This phone speaker test checks the speakers on an iPhone or Android phone from the browser. A chime plays on the left channel, the right channel and both, so you can tell whether the top speaker and the bottom speaker each work; then an original music clip, a frequency sweep and a loud rattle check reveal muffled sound, buzzing and gaps. You answer what you heard after each test and the tester turns your answers into a verdict you can copy for a repair shop. It works on iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, Xiaomi and other phones, and on tablets. The phone speaker test runs online in the browser you already have, so there is no app to install.
How to test your phone speakers
- Open this page on the phone itself. Take off the case and disconnect Bluetooth headphones and speakers.
- Turn the media volume up most of the way. On iPhone, turn off Silent mode.
- Turn the phone sideways for the Left and Right tests. In landscape the left channel should come from the end on your left.
- Press Play on Left, listen, and answer Where did you hear it? The tester moves to the next test.
- Run Right, Both, Music, Sweep and Rattle the same way.
- Read the verdict under the tool and press Copy results to keep a record.
What the results mean
| Test | Normal result on a stereo phone | Normal on a single speaker phone |
|---|---|---|
| Left | One end, the opposite end to Right | Bottom speaker |
| Right | The other end | Bottom speaker |
| Both | Both ends together | Bottom speaker |
| Music | Clear, with bass notes, voices and crisp hats | Clear, thinner bass |
| Sweep | Smooth from low to high, fading in around 300 Hz | The same |
| Rattle | A loud low hum with no buzz | The same |
Bass below about 300 Hz is weak on every phone, so a quiet start to the sweep is normal. What matters is that the sound is clean and that a stereo phone uses both ends.
Where the sound should come from
Most current phones have stereo speakers: the bottom speaker plus the earpiece above the screen, which doubles as the second speaker. Every iPhone since the iPhone 7 works this way, as do Samsung Galaxy S phones since the S9, many mid range Galaxy A models and most Google Pixel phones. In landscape the phone sends the left channel to the end on your left and turns the channels around if you turn the phone over. Many budget phones have one loudspeaker, and some older ones put it on the back, so everything comes from one place; that is normal for those models.
One speaker is silent
If a stereo phone plays nothing from one end:
- Blocked grille. Lint in the bottom grille or makeup and skin oil in the earpiece muffle or silence it. Brush it with a dry soft toothbrush; the speaker cleaner page shows the safe way.
- Water. After rain or a spill, run the water eject sound and let the phone dry.
- Mono audio or balance. On iPhone open Settings, then Accessibility, then Audio and Visual, and check Mono Audio and the balance slider. On Samsung look under Settings, then Accessibility, then Hearing enhancements. On Pixel look under Settings, then Accessibility, then Audio adjustment.
- A case or protector covering the opening.
- A failed speaker or loose connector, often after a drop. The phone's own test menu below confirms it.
The speaker sounds muffled or quiet
Muffled sound on the music clip is usually dirt or water in the grille, so clean it first. If it is quiet but clear, check the media volume rather than the ringer volume, and look for a volume limiter: Samsung phones have a media volume limiter in their volume settings, and Do Not Disturb or Focus modes can silence alerts but not media. On iPhone, Headphone Safety only limits headphones, not the speaker.
The speaker buzzes, crackles or rattles
Run Rattle with the phone held loosely in your fingers. A clean hum is normal. A buzz that follows the tone up and down comes from the speaker itself, usually a torn cone or something caught against it after a drop or water. A buzz you can stop by pressing on part of the case is a loose part or the case itself. Play the music clip at a moderate volume: if it still crackles, the speaker needs replacing.
Testing the earpiece
On phones where the earpiece also plays music, the Left and Right tests already cover it. On phones with one loudspeaker, call your voicemail and listen with the phone at your ear, or use the built in test menu. While you are checking parts, the mic test checks the microphones, and the vibration test checks the motor.
Built in speaker test codes
| Phone | How to open the hardware test | Speaker tests |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy | Dial *#0*# in the Phone app. If nothing happens, turn off Auto Blocker in Settings, then Security and privacy |
Speaker and Receiver (earpiece) |
| Google Pixel | Dial *#*#7287#*#* to open Pixel Diagnostic |
The Audio tests |
| Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO | Dial *#*#6484#*#*, or tap Kernel version five times in Settings, then About phone, then Detailed info and specs |
Earpiece and main speaker in the CIT menu |
| iPhone | No dialer code | Apple Support can run diagnostics remotely |
Codes can be blocked on some carrier models. The Samsung Members app also has a diagnostics section with a speaker check. Press Back to leave a test menu; it changes nothing on the phone.
iPhone speaker test
On an iPhone, run this test in Safari, then compare with the sample sound in Settings, then Sounds and Haptics, as you drag the Ringtone and Alerts slider. If the Left or Right chime plays from both ends, Mono Audio may be on. If nothing plays from the browser but ringtones work, Silent mode is on. If the iPhone shows a liquid alert when you plug it in, the charging port is wet, not the speaker; let it dry before charging.
What this test cannot measure
The tester cannot hear your phone. It plays known sounds and relies on your answers, so it cannot measure loudness or the exact frequency response, and it cannot tell which physical speaker played. It also cannot force a phone that mixes to mono to play stereo. For a precise check of channels on headphones, use the left right audio test.
Phone speaker test questions
How do I test my phone speaker?
Open this page on the phone, turn the volume up and take off the case. Play the Left, Right and Both chimes and note which end each comes from, then play the music clip, the sweep and the rattle check. Answer each question and the verdict tells you whether both speakers work.
What is the code to test the speaker on a Samsung phone?
Open the Phone app and dial *#0*#. A test menu opens; tap Speaker for the bottom speaker and Receiver for the earpiece, then press Back to leave. If the code does nothing, turn off Auto Blocker in Settings, then Security and privacy.
How do I test my iPhone speaker?
Play this test, or open Settings, then Sounds and Haptics, and drag the Ringtone and Alerts slider: the speaker plays a sample as you move it. iPhones have no dialer code for hardware tests; Apple Support can run diagnostics on your phone if a speaker seems faulty.
Why is only one speaker working on my phone?
Many budget phones have only one loudspeaker at the bottom, and the earpiece works only in calls. On a phone with stereo speakers, one silent end is usually a blocked grille, water, or Mono Audio or balance settings, and less often a failed speaker.
Why does my phone speaker crackle?
A crackle on loud or deep sounds usually means the speaker cone is torn or something is caught against it. Test without the case and after cleaning the grille. If the rattle check still buzzes at a moderate volume, the speaker needs replacing.
Does the earpiece count as a speaker?
Yes. On iPhone 7 and later, including the iPhone SE second and third generation, and on many Android phones, the earpiece doubles as the second speaker for music and video. On phones with one loudspeaker, it plays only during calls and on speaker tests in the phone's own test menu.