Android phone speaker not working

Test it here first

Open this page in Chrome and press Test my speakers. Many Android phones have two speakers (bottom and earpiece) and play the left and right sounds from different ends. Phones with one speaker play both sides from the same place, which is normal.

1. The right volume

1. Press a volume button, then tap the ⋮ or settings icon next to the slider. Android has separate sliders for Media, Call, Ring and Notifications: raise the one that matches what you cannot hear. Web pages, videos and voice messages use Media.
2. Do Not Disturb silences calls and notifications but not media. Turn it off in quick settings to rule it out.

2. Where the sound goes

• Turn Bluetooth off for a moment. Calls and sound often go to earbuds in their case, a smartwatch or a car that is still connected.
• Swipe down to quick settings and open Media output (or the device picker on the media player). Choose This phone.
• Samsung: check Settings › Sounds and vibration › Separate app sound. It sends one app's sound to another device.
• A headphones icon in the status bar with nothing plugged in means the phone thinks headphones are connected. Clean the USB-C or headphone port gently with a wooden toothpick and restart.

3. Settings that change the sound

• Check Mono audio and the left/right audio balance in Settings › Accessibility (Samsung: Accessibility › Hearing enhancements).
• Samsung: Settings › Sounds and vibration › Sound quality and effects. Turn off the equalizer and Dolby Atmos to test.

4. Clean the speaker

• Remove the case and brush the speaker holes gently with a dry, soft brush.
• After water, let the phone dry with the speaker facing down. The speaker cleaner tone above can help shake out droplets; play it at medium volume for 30 seconds and stop if it distorts.

5. Safe mode and updates

1. Restart in safe mode (press and hold the power button, then press and hold Power off or Restart until safe mode is offered). If the speaker works in safe mode, an app you installed is the cause.
2. Install system updates in Settings › System › Software update (Samsung: Settings › Software update).
3. If the speaker crackles or stays silent in this test after all this, it is most likely damaged and needs a repair.