How to adjust the volume on your phone
Learn how to make your phone louder or quieter for calls, videos, alarms, and ringtones on iPhone and Android.
What you will learn
In this guide, you will learn how to control the volume on your phone. Your phone has several different volume controls: one for phone calls, one for music and videos, one for your ringtone, and one for alarms. You will learn how to adjust each one so you can hear everything clearly.
What you need
- An iPhone or Android phone
The steps
Step 1: Find the volume buttons on your phone
Look at the left side of your phone (iPhone) or the right side (most Android phones). You will see two buttons, one above the other. The top button makes the volume louder. The bottom button makes the volume quieter. These are your volume buttons.
Step 2: Adjust the volume during a phone call
When you are on a phone call, press the volume up button to hear the other person more clearly, or the volume down button to make them quieter. A volume bar will appear on your screen showing the current level. The call volume is only adjusted while you are in a call.
Step 3: Adjust the media volume for videos and music
When you are watching a video or listening to music, press the volume up or volume down buttons to change how loud it is. This is called the media volume. It is separate from your ringtone volume, so changing it will not affect how loud your phone rings.
Step 4: Adjust the ringtone volume
To change how loud your phone rings when someone calls you:
On iPhone: Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics. Drag the Ringer and Alerts slider to the right to make it louder, or to the left to make it quieter.
On Android: Go to Settings > Sound (or Sound and vibration). Drag the Ring volume slider to adjust the level.
Step 5: Adjust the alarm volume
To make sure you can hear your alarm in the morning:
On iPhone: Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics. The Ringer and Alerts slider also controls the alarm volume.
On Android: Go to Settings > Sound. You will see a separate Alarm volume slider. Drag it to the right to make your alarm louder.
Step 6: Put your phone on silent mode
Sometimes you need your phone to be completely silent, for example in a church or during a medical appointment.
On iPhone: Flip the small switch on the left side of your phone down (towards the back of the phone). You will see a small orange line on the switch and feel a vibration. Your phone is now on silent. Flip it back up to turn the sound on again.
On Android: Press the volume down button several times until you see a silent or vibrate icon on screen. Or go to Settings > Sound and choose Silent mode or Do Not Disturb.
Tips
- If you wear hearing aids, check if your phone has a hearing aid compatibility mode. On iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing Devices.
- When watching videos on speaker, cup your hand around the bottom of the phone (where the speaker is) to make it sound louder.
- If your ringtone is too quiet even at maximum volume, try choosing a different ringtone. Some ringtones are naturally louder than others.
- The volume buttons work differently depending on what you are doing. During a call they adjust call volume, during a video they adjust media volume, and on the home screen they adjust ringtone volume.
External links
- Apple Support: Adjust the volume on iPhone — official guide for iPhone volume controls
- Google Support: Change your Android phone’s volume and sounds — official guide for Android volume settings
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Frequently asked questions
Why can I not hear the other person during a phone call?
During a call, press the volume up button on the side of your phone to increase the call volume. If it is still too quiet, check if your phone case is covering the earpiece speaker at the top of the phone.
Why is my alarm not making any sound?
On iPhone, alarms will sound even if your phone is on silent mode. On Android, make sure the alarm volume is turned up. Go to Settings, then Sound, and check the Alarm volume slider.
What is the difference between ring volume and media volume?
Ring volume controls how loud your phone rings when someone calls you. Media volume controls the sound when you watch videos, listen to music, or play games. They are adjusted separately.
How do I put my phone on vibrate only?
On iPhone, flip the small switch on the left side of your phone down (towards the back). You will see an orange line and feel a vibration. On Android, press the volume down button until you see the vibrate icon, or go to Settings and choose Vibrate mode.
Can I set different volumes for different apps?
On most phones, there is one media volume for all apps. However, some Android phones allow per-app volume control in Settings. On iPhone, all apps share the same media volume.
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