Sometimes having your phone on the silent setting is perfect for social environments. Not everyone around you wants to hear every notification from a phone call or text. Enabling the vibrate functionality will let you know there’s a notification without disturbing those around you. Unfortunately, sometimes when your phone is in silent mode, your iPhone won’t vibrate properly.
To fix an iPhone that won’t vibrate on silent, you’ll want to enable the vibrating functionality in Settings. If vibrate is enabled already, you may have to restart or reset your iPhone to bypass the momentary glitch. A factory reset is necessary to restore the vibration feature in extreme circumstances.
In rare cases, the phone’s vibration motor might be faulty or damaged, preventing the phone from vibrating. An AppleCare specialist should be able to diagnose and correct this problem.
Putting the phone into DFU Mode for tech-savvy iPhone users can help restore hardware settings and correct possible issues. While this is a detailed process, restoring the iPhone through DFU Mode can be straightforward and easy to do after just a few tries.
Table of Contents
Make Sure Vibrate is Enabled
One of the most straightforward fixes for a phone not vibrating is ensuring the vibrate functionality is enabled.To enable the vibrate functionality, you’ll need to:
- Settings– Open settings on your iPhone and select the menu item titled Sounds & Haptics. Next, scroll down to Vibrate.
- Vibrate– Under the Vibrate menu, you’ll want to ensure both “Vibrate on Silent” and “Vibrate on Ring” are toggled to the on position. Sometimes, having these settings turned off will prevent your phone from vibrating while in silent mode.
Adjust Vibration Pattern
It may be that your iPhone is vibrating, but you’re just unable to detect the pattern, or the pattern is not selected. To ensure you have the correct vibration pattern enabled, you’ll need to:
- Settings– Go to your iPhone’s settings and scroll to the Sound & Haptics menu. Select Ringtone and navigate to Vibration.
- Select Pattern– Next, select the vibration pattern for your vibration. Ensure that your vibration pattern is set and isn’t defaulting to “none.” Without a chosen vibration pattern, your phone will not vibrate in silent mode.
Apple offers several vibration pattern options, so you can choose a pattern that suits you best. Be sure to select a pattern you’ll be able to feel, even if your iPhone is in your pocket or bag.
Change Accessibility
Your iPhone has special Accessibility settings that also feature the vibration function. Sometimes, these settings are not set correctly, preventing your phone from vibrating when in silent mode.To update your Accessibility settings on your iPhone, you need to:
- Settings– Go to Settings on your iPhone and select Accessibility from the menu options.
- Touch– Go into the Touch menu, and look for the Vibration option on the next screen.
- Toggle On– You’ll want to ensure the Vibration setting is toggled in the On position, which shows a green color on the toggle button.
iPhone Restart
Sometimes, just a simple restart will get your iPhone vibrating again. After ensuring the settings are correct to enable vibrating, try restarting your phone. This quick restart can get an iPhone working again if it is stuck in a minor processing error. To restart your phone, you’ll want to:
- Settings– Go to the Settings application and select General.
- Shut Down– Select Shut Down. A new screen will pop up, and users must slide the toggle to power off the iPhone.
- Power Up– Wait about 30 seconds with the phone off. Then, power the iPhone back up by using the Power button. Try to test the vibration once the phone has restarted.
As a good practice, restarting your iPhone periodically can help eliminate potential glitches and connection interruptions that can come from running various processes in the background of your day-to-day phone usage.Restarting your iPhone at least once a week is a good best practice.
Could My Vibrate Motor Be Damaged?
In rare cases, the motor that controls thevibrating feature is faulty and won’t work, preventing the phone from vibrating,even when all the menu options and preferences are selected correctly. To quickly test your vibrate motor, you can:
- Settings– Go to Settings and select the Sounds menu.
- Toggle– Toggle both Vibrate on Silent and Vibrate on Ring to the On position.
- Test– As a test, you should feel your phone start to vibrate when you select this option. If your phone doesn’t vibrate, you can be pretty sure your phone’s motor isn’t working right. An AppleCare specialist should be able to help fix this problem.
Sometimes, replacing the iPhone motor is a simple process and may be covered with your Apple warranty.
If not, an AppleCare specialist will be able to walk you through your options to either repair or replace your iPhone.
Could I Have a Hardware Issue?
From time to time, the issue with a non-vibrating phone may be related to a hardware setting on your iPhone. You’ll want to adjust your DFU Mode to troubleshoot a potential hardware issue.
The DFU mode for an iPhone is a special status that will allow you to enter recovery mode without going into a fully automatic bootloader program.
It can take a couple of tries to press the right buttons in the right order successfully, but most people will be able to get into the DFU Mode after just a few attempts. I had to try multiple times when my iPhone would not swipe up, so be patient.
