the buttons a few times to see if they're stuck. If they're stuck or won't press, you may need to clean them.
To clean the buttons, take a cotton swab and dip it in isopropyl alcohol. 99% isopropyl alcohol is the best choice for cleaning electronics because it dries quickly and doesn't contain much water. It also removes dirt by breaking down oils.
Use a cotton swab to clean around the volume buttons as thoroughly as possible. If you can push the buttons down, doing so may help you clean them better.
After wiping, wait 15 minutes for the alcohol to dry. If your volume buttons work normally again, great! But if they only work a little better, that’s a sign that they’re dirty and you should give them a more thorough cleaning. If they still don’t work, you can move on to the next troubleshooting step.
Sometimes, firmware updates can change the way your phone's buttons work. This is especially true for older iPhone models. If you recently updated your iPhone and your volume buttons have stopped working since then, try restarting your device by turning it off and back on.
If this doesn't work and you've recently updated your phone, you may need to reset your device . This means backing up your iPhone and erasing all content settings. A full reset may also help if your volume buttons stop working after downloading an app or trying to jailbreak.
Restore iPhone to factory settings
To do this, you'll need to back up your device first. Then, you'll go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings .
This will return your phone to a like-new state. Before restoring your backup, go into your device and test the volume buttons. If they work, restore your backup.
There are some cases where restoring a backup may not get these buttons working again. If this is the case, it could be an app you downloaded or your backup may be corrupted. Sadly, this means you’ll have to start from scratch (if you have an older backup, you can try restoring it).
If your photos and contacts are in iCloud, you won't need to transfer them manually.
Update iPhone to the latest iOS version
While updating your phone can sometimes cause problems with the volume buttons, not updating can also cause problems. Outdated iPhones may not work with the latest apps, and as a result, volume controls may not work properly.
It's also possible that the previous Apple update you installed was faulty and updating again might fix the problem. To be safe, try updating your iPhone to the latest iOS to see if that helps.
Control iPhone volume without using volume buttons
Control volume in Spotify
If you use apps like Spotify, you can control the volume in the app without using physical buttons. If all else fails, there are ways to control the volume without using buttons. The easiest way is to use Control Center .
Control iPhone volume from Control Center
By swiping down from the top-right corner of your iPhone, you can open Control Center and adjust your volume. If your iPhone has a Home button, you'll have to swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
If you have AirPods, you can still tap them to turn the volume up or down without having to reach for the volume buttons. Other Bluetooth headphones can also control volume, which means you won’t have to reach for your phone to change the volume.
Control volume with AssistiveTouch
If you're looking for another way to control volume, consider using AssistiveTouch. You can set the AssistiveTouch button to open the on-screen volume control menu or to increase or decrease the volume when you tap it.
To use this option, go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch . Here, you can set your device to decrease the volume with a single tap and increase the volume with a double tap.
Control volume with AssistiveTouch
Take the device to the warranty center
If wiping the buttons and resetting your iPhone doesn't fix the problem with your volume buttons, you may need to have the buttons repaired. This is especially true if you've recently damaged your phone or if it's been exposed to water .
If your iPhone is still under warranty, take it to your nearest Apple Store and the repair will most likely be free.
Volume buttons don’t break often, but it can be frustrating when they stop working. Luckily, the solutions mentioned above will fix the problem with your iPhone’s volume buttons in most cases, and you can resume changing the volume as usual.