iPhone 4S Low Volume

The release of the iPhone 4S has caused the (now) usual rush of customers wanting the phone as soon as it’s released. I must say, I’m rather impressed with the improvements over the iPhone 4.

Also I have seen a few users that have experienced problems also. Every one of them has been a user issue that I have seen, and I just wanted to share an experience that I have come across a few times already.

A friend was complaining about low volume levels whilst on a phone call. Yes the volume was turned right up. I thought ‘mmm might have a dud iPhone here’ but before I gave my friend the bad news, I asked her ‘dumb question, but have you taken off the original plastic screen protector?’ The response was a roar of laughter which told me that this was the problem.

So, it doesn’t hurt to go and check the basics first. With the film that is on the phone when you take it out of the box, the phone speaker is covered up – hence the low volume problem.

Failing that, try a hard reset of the phone before contacting Apple.

Share This Post

Comments (68)

Peter

November 3, 2011 at 11:59 pm

Ashamed. I have made a lot of fuzz about the same problem and spent at lot of time, until I found this website. Eureka!
Harold H

November 4, 2011 at 4:59 am

Wow! Your advice solved the problem. Thanks for the help.
Cheers!
Kim

November 7, 2011 at 11:09 am

Wow. Yep, that was the problem… >///> I’ve been so concerned about this. I didn’t even realize there wasn’t a hole there………. Thank you so much. I was about to call Apple and be /that person/.
Jim

November 11, 2011 at 1:07 pm

My girl friend just called me and was angry that her new phone sucks. Now I will show her that it’s just the protector. Thank you.
Manic

November 12, 2011 at 12:31 am

OMG, I am so Embarrassed that was totally my issue. I was about to go to Apple and go off, stating that they sold me crap, that was not the case, :0)

Thanks

Manic
Gina

November 12, 2011 at 12:34 pm

Yes, there was a roar of laughter from me too! What a simple solution to something I was so concerned about…was about to be on my way to the store tomorrow but you saved me a trip! THANKS!
vj

November 14, 2011 at 4:41 am

1+
vijay

November 14, 2011 at 10:00 am

thanks a lot…..had this issue with my GF who started shouting that i gave her a stupid phone….after reading this in 2 mins after her complaint…….issue solved…
Stephanie

November 15, 2011 at 8:27 am

You are kidding me. So simple yet I missed it too. Just got the new 4s — could not believe the volume was so off. Of course, the plastic protector. I will never admit this to anyone….lol
Ger

November 16, 2011 at 8:19 am

Wow, you’re the man! Thanks a million…
Stefan

November 17, 2011 at 11:03 pm

Same with me. The plastic coating is the problem. Great hints. Thanks.
Christine

November 19, 2011 at 10:28 pm

Disaster….much-anticipated iPhone 4s purchased today. First phonecall received while on my way home. Voice almost inaudible but volume on max setting, so tried to fiddle with the phone to find the reason. Phone slips out of my hand, hits the floor, glass on back shatters. At least I have the explanation for the low volume….
Iphone_user

November 21, 2011 at 3:32 pm

I can’t believe this. I didn’t remove the cover as well.
lieven

November 24, 2011 at 7:18 pm

there should be hols in the original protector, not only on top for the speaker but also at the bottom for the appl. button.
Tom S

November 29, 2011 at 8:17 am

thanks for teh info…i feel silly that i had the problem and didn’t remove the plastic cover.
now my problems are solved…thanks!
Natalie

November 29, 2011 at 11:22 am

You sure solved my problem! This was my ditzy moment of the month!
Frederique

December 2, 2011 at 1:57 pm

Unbelievable!
Shelley

December 3, 2011 at 7:09 pm

Whoa! Thanks a ton! I got my new i phone today, was really distressed with the poor sound and was going to call Apple Monday.
Thanks a ton ton ton……..U made my day.
Shelley

December 3, 2011 at 7:10 pm

Just stripping of the plastic made such a difference,had to decrease the volume then!
Mamiza