For a newer iPhone, like an X, XS, XS Max, or XR, you’ll want to:
- Computer– Plug your phone into a computer. Next, open iTunes. You’ll need to press the following buttons quickly, and in this order:Press and release Volume Up Button. Press and release Volume Down Button.
- Side Button– After pressing the volume buttons successively, you’ll need toIMMEDIATELYpress and hold theSide Button. If successful, the screen will turn black. Be sure to keep holding the Side Button while you press and hold down the Volume Down Button (You should be holding both buttons).
- Release– After about five seconds,release only the Side Button while still holding the Volume Down Button.
- iTunes– A message should appear on your iTunes that says it has detected Recovery mode has been enabled on your iPhone. When this message pops up, immediately release the Volume Down Button. You are now successfully in DFU Mode. The screen should be blank.
- Computer– Next, click OK in the pop-up message on the computer. Select the option to Restore iPhone. Once clicked, the iPhone will begin restoring itself. After completing the process, your phone will display the welcome “Hello” screen, starting the initial setup process.
- Continue and Test– Continue setting up your iPhone. After you have completed the prompts, try to enable the vibrate mode while on silent.
To exit the DFU mode, you’ll want to press the Volume Up Button followed by the Volume Down Button. Press and hold the Side Button until the iPhone displays the Apple Logo in the center of the screen.Once the Apple Logo appears, you’ll be able to continue using your phone as normal.
Factory Reset
You can try the factory reset option when you have exhausted other options to get your phone to vibrate again.Please be sure your settings and files are properly backed up in iCloud before attempting a factory reset. This option will set your phone back to factory standards, which will wipe out preferences and saved settings.
To start the factory reset for an iPhone, you’ll need to:
- Settings– First, go to Settings and select General from the menu. Next, navigate to the Transfer or Reset iPhone option.
- Passcode– At this point, you might be asked to enter either your passcode for your iPhone or your Apple ID to continue.
- Wait– Your device will take a few minutes to erase and return to the factory settings. Be patient while your device cycles through its functions. After a few minutes, your phone will be completely reset. Try to download your saved settings and files from iCloud and try to enable vibrate again.
After you try to test the vibrate functionality again, you can restore your settings and files. Download your personal preferences and files from iCloud to restore your phone to your original preferences.
The Factory Reset option should be used as a last resort because it will restore your iPhone to factory settings.
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FAQs
Why has my iPhone stopped vibrating on silent? ›
On iPhone 7 and later, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics. On earlier iPhone models, go to Settings > Sounds. You can choose if you want your iPhone to vibrate when set to Ring or Silent mode. If you turn off both settings, your iPhone won't vibrate.
Why isn't my iPhone vibrating when I get a call? ›Tap "Settings" located on your iPhone's home screen. Tap "Sounds." Locate the "Vibrate" heading under Ringers and Alerts. Move the slider on the bar located next to "Vibrate" all the way over to the right to turn it on.
Why isn't my phone vibrating on Silent mode? ›Make Sure both 'Vibrate on Ring' and 'Vibrate on Silent' are turned on. The “Vibrate on Silent” will allow your iPhone to vibrate in silent mode, and “Vibrate on Ring” allows your phone to ring and vibrate at the same time.
How do I reset my iPhone to vibrate? ›Set sound and vibration options
Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics. To set the volume for all sounds, drag the slider below Ringtone and Alert Volume. To set the tones and vibration patterns for sounds, tap a sound type, such as ringtone or text tone.
If your phone doesn't vibrate when you receive a new call, you must ensure the 'Vibrate while ringing' setting is enabled. It's possible you have disabled the vibration by mistake and forgot to enable it. To do so, go to Settings > Sounds and vibration. Enable the toggle for Vibrate while ringing.
What does haptic mean on iPhone? ›Haptic feedback is the tap or quick vibration you feel when interacting with different elements of your iPhone. Apple is researching how to make swiping across an iOS screen feel more tactile. Combining haptic feedback with visual feedback can make interacting with an iOS device more efficient and intuitive.
How do I make my phone buzz? ›- Press a volume button.
- At the right, tap the Menu .
- If needed, tap See more.
- Turn on Vibrate for calls. Or tap Vibration & haptics Vibrate for calls. Turn on Always vibrate.
Haptics can be defined as tactile feedback produced by an electronic device that relays information to the end user. For instance, when your phone buzzes once in your pocket, you know that you've just received a notification. If your phone buzzes repeatedly in succession, you are likely receiving a phone call.
How do I check my Vibration on my iPhone? ›- Set vibration options for specific alerts: Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics. See Change iPhone sounds and vibrations.
- Turn off all vibrations: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch, then turn off Vibration.
Swipe down from the top right corner to access Control Center, then drag the Volume slider all the way to the bottom until the iPhone is on silent mode and muted. You will need to return to Control Center to get the iPhone to unmute and play sound and audio again, assuming the Mute / Silent switch is not working.
