Notifications LOUD during a call

[iamJoshRoth]

Back to Le Apple Store I go. Two members of staff both listened to my phone (connected a call to Apple Online switchboard) and then they text me.... the sound was ridiculous. So incredibly loud. They offered to refund on the spot or wait until 16.1 is released and see if that helps.

We tested with their phones and in the loud Apple Store, the message tone was barely audible. Mine is like a fog horn.

 

[BrianBaughn]

That's strange.. Not sure how deep you want to go but you can try to restore the phone and setup as new with no backup then see if it still does it. If it doesn't maybe something is whacked with your backup. If it still does it you can just restore using your backup and everything will be back to where you started.. Otherwise hopefully when 16.1 is released it will straighten it out

Unless you try this you won't know if the issue is in your "user account"/backup or not. It's a pain but has solved notification issues for me in the past.

 

[iamJoshRoth]

Unless you try this you won't know if the issue is in your "user account"/backup or not. It's a pain but has solved notification issues for me in the past.

Hi both. I restored the original phone twice, and did NOT RESTORE from a backup. Fresh iOS. Manually selected my apps and all settings, and waited for iCloud to restore messages and photos. Took days each time.

Because of this being unsuccessful, Apple replaced my perfect day-one phone for a Genius Bar one which has glue stuck on the buttons, and the same problem still present.

I don't know what to do next.

 

[0128672]

Hi both. I restored the original phone twice, and did NOT RESTORE from a backup. Fresh iOS. Manually selected my apps and all settings, and waited for iCloud to restore messages and photos. Took days each time.

Because of this being unsuccessful, Apple replaced my perfect day-one phone for a Genius Bar one which has glue stuck on the buttons, and the same problem still present.

I don't know what to do next.

Get another replacement since the Apple Store acknowledged the issue and point out there is glue stuck on the buttons as well. That's unacceptable. And then test it in the store during your Genius appointment. Don't leave if it's not right.

 

[iamJoshRoth]

Get another replacement since the Apple Store acknowledged the issue and point out there is glue stuck on the buttons as well. That's unacceptable. And then test it in the store during your Genius appointment. Don't leave if it's not right.

Thank you for the advice. I will have to wait for another replacement to come in, as that was the only one in stock. It seems the Pro Max's are in such short supply. Fingers crossed. It's driving me insane. Thank you again.

 

[Fred Zed]

Add me to this list. Notifications are Deafening whilst on a phone call.

 

[Machine1]

If you haven’t already heard Apple Support said to upgrade your iPhone to iOS 16.0.3

 

[iamJoshRoth]

Add me to this list. Notifications are Deafening whilst on a phone call.

Have you managed to find a way to stop it? I got my purple replacement, and it still did it. They happened to have black in stock, and I couldn't help myself. Bought one, set it up... totally fine. Apple Store refunded the purple one. I wish I still had the purple but seriously what good is having the lovely new colour if it deafens you each time. I wasn't able to run my business... was driving me insane. I hope yours has been replaced/is now fixed?

 

[iamJoshRoth]

If you haven’t already heard Apple Support said to upgrade your iPhone to iOS 16.0.3

Edit: the black one also has the issue.

 

[Fred Zed]

Have you managed to find a way to stop it? I got my purple replacement, and it still did it. They happened to have black in stock, and I couldn't help myself. Bought one, set it up... totally fine. Apple Store refunded the purple one. I wish I still had the purple but seriously what good is having the lovely new colour if it deafens you each time. I wasn't able to run my business... was driving me insane. I hope yours has been replaced/is now fixed?

No not yet. Although I installed 16.1 RC firmware yesterday. I’m yet to test it out.

 

[Fred Zed]

Have you managed to find a way to stop it? I got my purple replacement, and it still did it. They happened to have black in stock, and I couldn't help myself. Bought one, set it up... totally fine. Apple Store refunded the purple one. I wish I still had the purple but seriously what good is having the lovely new colour if it deafens you each time. I wasn't able to run my business... was driving me insane. I hope yours has been replaced/is now fixed?

One thing I read elsewhere that may or may not be related to this issue. One person was claiming that when they were on a phone call using the iPhone to their ear, they couldn’t increase or decrease the in call volume when the phone was against their ear. They had to effectively put the iPhone away from their ear so that they could adjust the in call volume.

 

[iamJoshRoth]

One thing I read elsewhere that may or may not be related to this issue. One person was claiming that when they were on a phone call using the iPhone to their ear, they couldn’t increase or decrease the in call volume when the phone was against their ear. They had to effectively put the iPhone away from their ear so that they could adjust the in call volume.

