Where to find the volume controls on your iPhone
Your iPhone has two physical buttons on the left side that control volume — one above the other. The upper button raises volume; the lower button lowers it. Press either button to adjust the ring volume immediately. You'll see a volume slider appear on your screen showing where the volume sits, from silent to maximum.
The volume buttons control different things depending on what your iPhone is doing. When you're on a call or listening to music, they adjust that audio. When nothing is playing, they adjust your ring volume — the sound your phone makes when someone calls or texts you.
Key Takeaways
- The two buttons on the left side of your iPhone control volume; the upper button raises it and the lower button lowers it.
- You can mute your iPhone entirely by switching the physical mute switch (a small toggle above the volume buttons) to silent mode.
- The Settings app lets you set different volumes for calls, texts, and notifications separately if you want more control.
- If your volume buttons feel stuck or don't respond, debris may be blocking them — try gently cleaning around the edges with a dry cloth.
Using the mute switch to silence your iPhone instantly
Above the volume buttons on the left side of your iPhone is a small physical switch. Flip it toward the back of the phone to turn on silent mode. When silent mode is on, you'll see a bell with a line through it appear on your screen, and your iPhone won't ring or make notification sounds.
Silent mode is useful when you're in a meeting, movie theater, or anywhere you don't want your phone making noise. Your iPhone will still vibrate when someone calls or texts — you just won't hear it ring. If you want to turn off vibration too, you'll need to go into Settings.
Adjusting volume in the Settings app for more control
Open the Settings app and tap Sounds & Haptics (on newer iPhones) or Sounds (on older models). You'll see sliders for Ringer and Alerts and Notification Volume. Drag these sliders left to lower the volume or right to raise it. These settings control how loud your phone rings when someone calls and how loud notifications sound.
In the same menu, you can turn off vibration by toggling off Vibration under the Ringer and Alerts section. You can also choose different sounds for calls, texts, and other notifications by tapping on each category. This is useful if you want your phone to ring loudly for calls but quietly for emails.
Why your volume buttons might not be working
If pressing the volume buttons doesn't change the ring volume, check whether your iPhone is in silent mode — look for the bell-with-a-line icon at the top of your screen. If silent mode is on, flip the mute switch back to the normal position and try again.
If silent mode is off and the buttons still don't work, the buttons may be stuck or blocked by dust or lint. Try gently cleaning around the edges of the buttons with a dry cloth or a soft brush. Press the buttons several times while cleaning. If they still don't respond after cleaning, the buttons may need repair — contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store.
Controlling volume during a call or while playing audio
When you're on a phone call, the volume buttons adjust the call volume, not your ring volume. The same is true when you're playing music, a video, or a podcast. Once you hang up or stop playing audio, the buttons go back to controlling ring volume.
If you want to adjust ring volume while you're in the middle of something else, use the Settings app instead. That way you don't have to stop what you're doing.
Turning off specific notification sounds while keeping your ring
You can silence notifications from certain apps without affecting your phone's ring. Open Settings, tap Notifications, then select the app you want to adjust. Tap Sounds and choose None to turn off sound for that app while keeping your ring volume the same.
This is helpful if you get a lot of notifications from one app — like email or social media — but still want to hear your phone ring when someone calls. You can do this for as many apps as you want, giving each one its own sound setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my iPhone ring quietly even when the volume is turned all the way up?
Check whether silent mode is on — look at the top of your screen for a bell with a line through it. If it's there, flip the mute switch on the left side of your phone back to normal mode. Also check Settings > Sounds & Haptics to make sure the Ringer and Alerts slider is actually all the way to the right.
Can I have different ring volumes for different people?
iOS doesn't let you set different ring volumes for specific contacts, but you can assign custom ringtones to people you call frequently. Open Contacts, select a person, tap Edit, then tap Ringtone and choose a different sound. That way you'll recognize who's calling by the sound alone.
What's the difference between silent mode and Do Not Disturb?
Silent mode mutes your phone but lets calls and texts come through with vibration. Do Not Disturb blocks calls and notifications entirely unless they're from people on your favorites list. Find Do Not Disturb in Settings > Focus to turn it on and customize who can reach you.
Will my alarm still go off if my phone is in silent mode?
Yes. Alarms ignore silent mode and will ring at full volume even if the mute switch is on. This is intentional — your alarm needs to wake you up. If you don't want to hear an alarm, you have to turn it off in the Clock app.