How do I make my iPhone vibrate IOS 16? ›
Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics or Settings > Sounds. Select an option (like Ringtone or New Mail) under Sounds and Haptic Patterns or Sounds and Vibration Patterns. Tap Vibration, then tap Create New Vibration.
How do I reset my vibration settings? ›...
Review or change the following settings:
- Ring vibration.
- Notification vibration.
- Touch feedback.
Disabling the System Haptics above doesn't stop haptic feedback when using 3D Touch, Haptic Touch, or other features on your iPhone. If you want to get rid of all the haptic feedback, you need to turn off all iPhone vibrations. This means your phone will no longer vibrate when you get a phone call or a text.
How do I test my iPhone vibration motor? ›- Flip the Ring / Silent switch on the left side of your iPhone back and forth a few times.
- If your iPhone doesn't vibrate, the vibration motor may be broken, but there could still be a software issue at play.
Accessing the Secret Diagnostic Menu
To get the ball rolling, simply open your Samsung's phone app. From there, enter *#0*# using the dial pad, and the phone will immediately go into its secret diagnostic mode. Note that the process is automatic, so there's no need to tap on the green call button to enter the command.
For Samsung Android models, swipe down from the top of the screen, tap the sound options, then turn on vibrate. For other Androids, press a physical volume button, then tap the Ring icon to switch to Vibrate mode.
What is the difference between haptic and vibration? ›In essence, haptics is about conveying information to the user/operator through their sense of touch, whilst vibration alerting is about capturing a user's attention after an event or in an emergency.
Is haptics the same as vibration? ›Haptics transmit tactile information using sensations such as vibration, touch, and force feedback. Haptics is defined as a technology that transmits tactile information using sensations such as vibration, touch, and force feedback.
What is an example of a haptic? ›The most well-known examples of haptics are probably the vibration in a mobile phone or the rumble in a game controller, but there are actually a huge variety of applications: wearables, AR/VR experiences (also known as spatial computing), digital out-of-home advertising, automotive infotainment and high-end military ...
Can I make my iPhone vibrate constantly? ›Tap your screen to create the vibration you want. Holding your finger down creates a continuous vibration, tapping once creates a single vibration, and lifting your finger creates a pause.
What is audio ducking on iPhone? ›
Audio Ducking: Temporarily reduce media playback volume when VoiceOver speaks. Auto-select Speaker in Call: Automatically switch to the speaker during a call when you're not holding iPhone to your ear.
Does Silent mode turn off haptics? ›If you want your phone to go completely silent without actually turning it off, though, you can disable haptic feedback while in Silent mode. To do that, start the Settings app and tap Sound & Haptics. In the Ring/Silent Mode Switch section, turn off Play Haptics in Silent Mode by swiping the button to the left.
Why iPhone haptics are better? ›Apple's Taptic Engine provides an unmatched haptic feedback experience, from the strong vibration that mimics your ringtone and becomes less intense as you pick up your phone to the more subtle haptics you feel when unlocking your iOS device using Face ID.
How do I find my vibration mode? ›The number of vibrational normal modes can be determined for any molecule from the formula given above. For a diatomic molecule, N = 2 so the number of modes is 3×2−5=1. For a triatomic linear molecule (CO2), it is 3×3−5=4 and triatomic nonlinear molecule (H2O), it is 3×3−6=3 and so on.
How do you check your vibration? ›Vibration is most commonly measured using a ceramic piezoelectric sensor or accelerometer. Most accelerometers rely on the use of the piezoelectric effect, which occurs when a voltage is generated across certain types of crystals as they are stressed.
Why am I not getting notifications even though they are turned on? ›Notification Settings
You may have accidentally turned off either the system notifications or the app's push notifications. Go to settings and make sure both of these options are enabled. To enable an app's notifications, turn on the show notifications trigger.
- Message notifications can be set to silent or vibrate mode on your Apple iPhone 11 Pro. ...
- Go to the Home screen. ...
- Scroll down. ...
- Choose Text Tone.
- To turn on silent mode for message notifications, choose None.
- Silent mode has been turned on. ...
- To enable vibration mode for message notifications, choose an option.
Clean the Mute Toggle Switch
Eventually it can become hard to toggle the switch. And if you never touch this switch (if your iPhone is always on vibrate mode, for instance), it's likely full of dirt. Take a fine toothpick and scrape the grime out. Flip the switch a few times so you can clean both sides.
Lifetime guarantee. Price: $99. Broken iPhone 11 mute switch repair in 1 hour.
How do you undo silent mode? ›Use the power button. Press the Android phone's "Power" button and hold it until a menu appears on the screen. Clear the "Silent Mode" check box in the menu to disable the Silent Mode option.
How do I make my phone vibrate only on silent? ›
- Press a volume button.
- At the right, tap the Menu .
- If needed, tap See more.