I was able to adjust. Except it was affecting both the volume of the caller and in turn the notification). Both were linked. If I tried to lower a notification, it lowered the call, too.

 

[Fred Zed]

I was able to adjust. Except it was affecting both the volume of the caller and in turn the notification). Both were linked. If I tried to lower a notification, it lowered the call, too.

So do we know what “drives” the notification volume on iOS ? I for sure never paid much attention to it before.

 

[iamJoshRoth]

So do we know what “drives” the notification volume on iOS ? I for sure never paid much attention to it before.

Nope. It is independent and not user controllable DURING a call. Otherwise you can control it from Sounds and increase/decrease with the side buttons as a call/alert is coming through or by adjusting the slider.

The proximity sensor - in theory - is meant to go 'oh this thing is being held next to someones ear, lets not blow their head off during a call and instead make a small blip sound or a vibration". Instead, my old phone(s) - inc the replacement, which had the same build week number, would just carry on blasting at full volume even over the call.

 

[Fred Zed]

I fixed my issue. I started to attach third party headphones I had connected in the past. Removed them from Bluetooth and app ( Edifier )then attached my Beats Pro and got that adjusted. Finally made some test calls via the iPhone directly and set the “change with buttons “ under sound and haptics off which bearing in mind didn’t make a difference before but now it does. All good.

One thing to note, I still can’t adjust the in call volume of a call when the phone is against my ear. I think this is by design limitation.

 

[iamJoshRoth]

I fixed my issue. I started to attach third party headphones I had connected in the past. Removed them from Bluetooth and app ( Edifier )then attached my Beats Pro and got that adjusted. Finally made some test calls via the iPhone directly and set the “change with buttons “ under sound and haptics off which bearing in mind didn’t make a difference before but now it does. All good.

One thing to note, I still can’t adjust the in call volume of a call when the phone is against my ear. I think this is by design limitation.

Sorry, I don't understand.

1. You had a set of headphones paired (this issue is when the phone is held to the ear by the way not with headphones)
2. Removed those headphones from paired devices
3. Then you paired Beats headphones
4. And used to volume buttons to adjust the call volume, when talking on the headphones?
5. ... and this corrected the issue of loud notifications, during a call, when not on headphones, and the phone is held against your ear?

 

[Fred Zed]

Sorry, I don't understand.

1. You had a set of headphones paired (this issue is when the phone is held to the ear by the way not with headphones)
2. Removed those headphones from paired devices
3. Then you paired Beats headphones
4. And used to volume buttons to adjust the call volume, when talking on the headphones?
5. ... and this corrected the issue of loud notifications, during a call, when not on headphones, and the phone is held against your ear?

Yes. I had two head phones paired with my iPhone. Beats Pro and Edifier . I changed the Edifier headphones to speaker type headphones instead of speakers. Made adjustments to notifications with them still paired until it sounded correct. I then deleted the Bluetooth profile for this headphone and also the Edifier app.

I then did the same with the Beats Pro headphones. But I didn’t delete it from my iPhone. I then rebooted device, unchecked change with buttons under haptic and sounds and all is good now. Doing just the former before ( change with buttons within sound and haptics ) didn’t yield any differences. I think the third party app and profile was effecting the notifications sounds of my actual iPhone earpiece since Bluetooth by default is always turned off on my device and I don’t use headphones much.

 

[iamJoshRoth]

Yes. I had two head phones paired with my iPhone. Beats Pro and Edifier . I changed the Edifier headphones to speaker type headphones instead of speakers. Made adjustments to notifications with them still paired until it sounded correct. I then deleted the Bluetooth profile for this headphone and also the Edifier app.

I then did the same with the Beats Pro headphones. But I didn’t delete it from my iPhone. I then rebooted device, unchecked change with buttons under haptic and sounds and all is good now. Doing just the former before ( change with buttons within sound and haptics ) didn’t yield any differences. I think the third party app and profile was effecting the notifications sounds of my actual iPhone earpiece since Bluetooth by default is always turned off on my device and I don’t use headphones much.

Sorry what do you mean by “I changed the Edifier headphones to speaker type headphones instead of speakers”?

When you had the headphones connected, as a notification came through whilst on a call you changed the volume with the side buttons or did you change in the Settings app itself?

