iPhone Mute Switch Not Working? These Easy Workarounds Will Silence Incoming Notifications
A malfunctioning mute switch could be very annoying, especially when you want your iPhone to silence the incoming notifications in a meeting, classroom, or at the dinner table. The alert slider or mute switch has been around for quite some time. Introduced on the original iPhone in 2007, it is a part of the latest iPhone 15 series, except on theiPhone 15 Pro models that come with an Action Button.
Like any other mechanical component, the mute switch could stop working with time. you may tell the switch isn’t working properly if it doesn’t engage the silent mode in the downward position. This could be due to general wear and tear, the ingress of dust or other minute particles, or impact from a steep fall, which could damage the internal circuitry. Conversely, a minor iOS bug could also hinder the proper functioning of the slider.
Hence, whenever you encounter such an issue, start by rebooting your iPhone. Once your phone reboots, check whether the mute switch works fine. If the slider is covered in dirt, consider cleaning it with a microfiber cloth and an earbud. However, if these methods don’t help you, we have two workarounds to help you silence incoming notifications. These include setting up AssistiveTouch and Back Tap gestures on your iPhone.
Enable AssistiveTouch to create a virtual mute button
The first method involves setting up a virtual mute button using AssistiveTouch, an accessibility feature that helps you perform several tasks with the press of a button.
If you switch between the ringer modes multiple times a day, consider programming the AssistiveTouch button via Custom Actions.
As a bonus tip, consider lowering the Idle Opacity of the AssistiveTouch button to the lowest so it doesn’t obstruct your view.
Customize the Back Tap gesture to silence notifications
Besides AssistiveTouch,Back Tapis another workaround for setting up a virtual mute button. For the uninitiated, Back Tap is an accessibility feature that allows users to tap the back of their iPhone to trigger a specific action, such as taking a screenshot, running a shortcut, opening the camera, etc. Fortunately, iOS allows you to select the action associated with the two Back Tap gestures: Double-Tap and Triple-Tap.
you’re able to also select Double-Tap, but in our experience, it leads to a lot of accidental inputs. Nonetheless, the Back Tap feature works even if you have a protective case on your iPhone. While the workarounds aren’t a permanent solution, they can help you until you get the mute switch repaired.
Be sure to check out our article onfive helpful accessibility featuresyou might want to use on your iPhone.
