Is Your Apple Watch Speaker Acting Up? Apple Says to Try These Steps

Apple today published a new support document outlining steps to try if your Apple Watch's microphone or speaker is not working as expected.

Series 10 Volume Issues Feature
Apple says the steps can also be followed if the Apple Watch speaker's audio is "crackling, distorted, muffled, or intermittent."

The potential solutions listed include updating your Apple Watch to the latest watchOS version, restarting the Apple Watch, un-pairing and re-pairing the Apple Watch to an iPhone, checking whether Silent Mode or Do Not Disturb is turned on, cleaning the Apple Watch's microphone and speaker, and drying the Apple Watch with a microfiber cloth to ensure there is no water in the microphone and speaker areas.

Apple has published the support document just a few days after we reported about a potential Apple Watch Series 10 speaker issue, with some users experiencing quiet or muffled audio after extended use of the device. We cannot guarantee that the document was published in response to the issue, but the timing is certainly suspect.

The support document was spotted by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris.

Apple has not commented on the speaker complaints, and it is possible that the support document is merely an interim solution while the company internally investigates the matter. If a software issue is identified, it should be fixed in a future watchOS update. If a hardware issue is identified, Apple could launch a service program offering free repairs.

If and when any further information surfaces regarding the potential Apple Watch Series 10 speaker issue, we will be sure to report it.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)

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Top Rated Comments

Lounge vibes 05 Avatar
18 weeks ago
None of these steps fix the problem, it’s a software bug.
Experiencing it on my ultra 1, it’s not limited to the series 10.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HappyMBAowner Avatar
18 weeks ago
The more I use Apple Watch, the more I wonder why I spent so much money for so little. I'm even thinking of selling it. Most of the time, the watch is a disturbance.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Lounge vibes 05 Avatar
18 weeks ago

I bought a brand new Series 10, got a phone call same day after setting it up and the speaker didn't work. Definitely not a water or dirt issue.
It’s an issue with watchOS 11.3.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
honglong1976 Avatar
18 weeks ago
I have a series 6 and 10. I noticed one day one the series 10 sounded muffled compared to the series 6.

I looked and the vents for the speaker are super tiny compared to the 6. Is this the reason?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DanteHicks79 Avatar
18 weeks ago
+Apple releases software update, breaks speakers on Watches+

"You're listening to it wrong." - Apple
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
svish Avatar
17 weeks ago
Looks like a standard support guide from Apple. Hopefully the issue reported by Series 10 owners is not widespread and Apple can correct any issue through a software update.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)