iPhone ringer volume keeps going down? 7 fixes that stop it

You set the ringer loud, and a day later it is quiet again. Or it is loud on the table and soft when you pick the phone up. You did not touch it, and it keeps happening. It is easy to think the speaker is dying or the update broke something.

In almost every case, the iPhone is doing what a setting tells it to do. Two of those settings are on by default. Below are seven fixes in the order that finds the cause fastest, with a short test to confirm which one it was.

Why does my iPhone ringer volume keep going down?

• Attention Aware Features. Apple says that when attention is detected, the iPhone lowers the volume of some alerts. That includes a ringing call when you look at the phone.
• Change with Buttons. When this is on, pressing the volume buttons changes the ringer volume too. Pockets and bags press them without you knowing.
• Bluetooth devices. Cars, headphones and speakers can change how volume behaves, and some users report the ringer dropping after a connection.
• Focus modes and the Silent switch. These do not lower the volume, but they change what you hear, so it can feel quieter.
• A software bug. Rare, and it usually shows up after an iOS update.
• A dirty or damaged speaker. This gives a steady quiet sound, not a volume that drops on its own.

Fix 1: Turn off Attention Aware Features

This is the most common reason a ringer drops the moment you reach for the phone. On iPhones with Face ID, Attention Aware Features check whether you are looking at the screen. When they see you are, they lower the volume of some alerts, because you obviously know the phone is ringing.

Turning this off also means the screen can dim sooner, and notifications on the lock screen may not expand on their own. If you miss those, you can turn the feature back on and rely on fixes 2 and 3 instead.

Fix 2: Turn off Change with Buttons

By default, the volume buttons control media volume while you play something. With Change with Buttons on, they also change the ringer and alert volume when nothing is playing. If the phone is in your pocket or bag, a button can be pressed many times a day.

A case with a thick button cover, or a slim case that presses on the buttons, can also push them when you grip the phone. Take the case off for a day to see if it makes a difference.

Fix 3: Check the ringer slider and the Silent switch

The ringer volume and the media volume are two separate levels. It is easy to turn the media volume down with a button, and then think the ringer fell with it. Open Settings › Sounds & Haptics and look at the slider. If it is still where you left it, the ringer itself did not change.

• Flip the Ring/Silent switch on the side so the orange line is hidden. The iPhone is silent when the orange shows.
• Use Haptics settings to add a vibration, so you feel the call even if the ring is soft.
• Pick a louder ringtone. Some tones are naturally quieter than others, especially soft ones.

Fix 4: Test with Bluetooth off

Some users on Apple's own forums say the ringer volume drops after the phone has been connected to Bluetooth. Test it. Open Control Center and turn Bluetooth off for a day, then see if the ringer holds its level.

If the problem stops, one of your Bluetooth devices is involved. Go to Settings › Bluetooth, tap the info button next to the device you use most (often your car or earbuds) and choose Forget This Device. Then pair it again. For help with devices that will not connect, see our guide to Bluetooth problems on an iPhone.

Fix 5: Look at Focus and Do Not Disturb

A Focus mode can silence calls from some people, or from everyone. The ringer volume stays the same, but the phone is quiet, so it feels as if the volume dropped. Swipe down from the top right corner to open Control Center and check the Focus button. If a Focus is on, turn it off, or set which people and apps can get through. Our guide to Do Not Disturb on iPhone explains it in more detail.

Fix 6: Restart and update iOS

Restart the iPhone first. Hold the side button and a volume button until the slider appears, drag it, wait 30 seconds and turn it back on. Then open Settings › General › Software Update and install any update. If the problem began right after an update, a later patch may fix it, and Apple does release small fixes.

Fix 7: Clean the speaker and check for hardware trouble

If the ringer is quiet all the time, with music and calls too, the speaker grille may be blocked by lint. With the iPhone off, brush the grille gently with a soft, dry brush. Do not use pins, liquids or anything sharp.

If it stays quiet after cleaning, the speaker may be damaged or wet. See our guide to a weak or muffled phone speaker. If you suspect water damage or the problem started after a drop, ask Apple or an authorized provider to look at it.

A quick test to find out which setting it is

How to keep the volume where you set it

• Turn off Change with Buttons if the volume buttons get pressed in your pocket.
• Choose a ringtone that you can hear well, and add vibration as a backup.
• Forget and re-pair Bluetooth devices that act strangely.
• Keep iOS updated, and restart the phone once in a while.
• Keep the speaker grille clean.