- Turn on Vibrate for calls. Or tap Vibration & haptics Vibrate for calls. Turn on Always vibrate.
1. Go for Settings -> Sounds & Haptics and Turn ON Play Haptics in Ring Mode & Play Haptics in Silent Mode. 2. In the same menu tap on Keyboard Feedback and enable Haptic.
How can I increase my vibration again? ›- Gratitude. Gratitude is one of the quickest ways to amp up your vibration. ...
- Love. ...
- Generosity. ...
- Meditation and Breathwork. ...
- Forgiveness. ...
- Eat High-Vibe Food. ...
- Reduce or Eliminate Alcohol and Toxins from Your Body. ...
- Think Positive Thoughts.
In cases of unbalance, misalignment and resonance, high vibration is a cause of bearing failure.
Why are my iphones Haptics not working? ›Check if vibration is enabled for touch response
While you have enabled the Haptics from Settings, you might still feel the haptic feedback is not working on your iPhone. This could be because you have not turned on the following option: Open Settings → tap Accessibility. Select Touch under Physical and Motor.
Keyboard haptics in general are known to tax the battery harder and the reason behind this is simple – the vibration motor has to work more to emulate the key strokes. Hence, if you text a lot, having the keyboard haptics enabled can drain the battery. That said, the drain shouldn't happen at an alarming rate.
How important is Haptics? ›It is a form of nonverbal communication and the way by which people communicate via touching. Touch, or the haptic sense, is extremely important for humans, as well as providing information about surfaces and textures. Haptics is a component in interpersonal relationships and vital in conveying physical intimacy.
Why doesn't my iPhone vibrate on silent anymore? ›Enable Vibration in Accessibility
If vibration isn't enabled here, your iPhone will not vibrate on Silent or Ring mode either. Therefore, go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch, and then toggle on Vibration.
On iPhone 7 and later, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics. On earlier iPhone models, go to Settings > Sounds. You can choose if you want your iPhone to vibrate when set to Ring or Silent mode. If you turn off both settings, your iPhone won't vibrate.
Can iPhone vibration be fixed? ›If you have a sensitivity or intolerance to vibrations, you can customize iPhone to suit your needs. Set vibration options for specific alerts: Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics. See Change iPhone sounds and vibrations. Turn off all vibrations: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch, then turn off Vibration.
Why is my iPhone not vibrating iOS 16? ›
1. Go for Settings -> Sounds & Haptics and Turn ON Play Haptics in Ring Mode & Play Haptics in Silent Mode. 2. In the same menu tap on Keyboard Feedback and enable Haptic.
Why is my iPhone 14 not vibrating? ›To do so: Go to Settings > Sounds > Make Sure Vibrate on Ring is enabled. Step 2: Put Your iPhone in Ring Mode. To put your iPhone in Ring mode, move the Ring/Silent switch on the left side of your iPhone so that orange isn't showing. Step 3: Enable iPhone Vibration in All Way.
Why is my iPhone not vibrating when I get a text iOS 14? ›On the left side of your iPhone, there's a small switch to turn on/off iPhone silent mode. Generally, when you turn on the silent mode, you can feel a slight vibrate and this means your iPhone vibration is working. Just toggle the silent switch 2 or 3 times, check if your iPhone vibration is back to normal.
Where is vibrate on silent iOS 16? ›- From a Home screen on your Apple® iPhone®, tap. Settings. . If unavailable, swipe left to access the App Library.
- Tap. Sounds & Haptics. .
- From the 'RING / SILENT MODE' section, tap the following to turn on or off : Play Haptics in Ring Mode. Play Haptics in Silent Mode.
- Press a volume button.
- At the right, tap the Menu .
- If needed, tap See more.
- Turn on Vibrate for calls. Or tap Vibration & haptics Vibrate for calls. Turn on Always vibrate.
Haptics can be defined as tactile feedback produced by an electronic device that relays information to the end user. For instance, when your phone buzzes once in your pocket, you know that you've just received a notification. If your phone buzzes repeatedly in succession, you are likely receiving a phone call.
Why is my phone not vibrating iOS 15? ›On iPhone 7 and later, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics. On earlier iPhone models, go to Settings > Sounds. You can choose if you want your iPhone to vibrate when set to Ring or Silent mode. If you turn off both settings, your iPhone won't vibrate.
Why is my iPhone se not ringing or vibrating incoming texts anymore? ›If your iPhone won't ring, it may be a volume or settings issue that can be easily resolved. You should first try fixes like checking the volume and turning off Focus, Do Not Disturb, or Silent mode. Consider restarting your phone or having it serviced as a final step to fix your iPhone.
Where is vibrate on iPhone IOS 16? ›Set vibration options for specific alerts: Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics. See Change iPhone sounds and vibrations. Turn off all vibrations: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch, then turn off Vibration.