The fastest way to adjust volume

Use the physical volume buttons on the side of your iPhone. Press the upper button to raise volume, the lower button to lower it. This works whether your phone is locked or unlocked, and whether you are in an app or on the home screen. The volume changes when ready — you will see a volume slider appear on screen as you press.

If you cannot find the buttons, they are on the left edge of the phone, just below the mute switch (a small toggle above them). On iPhone 6s and older models, the buttons are slightly lower on the side. Press and hold either button to adjust volume continuously rather than in single steps.

The volume buttons control different things depending on what you are doing. If you are on a call, they adjust call volume. If you are playing music or video, they adjust media volume. If you are not in an app, they adjust the ringer volume — the sound your phone makes for calls and notifications.

Key Takeaways

  • The volume buttons on the left side of your iPhone are the quickest way to change volume at any time.
  • The upper button raises volume and the lower button lowers it, and you can hold either one to adjust continuously.
  • You can also adjust volume through Settings > Sounds & Haptics, where you can set separate levels for ringers and media.
  • The mute switch above the volume buttons silences all notifications and calls without turning off alarms or timers.
  • Control Center lets you adjust volume without opening Settings, and you can customize which controls appear there.

Adjusting volume through Settings

Open Settings and tap Sounds & Haptics. You will see two sliders: one for Ringer and Alerts, one for Media Volume. Drag either slider left to lower volume or right to raise it. The Ringer and Alerts slider controls the volume of incoming calls, text notifications, and system sounds. The Media Volume slider controls music, videos, podcasts, and games.

This method is useful if you want to set a specific level and leave it there, or if the physical buttons are not responding. You can also toggle Change with Buttons on or off — when this is on, the volume buttons adjust whichever slider you used most recently. When it is off, the buttons only control ringer volume.

In the same menu, you will find options to adjust vibration, choose ringtones, and control whether your phone vibrates during calls. These settings stay in place until you change them again.

Using Control Center for quick adjustments

Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen (or up from the bottom on older iPhones) to open Control Center. You will see a volume slider in the upper right. Drag it left to lower volume or right to raise it. This slider adjusts media volume — the volume of music, videos, and apps.

Control Center is faster than Settings if you are already using your phone and need to change volume without stopping what you are doing. You can customize which controls appear in Control Center by going to Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls, then adding or removing the volume control if needed.

The mute switch and what it actually does

The small toggle above the volume buttons is the mute switch. Flip it down (toward the back of the phone) to silence all incoming calls, notifications, and alerts. The phone will not ring or buzz for messages or calls. Flip it up to turn sound back on.

The mute switch does not silence alarms, timers, or reminders — those will still sound even when the switch is in the mute position. This is intentional: Apple assumes you want to wake up to an alarm even if you have silenced notifications. If you want to silence everything including alarms, you must turn your phone completely off or use Do Not Disturb mode instead.

When the mute switch is on, a small orange indicator appears on the switch itself, and you may see a mute icon briefly on your screen. This is the clearest way to know whether your phone is set to silent or not.

Controlling volume for different apps and situations

Some apps have their own volume controls inside the app itself. If you are watching a video in YouTube or another streaming app, look for a speaker icon or volume slider within the video player — this controls only that app's volume, not your phone's overall volume. The physical volume buttons will still adjust your phone's media volume while the app is open.

During a phone call, the volume buttons adjust only the call volume — the volume of the person you are talking to. This does not affect your ringer volume or media volume. If you are on a call and cannot hear the other person, press the upper volume button to raise call volume.

If you are listening to music through headphones or a Bluetooth speaker, the volume buttons adjust the volume of that audio. Unplugging the headphones or disconnecting the speaker will switch volume control back to your phone's speakers.

Troubleshooting when volume buttons do not work

If the volume buttons are not responding, first check whether the mute switch is on — if it is, flip it to the unmuted position. Then try adjusting volume through Settings > Sounds & Haptics instead of using the buttons. If the slider in Settings moves but no sound comes out, your phone may be in Do Not Disturb mode.

Check Control Center (swipe from the top-right or bottom of the screen) and look for a moon icon. If it is highlighted, tap it to turn off Do Not Disturb. You can also go to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb and toggle it off.

If the volume buttons still do not work after trying these steps, the buttons themselves may need service. Contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store to have them checked. In the meantime, you can adjust volume entirely through Settings or Control Center.

Using Do Not Disturb and Focus modes

Do Not Disturb silences calls, texts, and notifications while allowing alarms and reminders to sound. Turn it on by opening Control Center and tapping the moon icon, or by going to Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb and toggling it on. You can set a schedule so Do Not Disturb turns on automatically at certain times — for example, every night at 10 p.m.

Focus modes (available on iPhone 12 and newer) let you create custom profiles that silence specific people and apps. For example, you could create a Work focus that silences personal messages but allows work calls through. Each focus can have its own volume settings and notification rules.

These modes are different from the mute switch: they silence notifications but do not affect media volume or call volume. If you want to silence everything including music and videos, use the mute switch instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my iPhone volume keep changing on its own?

This usually happens because Change with Buttons is turned on in Settings > Sounds & Haptics, and you are accidentally pressing the volume buttons in your pocket or bag. Turn off Change with Buttons if this is a problem. You can also check whether an app is controlling volume — some games and music apps adjust volume automatically when you open them.

Can I set different volume levels for calls and messages?

Yes. In Settings > Sounds & Haptics, the Ringer and Alerts slider controls both call volume and message notification volume together. You cannot set them separately on the main settings screen, but you can customize individual notification sounds in Settings > Notifications for each app, and some apps let you adjust their own volume inside the app.

What is the difference between the mute switch and Do Not Disturb?

The mute switch silences all sounds except alarms and timers. Do Not Disturb silences notifications and calls but does not affect media volume — music and videos will still play at full volume. Use the mute switch for quick silence, and Do Not Disturb when you want to block interruptions but keep media playing.

How do I make the volume slider appear on my screen?

Press either volume button on the side of your phone. A slider will appear on the left side of the screen showing your current volume level. If you do not see it, make sure you are pressing the actual volume buttons and not another button nearby.

Can I control volume for just one app?

Most apps do not have separate volume controls — they use your phone's media volume. Some apps like YouTube have a volume slider inside the app itself that only affects that app while it is open. Check inside the app for a speaker icon or settings menu if you want app-specific volume control.