If you are experiencing low volume, crackle or static noise from your iPhone's speaker, it could be because of all the dust accumulated there over time. Typically, iPhones have very tiny speaker holes at the bottom, which can easily collect dust and also make it hard to clean later. So, if you want to make your speakers sound as good as new, then keep reading to learn how to clean your iPhone speakers properly.
What Will You Need to Clean iPhone Speakers?
This is the part most people get wrong, since cleaning your iPhone's speaker with the wrong materials is the most common way people end up damaging their device. So, it is important to take a minute and take a look at all the right materials you will need.
- Soft-bristle brush: A clean, dry toothbrush or a small paintbrush works well. This is Apple's recommended tool for cleaning speaker grills.
- Wooden or plastic toothpick: This might be needed for dislodging debris stuck in the bottom speaker grills. But never use a metal one.
- Silicone air blower: You might have this if you already own a camera. It can blow out loose dust after brushing. Much safer than compressed air.
- 70% isopropyl alcohol: Rather than using water, Apple specifically recommends 70% or 75% isopropyl alcohol for cleaning all iPhone models. This is because alcohol evaporates more quickly without damaging internal components.
- Flashlight: To get a clear look at how dirty the grills are before and after cleaning.
How to Clean Your iPhone Speakers
Now that it is clear what tools you need to use, let's jump into the different ways in which we can clean your iPhone speakers. I have looked up different methods online, and based on user responses from Reddit threads and Apple Forums, here are the methods I have come up with that ensure a clean speaker grill.
Important Note: Before you try any of these methods, do make sure to switch off your iPhone and remove your case. This further protects your iPhone from being damaged in the cleaning process.
Clean iPhone Speakers Using a Soft-Bristle Brush
This is the official method recommended by Apple's support page for iPhone speaker cleaning. It works on all iPhone speaker grills, whether you have the old iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, iPhone 7 or the newer iPhone 11, iPhone 12, up to the current iPhone 17. Just use a clean, dry toothbrush or a small paintbrush, as both work well here.
- Power off your iPhone and remove the case if you are using one. Use a torch to get a clear look.
- Now, hold your iPhone with the speaker grill facing downward.
- Using your soft-bristled brush, gently brush across the speaker grill in a side-to-side motion.
- Apply very light pressure and keep the strokes short and controlled.
- Then, lightly tap the speaker area with your hand after brushing to dislodge any remaining debris.
- Use a flashlight to check the grill again and repeat if necessary.
Pick Out Dust From iPhone Speakers Using a Toothpick
If you can visibly see a lot of dirt has built up in the speaker holes and the brush is not enough to dislodge it. Then, some people recommend using a wooden toothpick or a sharp plastic object to help get it out. However, it is only recommended for the bottom speaker grill on your iPhone, so don't use it on the earpiece.
- Switch off your iPhone and use a flashlight to check for dirt in the speaker grill.
- Now, gently insert the pointed tip of a toothpick into the speaker holes.
- Then, slightly tilt the toothpick sideways and upward as you pull it out to dust away from the grill.
- Don't tilt the toothpick downward, as this can push dirt further in or damage the speaker membrane of your iPhone.
- Repeat for each hole and use a soft-bristled brush to sweep away any extra dust loosened in the process.
Clean iPhone Speakers with Isopropyl Alcohol
Now that you have cleaned most of the dirt, dust and debris from your iPhone speakers, you should use isopropyl alcohol to sanitise and clean the area around the grill. Apple specifically recommends using 70% or 75% isopropyl alcohol along with a cotton swab for cleaning iPhones.
- Turn off your iPhone and dampen a cotton swab lightly with 70% or 75% isopropyl alcohol.
- Gently wipe the area around the edges of the speaker grill with the dampened cotton swab.
- Do not press the swab into the speaker holes or apply liquid directly into the grille openings.
- Next, use a dry cotton swab immediately after to absorb any remaining alcohol around the grill.
- Allow the area to dry completely before you restart your iPhone.
Important Note: Do not directly spray the isopropyl alcohol directly on the iPhone speakers. Use a cotton swab or a soft microfibre cloth to apply alcohol and then rub it on your device.
How to Test iPhone Speakers After Cleaning
Once you have finished cleaning, it is worth running a quick test to check whether the sound quality has improved before putting your case back on.
- Turn on your iPhone again and then head over to Settings > Sounds and Haptics.
- Here, drag the slider just underneath "Ringtone And Alerts" slowly back and forth a few times and listen carefully to the sound coming from the speaker.
If the audio sounds clear as you drag the slider, your speaker is in good shape. If it still sounds muffled, distorted, or quieter than expected, there may be some remaining dust that needs to be removed.
Having Issues Cleaning the Speaker? Here's What You Need to Do
If your iPhone speaker is still not sounding right after a thorough clean, then the issue may not be just dirt. Try these troubleshooting methods to try and fix it.
- Restart your iPhone: A simple restart fixes more audio issues than most people expect. Go to Settings > General > Shut Down or use the Side and Volume Up button combination to restart your iPhone and test the speaker again.
- Check that the volume is turned all the way up: This sounds obvious, but it is easy to miss. Make sure the volume is turned up and check that 'Do Not Disturb' or a Focus mode is not silencing audio.
- Disable Bluetooth: If your iPhone is connected to a Bluetooth speaker or headphones, audio will play through that device instead of the built-in speaker. Turn off Bluetooth and check again.
- Check for water in the speaker: If your iPhone was recently exposed to water, moisture may still be trapped inside the speaker, and you need to learn how to eject water from your iPhone to fix it.
- Reset all settings: Sometimes an iOS update can affect audio settings. Resetting your iPhone settings brings it down to the default state. Simply, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. This will not delete your data.
- Visit the nearest Apple-authorised service centre: If none of the above work and the speaker is still distorted after cleaning, there may be a hardware fault that needs professional attention. Visit an authorised Apple service centre to get a solution to your issue.
Cleaning your iPhone speaker is one of those small maintenance tasks that makes a surprisingly big difference to your day-to-day experience. A few minutes with a soft-bristle brush and an air blower every couple of weeks is usually all it takes to keep your speakers sounding their best. I hope this guide was able to help you find the correct solution and get the results that you were looking for.