December 13, 2011 at 2:23 am

I tought I had purchased a bad phone… 🙁 Thanks a lot
Paul

December 16, 2011 at 4:30 am

OMG, I feel a right burk. . . . Thanks
Lesly

December 17, 2011 at 3:57 am

Thank you very much for this; had been waiting for ‘proper’ screen protectors to arrive on order, and hadn’t thought that this might be the root of the problem. I’ve now cut the bit that covers the speaker off for now 😉
Victoria

December 26, 2011 at 4:49 pm

i can’t believe that’s all there was! thank you so much!
Nora

December 29, 2011 at 4:12 pm

Yes I had the exact same problem!!! I remember when I got my phone that there was no sound and then after a while there was. I now no because I pulled off the cover. When another family member got theirs, they couldn’t hear me when I rang them… I wondered why!!! Thanks to a bit of research and to your fantabulous website, I got it!!!

BEEP!

Nora
Diana

December 30, 2011 at 4:56 am

Thank you. Yes, I’m part of the very smart people who didn’t figure that one out.
Yacub Ali

January 2, 2012 at 1:43 am

Silly Me! =]
Geocyper

January 4, 2012 at 4:07 am

Hi,

Thanks so much,problem solved

GPG
Mdu

January 5, 2012 at 1:13 am

Thanks, same thing!
Elvie

January 6, 2012 at 7:37 am

I had a problem about the volume of my iphone when i have a call is very low i almost hear their voice…So i was tried to increase the volume full but it is the same.how can i adjust a volume?Can i go there to the shop to changed the item?Please advice!!!!!
Thank you…
Heather

January 6, 2012 at 10:42 pm

Doh! Feel a bit silly now – Glad I found this. Thanks
emtjoe

January 9, 2012 at 5:55 am

Thank you! Excellent post. Had the same issue!
Jmurray

January 11, 2012 at 10:11 am

Hahaha my sister just called me complaining about her new phone and not hearing. So i googled it and found this and sure enough that was her problem. THANK YOU!!!!!
Danelle

January 11, 2012 at 12:34 pm

Just had the same problem.. i couldnt do anything but laugh at myself once i read this!!
macklee

January 11, 2012 at 4:38 pm

Whoa.! I just bought my iPhone4S 2 days ago and i just experienced the same problem in its volume when talking to my girlfriend..tnx dude.,you definitely solved my problem.! ^^,
Graff

January 13, 2012 at 8:52 am

Wow cheers for your advice, I brought a 64 gig Iphone brand new sealed in box off flee bay for £600. I noticed the volume level was low when I made calls, not thinking about the plastic cover that covers the speaker. I feel happy now i don’t think I was ripped off, Im glad i found your advice on google.
Lia

January 13, 2012 at 11:27 pm

Thanks!!!
Nice But Dim

January 19, 2012 at 1:57 am

Thank you !
Donna

January 29, 2012 at 11:44 am

Thanks for your help. You solved my problem as well!
Drew

January 30, 2012 at 12:33 pm

Likewise – that was it! Saved me a trip to the store too. Thanks!!
Erica

January 31, 2012 at 9:51 pm

Thanks. I would suggest the staff in apple store tell their new customer about this to preempt this fake alarm.
Steve

February 1, 2012 at 4:57 am

I am on my third iphone 4S and now have the problem again. I earspeaker is very quiet and sounds like it is a tunnel.
The first 2 phones I took to apple and they looked at them and gave me a new phone. I have an appointment Thursday to take my 3rd phone in with the same problem.
I think it must be something I am doing but don’t have any idea why. Never had a problem with 3GS.
Stacey

February 9, 2012 at 6:57 am

Omg!! thank god I found this website. Problem solved. I was going to contact Apple too. U saved me the headache.
Thanks!
yen

February 13, 2012 at 6:14 pm

OMG…i’m laughing at my self right now…so the protector was the problem. i supposed to the apple shop today to complain…lol
Sharon

February 18, 2012 at 9:43 am

This is good to know but it won’t save me a trip to the Apple store. The plastic is removed, volume up as high as it will go and I still cannot hear the calls very well.
Claire

February 20, 2012 at 4:00 am

OMG I feel stupid but even my teenage daughter didn’t think of this. Thank you
Tony

