Trying to mute your device, but it doesn’t seem to be working? You’re probably wondering – how can I fix a non-responsive iPhone mute switch, and is it a difficult task? The good news is, you shouldn’t need to take your phone in for a repair for an issue like this, so we’re going to help you resolve the issue without even needing to leave your house.
For more tech news, find out if Apple repairs water damaged iPhones, and learn why your iPhone front camera isn’t working, and how to fix speaker problems. We also cover what you should do if your iPad screen won’t rotate, if it’s possible to straighten a bent iPhone, if it’s worth replacing the battery of your iPhone, and if iPhones are still waterproof with a cracked screen.
If you need help troubleshooting and repairing devices, we cover why your iPhone SIM card isn’t being detected, how to fix an iPhone that won’t turn on or vibrate, how to deal with water damage, and what you need to know about iPhone screen repairs.
Simple Fixes for a Non-Responsive iPhone Mute Switch
Before we jump into it, it’s worth noting that newer iPhone models do not have the classic silent switch. This has been replaced with an action button on the side of the device, which can be used for more than just muting a device. However, because of the different uses of this new button, there can be more potential software issues to consider.
Below, we will go through some quick solutions that you can try out depending on if you have the classic mute switch, or this new action button.
Give the Switch a Quick Clean
If you are using the classic switch, the first thing you should do is give the button and surrounding area a good clean with an appropriate apparatus. You may need something like a toothpick to get any gunk or debris out of the switch cavity, and this could get it working again.
We suggest you clean out the switch area at least every few months to prevent any frustrations. If you’d rather not do this, make sure that you check for any dirt or debris when you notice issues with the button.
Turn Off Do Not Disturb Mode
If you are using a newer device with an action button, then make sure that you set up the correct shortcut to mute your iPhone. You can set up a number of different shortcuts with this button, rather than being restricted to just a mute option, so make sure to take the time to check your settings.
Hard Restart Your Device
Sometimes a simple restart is all that’s needed to jumpstart the correct processes in your iPhone, especially if you have an action button that might be malfunctioning. Depending on the iPhone model you have, you will need to take different steps to force restart your device.
For iPhones that Support iOS 16 or Later
- Quickly press the volume up button and release
- Quickly press the volume down button and release
- Hold down the side button
- Release the side button when the Apple logo shows
For iPhones that Don’t Support iOS 16 (iPhones 6, 7, 8 and SE (1st Gen)
- iPhone 6 models and iPhone SE (1st Gen) – Hold down the home and sleep/wake button at the same time, then release the buttons when you see the Apple logo
- iPhone 7 – Hold down the sleep/wake button and volume down button at the same time, then release the buttons when you see the Apple logo
- iPhone 8 and iPhone SE (2nd Gen) – Quickly press the volume up button and release, then do the same with the volume down button. Hold down the side button, and release it when you see the Apple logo
How Can I Fix a Non-Responsive iPhone Mute Switch
Let’s go through some different options below. These are more likely to work in the instance where you have a newer device that has the action button rather than the classic mute switch,
Make Sure Your iOS is Up-to-Date
Usually an iPhone will update without any issues, but sometimes things just don’t do right. If you are struggling to update your iPhone, you can update your iOS in Recovery Mode. To do this, you will need the latest version of iTunes on a Windows or Mac laptop/PC.
Follow these steps:
- Connect your Windows/Mac device to the phone
- Do a force restart (steps outlined in an above section) to get your phone in Recovery Mode
- Don’t let go of the buttons until the phone screen has the Recovery mode screen (a charging cable with an arrow pointed at a laptop)
- Select ‘update’ when the option to restore or update on your computer shows up
- Confirm, then follow the instructions given to you (it can take up to 15 minutes, so have some patience)
- Your phone will restart on its own once you’re done
If this doesn’t work, you can try updating your iOS in DFU Mode. This mode is more complex than Recovery Mode, and varies depending on the device model you have, follow these steps to effectively go through the process.
Just be aware that DFU will restore iOS to a clean slate while bypassing iBoot, which Recovery Mode uses. As such, make sure you back up all your important data before proceeding.
If this doesn’t work, you will need to get in touch with a professional like us, or Apple.
Factory Reset Your Device
If nothing else is working, you might need to erase your iPhone to its default state. This will get rid of everything on the device, so make sure you back up all your important data before proceeding if you want to keep it.
To reset your iPhone, follow these steps: Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Erase All Content and Settings → Erase iPhone.
What You Can Do While the Silent Button Doesn’t Work
If you can’t manage to fix your malfunctioning silent button, you may need to take steps to make sure your device is quiet when it needs to be regardless. Luckily, there are a few things that you can do in the meantime, so let’s have a look below.
Use Airplane Mode
The most obvious option here is to toggle on Airplane Mode if your iPhone mute switch is not working. This is easily done, and all you need to do is tap the button after dragging your unlocked iPhone screen down.
You can also find airplane mode in the Settings area, and all you need to do is toggle it on for your device to be silent.
Change Your Settings
Alternatively, you can change individual settings on your iPhone so that it is silent. This process takes more time, as you will need to go into various app, text, and ringtone settings to turn off all notifications to make sure that your device is silent.
Changing these settings is an easy task, and most will simply need to have their notifications toggled off for the duration that your iPhone mute switch isn’t working.
Use a Silent Ringtone
Another option is to use a silent ringtone for your iPhone. You will be able to download a silent ringtone online, and all you need to do is set it as your ringtone so that an incoming phone call won’t disturb you or anyone else.
imFixed Can Help You
Learn how to get data off an iPhone with a broken screen and fix poor sound quality in calls at imFixed. Find out why your iPhone battery is draining or why an iPhone isn’t charging, and what to do if a software update fails through our informative articles and guides. For MacBook users, we go through things that all new MacBook users should know, including if their batteries can be repaired, and if it’s worth fixing a broken MacBook screen.
Here at imFixed, you can sell your phone, get phone repairs and unlocking, or purchase accessories like Apple chargers to keep your devices running. If you need repairs, we have locations in Oldham, Manchester, Bury, and Rochdale, and even do call-out repairs in Manchester, because we believe local is best.
So, how can I fix a non-responsive iPhone mute switch? We hope this article helped, and you can get your device working like it’s brand-new.
