Why does my phone speaker sound muffled?
Muffled audio has a handful of usual suspects. Work through them from easiest to hardest.
Open the Speaker & Stereo Test1. Water in the grille
The most common cause after rain, a spill or the pool. Try the Speaker Cleaner and air-drying.
2. Dust and lint
Pockets and bags pack lint into speaker holes. Use a soft, dry brush gently. Avoid pins, which can puncture the mesh.
3. Your case or screen protector
Cases that cover the speaker or a protector edge over the earpiece can muffle sound. Remove them and test again.
4. Settings and Bluetooth
Check you're not connected to a Bluetooth device, and look for Mono Audio, sound balance or equaliser settings that might change the sound.
5. A damaged speaker
Rattling, buzzing or crackling that stays after cleaning usually means hardware damage. Use our Speaker Test to compare channels, then consider a repair.