Sorry I think for the small handful of people who have this issue we should get it all clear and correct 😇

 

[Fred Zed]

T

Sorry what do you mean by “I changed the Edifier headphones to speaker type headphones instead of speakers”?

When you had the headphones connected, as a notification came through whilst on a call you changed the volume with the side buttons or did you change in the Settings app itself?

Sorry I think for the small handful of people who have this issue we should get it all clear and correct 😇

There is a setting somewhere and I don’t remember where that tells the iPhone what type of output device the edifier headphones are. I chose headphones. Forget where it was. In any case after correcting it I deleted it inc the edifier app.

 

[profuturis]

There is definitely a problem with deafening notification sound on iPhone 14 Pro Max (IOS 16.1) confirmed also on iPhone 14 Pro.

When you are on a phone call and listening through upper call speaker (earphone) and receive for example a message there is extremely dangerous loud sound coming from it which is independant of the ringer and notification sound level in system settings. It is based on call volume, so you have to turn call volume to minimum to not be deaf. It is obviously a bug, which is probably not present on iPhone 13 and IOS 15.

Can You confirm it?

Steps to reproduce:
make a phone call,
set call valume to max,
get i text message with standard "ding" notification (it will not work when iWatch is on)

Watch out! My "ding" has a measured 116dB volume O_O

do You have this problem on iP 14 PM or iP 13?

 

[PaulG5645]

Hi there

I got the new 14 Pro Max on launch day and noticed the text messages / anything that came in during a call was RIDICULOUSLY loud. Like full volume. Which when you're on a call is... pretty loud.

I've gone through the settings and tried to figure out a way to turn this down and can't seem to find a way. Googling just brings up using the mute switch.

I've completed restored the phone and started afresh, too. No backup.

I swear they weren't like this on my 13 Pro?

Made an account just to tell you you’re not going crazy. Same exact issue here. I hate it wasted your time but I’m glad I checked that you’d already done almost every troubleshooting step there is. But yes. It is weird. It’s almost the same volume as a notification when not on a call. Proximity sensor, isn’t great honestly, but isn’t the issue. I’ve just made the habit of turning the phone on vibrate every time I’m on it. If I get bored enough one day I’ll call up Apple and complain about it. Sucks it’s an auditory/volume thing so you can’t really capture it easily.

 

[profuturis]

I have written about it on Apple Support Community and my post was deleted:
"We removed your post "LOUD notification sound during phone call" because it was nontechnical or off-topic. We understand wanting to share experiences, but these forums are meant for technical questions that can be answered by the community."

I have contacted Apple Support and they told me to wipe my iphone and make a clean install. I doubt that it would help, it looks like global problem, my colleague has the same issue. I will check it though.

 

[profuturis]

here is the dB reading during phone call on upper ear speaker when "ding" notification sound kicks in.

It was measured few milimeters from speaker.

UPDATE: iPhone wipe and restore with clean start without backup will not help, just tested it...

 

[Fred Zed]

I’m sure none of this is related to the ability of not being able to adjust in call volume when the iPhone is against your ear on a call either then 😉

 

[iamJoshRoth]

Made an account just to tell you you’re not going crazy. Same exact issue here. I hate it wasted your time but I’m glad I checked that you’d already done almost every troubleshooting step there is. But yes. It is weird. It’s almost the same volume as a notification when not on a call. Proximity sensor, isn’t great honestly, but isn’t the issue. I’ve just made the habit of turning the phone on vibrate every time I’m on it. If I get bored enough one day I’ll call up Apple and complain about it. Sucks it’s an auditory/volume thing so you can’t really capture it easily.

Thanks for signing up just to confirm you have the same issue. Besides you and one other poster I can't see anyone with this issue. I wonder what we have in common? Do we all have AirPods by any chance?

I have tried everything...

The MOST peculiar thing I that I have gone through 4 iPhone Pro Max's and every single one has had the same issue. I am starting to wonder if - based on what someone said about headphones - if there is an iCloud bug related to 'remembering' your iCloud-linked AirPods.

I have two iPhone Pro Max's (both 14's) - one personal, one work. I've had the personal one replaced twice due to this issue, hence the 4 phones. Each time they have been setup as brand new phones, I have not copied over a single thing BESIDES iCloud data.

But, I have noticed that each phone is already linked to my AirPods Pro. I have noticed the problem does not present when the AirPods Pro are in my ears.. so maybe there is some bizarre bug here as someone mentioned with their Edifer headphones.

I don't know. It is wrecking my head in all honesty. Literally and audibly.