February 28, 2012 at 1:53 pm

Thank you! Saved me from what would have been a shameful trip to the Verizon store!
ann

March 9, 2012 at 4:40 am

im very sorry guy’s i have never laughed so much in all my life some thing so simply but we alway’s think it’s some thing bigger lol and yes i did not find this site with out having the same problem lol
thank you for the help
Stefani

March 16, 2012 at 2:38 am

Thank You for sharing this information. It saved me so much time! 3/14/12
Miri

April 1, 2012 at 8:25 am

OMG! I hope I won’t feel this silly often while trying to find my ways in the world of iphones. Tahnk you! Thanks you! Thank you!
GRateful

April 3, 2012 at 5:46 pm

Thanks a lot for this hint! You’ve just saved me a visit to Apple store again. Great!
Paula Thomas

April 6, 2012 at 4:27 am

Um yeah… *smack head*
Thanks for the tip! 🙂
Mio

April 6, 2012 at 11:28 pm

Oh man…I’ve been laughing on my end…such a simple solution. Thanks so much! LOL
trina

April 17, 2012 at 2:27 pm

He he how funny. I was just complaining to a friend and thought i might have had a dud. My husband and i had a good laugh – and suprise it worked fine after the plastic was removed!!
Lisa

April 27, 2012 at 3:51 pm

Guilty as well! Thank you for actually stating the bleeding obvious.
Eli

May 2, 2012 at 7:00 am

lol wow this helped alot I just got my insurance phone and after I read this I looked at my phone and couldnt help but giggle at how simple it was. hahaa thanks
Nebs

May 3, 2012 at 11:28 am

OMG!!! This is very embarassing. I can build a PC and solve software problems…. but DID NOT figure out about the plastic cover..hence why I found this thread… now, if you all please excuse me, I’ll just go in the bathroom and slit my wrist:( Thank you.
leeam

May 15, 2012 at 1:22 am

i feel like an idiot ;-D
Leanne

May 23, 2012 at 8:29 pm

no I am not a blonde but thanks for making me feel like one! bahaha
Rob Tullis

June 1, 2012 at 2:08 pm

We wouldn’t have to feel like idiots with stuff like this if Apple would have just cut out the hole and let us cheapskates have our free screen protector.
Hayley

June 7, 2012 at 11:11 pm

HAHA!! Well, that solved my problem…! I feel like a fool!

Brilliant 😀
Pete

June 8, 2012 at 12:36 pm

I feel like a prize idiot!!!

Thanks for posting!
Lynn Lloyd

June 10, 2012 at 12:41 am

OMG…I join the club of numpties who kept the clear paper on and now that this has been removed, my audio volume on calls is ace; crystal clear 🙂
Jay

July 20, 2012 at 9:58 am

Rob Tullis…. It’s probably too late but if you peel back and cut off the plastic covering the speaker, you can still keep have your free screen protector. I’m hard on my phones so I’m going to buy the new OtterBox Armor for it ASAP. It can withstand 2 tons force, a 20 foot drop on concert and 10 minutes under water. 🙂
Kim

August 7, 2012 at 10:07 am

Omg..I am on my third replacement phone because the phone had no sound..I feel like such a dumb ass!!!
Sue Glendinning

September 19, 2012 at 10:21 pm

Thank you, thank you! The volume “problem” of the original screen protector not only foxed me, but my very smart, techno-savvy, 21 year old son! We both had a good laugh and now I LOVE my new phone!
Helen

February 12, 2013 at 12:40 pm

Ha ha ha Thanks so much.For real I was going to return the phone tomorrow. This is so funny. Thanks for making me laugh at myself and happy about my phone!! I woldn’t have figured it out hadn’t I read this.
Ramesh

May 19, 2013 at 7:14 am

I bought 4S recently through online. When i called for first time ear volume was very low and I thought i am cheated with wrong phone and was very sad.

Then i found this thread and now i am 🙂 🙂 🙂
iPhone 6 problem

April 22, 2015 at 4:50 am

[…] a common problem with new phones, but easily rectified in the majority of cases as mentioned in this post from back in 2011. Did you leave the factory screen protector on the phone when you unpacked […]