Apple Watch speaker or microphone not working? 8 fixes to try
2 min read · 8 steps · Updated 2 October 2026
Open Control Center with the side button and check that Silent Mode and Do Not Disturb are off. Then clean the openings on the side of the watch with a soft brush, let any water dry out, and restart the watch.
Quiet, crackling or missing sound on the watch has three common causes: a mode that mutes it, dirt or water in the small openings on the side, or a software hiccup.
These steps are for recent versions of watchOS. The pictures are simplified diagrams of the watch screen, not screenshots.
Step by step
Update the watch and the iPhone
Install the latest software on both. The steps for the watch are in how to update your Apple Watch.
Clean the openings
Look at the speaker and microphone openings on the side of the case and remove dirt gently. Apple recommends a soft-bristle brush for recent models. Do not use liquids, compressed air or anything sharp.
Let water dry out
After swimming or a shower, lay the watch on a microfibre cloth with the speaker side down and let it air-dry completely. Sound is muffled while water sits in the speaker.
Restart the watch
Hold the side button until the power button appears at the top of the screen, tap it and drag the Power Off slider. Then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
Switch off Silent Mode
Press the side button to open Control Center. If the bell button is highlighted, Silent Mode is on. Tap it.
Switch off Do Not Disturb
In Control Center, tap the Focus button if Do Not Disturb or another Focus is active.
Raise the volume
On the watch, open Settings, Sounds & Haptics and raise the alert volume. On models that adjust the volume by themselves, open Automatically Adjust Volume and set the level to Louder.
Unpair and pair again
If nothing helps, unpair the watch from the iPhone and pair it again from the backup: how to unpair an Apple Watch.
Good to know
After a swim, eject water with Water Lock: open Control Center, tap the water drop, and when you are done, press and hold the Digital Crown until the watch plays tones to push the water out.
During a call, check whether sound is going to headphones: tap the audio button on the call screen and choose the watch.
No taps or sounds for messages either? See Apple Watch not getting notifications: 7 things to check.
In short: Update, clean with a soft brush, dry out, restart, Silent Mode off, Do Not Disturb off, volume up, unpair and pair again.
- Apple Support: If the microphone or speaker isn't working as expected on your Apple Watch
Rules and prices change. Check the official source before you act.