iPhone not vibrating? 8 fixes for calls, texts and alerts

A call comes in and nothing buzzes in your pocket. Your texts arrive in silence, even on a table where you could always hear the buzz before. The keyboard feels dead under your fingers. When an iPhone stops vibrating, most people assume the vibration motor has broken. It is more often a setting, and there are several of them that can switch vibration off, some in places you might not think to look. This guide goes through them in the order that finds the cause fastest, shows how to test the phone so you know if it is hardware, and says when it is worth a repair.

Why has your iPhone stopped vibrating?

• System Haptics is off. Apple says that when this switch is off, you will not feel vibrations for incoming calls and alerts.
• Haptics is set to a mode that does not play in Silent mode. Newer iOS versions let you choose when ringtone and alert haptics play.
• Vibration is off in Accessibility. There is a separate Vibration switch there, and it works as a master switch.
• A sound or alert has its vibration set to None. Each alert can have its own pattern.
• A Focus is on. A Focus can silence alerts so that you feel nothing.
• A software glitch or a recent update. It happens, and a restart often clears it.
• The Taptic Engine has failed. This is the least common cause, and the last one to assume.

Fix 1: Turn on System Haptics

Apple's guide says that when System Haptics is off, you will not hear or feel vibrations for incoming calls and alerts. This switch is the first thing to check, because a single tap can turn it off by accident.

Fix 2: Change the Haptics setting for Silent mode

On newer versions of iOS, the Sounds & Haptics screen has a Haptics option that decides when ringtone and alert haptics play. Apple lists choices such as Always Play, Play in Silent Mode, Don't Play in Silent Mode and Never Play. If yours is set to Never Play, or to Don't Play in Silent Mode while the phone is on silent, you will feel nothing. Tap Haptics and choose Always Play or Play in Silent Mode. The names can differ a little by iOS version, so look for the option that mentions Silent Mode. Also check the Ring/Silent switch on the side of the phone, or the Silent setting on your Action button, to see what mode you are in.

Fix 3: Check Vibration in Accessibility

This is the hidden one. Open Settings, tap Accessibility, tap Touch and look for Vibration. If it is off, the iPhone will not vibrate for anything. Apple points to the same switch in its keyboard haptics page, saying that if haptics are on but you do not feel them when you type, you should make sure that Vibration is turned on in Settings, Accessibility, Touch. Turn it on and test again.

Fix 4: Check the vibration for each sound

Each ringtone and alert can have its own vibration pattern, and a pattern can be set to None. Open Settings, tap Sounds & Haptics, and tap Ringtone, Text Tone or any alert that is not buzzing. Tap Vibration and choose a pattern from the list, for example Synchronized or Alert. Do the same for Text Tone, New Mail and other alerts. If you set a custom pattern long ago, it may have been reset. Some apps, such as Messages or Mail, also have their own sound and vibration settings in their notification settings, so check the app too.

Fix 5: Turn off Focus and Do Not Disturb

A Focus can silence notifications, which means no sound and no buzz. Swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center and look at the Focus tile. If a Focus is on, tap it to turn it off. Then open Settings, tap Focus, and check any schedule or automation that turns one on by itself, such as Sleep or Work. If you use a Focus on purpose, check that the people and apps you want to hear from are allowed to break through.

Fix 6: Test the vibration

Before you restart, run a simple test so you know what you are dealing with. Open Settings, tap Sounds & Haptics and drag the Ringtone and Alerts slider back and forth. You should feel a small buzz as it moves if haptics are on. Also tap Ringtone, then tap Vibration, then tap a pattern. The iPhone plays the pattern when you tap it. If you feel it here but not for calls, the problem is in the settings for those alerts. If you feel nothing anywhere, go to the next fix.

Fix 7: Restart, update and reset all settings

Restart the iPhone by holding the side button and either volume button, then sliding to power off. Turn it on again after a few seconds. Then update iOS: open Settings, tap General, tap Software Update and install any update. Several users report that vibration stopped after an update and returned after the next one. If it is still not working, you can reset all settings. This does not erase your data, but it resets things such as Wi-Fi networks and privacy choices, so use it last. Open Settings, tap General, tap Transfer or Reset iPhone, tap Reset and choose Reset All Settings. Then turn System Haptics on again. For the steps in full, see how to update an iPhone.

Fix 8: Rule out a case, then check the hardware

Take the case off and test again. A thick or rigid case can dull the buzz, though it rarely removes it. If you feel nothing even in the tests from Fix 6, with the case off, after a restart and with all switches on, the Taptic Engine may need service. This can happen after a drop, after water damage or as a fault. Contact Apple Support, or book a visit at an Apple Store or an authorized service provider. If your iPhone is covered, a repair may cost less than you expect. Our guide to the AppleCare cost question can help you weigh the cost, and you should check your warranty before you pay.

Why does the keyboard not vibrate when I type?

Keyboard haptics have their own switch. Apple's page says to go to Settings, Sounds & Haptics, Keyboard Feedback, and turn on Haptic. It adds that turning on keyboard haptics might affect the battery life of your iPhone. If the switch is on and you feel nothing, check that Vibration is on in Settings, Accessibility, Touch, as in Fix 3.

Why does it vibrate for some alerts but not others?

That points to the per-alert settings. Check the vibration pattern for each sound, as in Fix 4. Also check the notification settings for the app that is silent. Open Settings, tap Notifications, tap the app and make sure Sounds is on. For Messages, a muted conversation will not vibrate, even when everything else does. If texts are missing too, see our guide on a quiet ringer, which covers the sound side of the same problem.

Still not vibrating?

Make sure the Ring/Silent switch and your Focus are not hiding alerts. Try a second test with Low Power Mode off, because power saving settings can reduce some effects. If a restart, an update and a reset did not help, it is worth an Apple Support visit. Mention what you tried, and say that the test slider does not vibrate. That tells them it is likely hardware. If you have an Apple Watch that has the same problem, see an Apple Watch that will not vibrate.