No sound on an Android phone? 8 fixes to try

2 min read · 8 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Short answer

Press a volume button, tap the three dots or the slider icon and raise Media volume, which is separate from the ring volume. Turn Bluetooth off, so sound is not sent to a speaker or headset. Then restart the phone and test with two different apps.

Android has separate volumes for media, calls, ringtone and alarms, and it sends sound to whatever was connected last. Most cases of no sound are one of those two things.

Menu names below are from Google Pixel phones on a recent Android version. Samsung, Xiaomi and other brands rename some of them. The pictures are simplified diagrams of the screen, not screenshots.

Step by step

  1. Sound & vibrationMedia volumeCall volumeRing & notification volumeAlarm volume

    Raise the right volume

    Press a volume button and open the full panel with the three dots or the slider icon. Raise Media volume for music and video, and Call volume during a call. The sliders are also under Settings, Sound & vibration.

  2. Turn Bluetooth off

    Sound may be playing on earbuds, a speaker or the car. Switch Bluetooth off and test again.

  3. Unplug and reconnect headphones

    With wired headphones, unplug them and plug them in again, or try another pair. A phone can get stuck in headphone mode when the port is dirty.

  4. Restart the phone

    On a Pixel 6 or later, hold the power and volume up buttons for a few seconds and tap Restart. On other phones, hold the power button. More in how to restart or force restart an Android phone.

  5. Test with several apps

    Play two or three songs or videos from different apps. If only one app is silent, look for a mute button in that app, then update or reinstall it.

  6. For calls: check the signal and toggle the speaker

    Weak reception makes calls sound choppy or quiet. Move to a place with a better signal. During a call, switch the speakerphone on and off once. For video calls, switch the video off and on.

  7. Remove the case and clean the speaker

    Take off the case and any screen protector that covers the earpiece. Wipe the speaker openings and the USB-C port with a soft, dry cloth.

  8. Check for a liquid warning

    If the phone shows Liquid or debris in USB port, unplug everything and let the port dry. Sound through USB-C accessories is switched off until the warning clears.

Good to know

Do Not Disturb does not mute media, but it silences ringtones and notification sounds. Check the tile in the quick settings.

If nothing helps after an update and a restart, a factory reset is the last software step. Back up first: how to back up an Android phone to your Google Account.

Related: Android phone not ringing: 8 settings to check and Android Bluetooth not connecting: 8 fixes to try.

In short: Media volume, Bluetooth off, headphones out and in, restart, test several apps, signal and speakerphone, clean the speaker, liquid warning.

Sources
  • Pixel Help: Fix sound problems on your Pixel phone

Rules and prices change. Check the official source before you act.