There are a few common reasons why your WhatsApp ringtones and notification sounds may be quieter than expected:
- Your phone’s ringer volume is low – Check your phone’s volume settings and make sure the ringer/media volume is turned up.
- You have enabled Do Not Disturb mode – This mutes sounds unless you specify exceptions.
- Custom notification settings for WhatsApp – Within WhatsApp you can set custom notification settings that may mute or lower volume.
- A specific issue with your phone’s speaker – Hardware problems could cause lower overall volume.
Below we’ll explore these issues in more detail and provide some steps to troubleshoot and fix quiet or muted WhatsApp ringtones and sounds on both iPhone and Android devices.
Check Your Overall Phone Ringer Volume
The first thing to check is your phone’s ringer / media / notification volume. On many phones, these volumes are adjustable independently from each other.
Make sure that the ringer volume itself is turned up high enough to hear incoming call ringtones and other media sounds.
To check ringer volume on iPhone:
- Go to Settings > Sound & Haptics
- Under ‘Ringer and Alerts’ check that the volume slider is set near maximum
To check ringer volume on Android:
- Find your volume rocker button on the side of the phone and press it.
- In the volume control pop-up that appears, make sure the ‘Ring’ volume is turned up.
If your overall phone ringer volume was low, adjusting it higher from these system settings should also increase the volume for your WhatsApp ringtones and sounds.
Disable ‘Do Not Disturb’ or ‘Silent Mode’
Many smartphones have Do Not Disturb or Silent modes that mute sounds and vibrations when enabled. If you have these active, it will mute WhatsApp ringtones even if your system volume is turned up.
To check Do Not Disturb on iPhone:
- Go to Settings > Do Not Disturb
- Make sure Do Not Disturb is Off or set to allow calls from Everyone
To check Do Not Disturb on Android:
- Open quick settings and look for a Do Not Disturb or Silent icon
- If enabled, tap it to disable Do Not Disturb
Disabling these modes allows normal ringtones, media, and alarms to play at their set system volumes again.
Adjust Custom WhatsApp Notifications Settings
Within WhatsApp’s own app settings, you can customize notifications and sounds specifically for that app. If you have lowered volumes or muted sounds here, it could cause quiet ringtones.
To check WhatsApp notification settings on iPhone:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Notifications
- Make sure ‘Sounds’ is enabled and volume sliders are up
To check WhatsApp notification settings on Android:
- Open WhatsApp and go to More Options > Settings > Notifications
- Tap ‘Sound’ and make sure there is a sound selected and volume enabled
Tweaking these WhatsApp-specific sound configs could override your global system sound settings and cause quiet tones.
Try Different Ringtones and Sounds
It’s possible the specific ringtone or sound effect set for WhatsApp notifications could be naturally quieter or flawed. Try changing to different ringtones and listen for volume differences:
- On iPhone: Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone
- On Android: WhatsApp > More Options > Settings > Notifications > Sound
If a different ringtone seems louder, it may be an issue only with the specific sound you had selected originally. Delete or avoid that quiet tone.
Rule Out Speaker / Hardware Issues
On some older phones, hardware issues like a failing loudspeaker or audio jack problems could result in much lower maximum volumes. But usually hardware problems big enough to mute your audio would affect more than just WhatsApp.
Try playing music, videos, speakerphone calls, and other media to hear if audio quality is generally degraded. If so, the phone may need repair service. Clean the speaker port thoroughly to remove any dust blocking sound.
But if it seems to only affect WhatsApp tones, it’s likely a software settings issue instead.
Restart Your Phone
Like with many electronic devices, a reboot can often fix quirky software gremlins. To fully rule out a temporary glitch, do a restart of your iPhone or Android phone.
Then reopen WhatsApp and check if ringtone volume is restored. If not, continue with other troubleshooting tips.
Update WhatsApp
While not a common issue, bugs in a particular WhatsApp version could cause notification sounds to not work right. Ensure you’re on the latest WhatsApp update:
- On iPhone: App Store > Updates tab
- On Android: Play Store > My Apps & Games > Update tab
Updating the app may resolve unexpected behavior like quiet tones.
Factory Reset as Last Resort
If you’ve tried every troubleshooting step and the issue persists only for WhatsApp ringtones getting muted, a factory reset of your iPhone or Android could be the nuclear option to fix it.
Back up your data first, then:
- On iPhone: Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings
- On Android: Settings > Backup & Reset > Factory Data Reset
This wipes the phone and resets all settings, which should resolve any strange software issues like muted WhatsApp ringtones.
Conclusion
Quiet, muted, or missing ringtones only for WhatsApp calls or messages usually points to an adjustable setting instead of a hardware defect. Check your phone’s ringer volume, disable Do Not Disturb modes, and customize WhatsApp notification settings specifically.
Updating, changing ringtones, restarting your phone, or a full factory reset can also help troubleshoot the issue. With the right settings tweaks, you can get WhatsApp ringtones sounding loud and clear again.
Summary of Main Troubleshooting Tips
- Increase overall phone ringer volume in system settings
- Disable Do Not Disturb or Silent mode
- Check WhatsApp notification sound settings
- Try different ringtones and alerts
- Rule out speaker defects
- Restart your phone
- Update WhatsApp to latest version
- Factory reset as last resort
Following the step-by-step guide above should resolve problems with quiet or silent WhatsApp ringtones on both iPhones and Android phones. With customized sounds enabled again, you won’t miss important WhatsApp calls and messages.
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Low ringer volume | Turn up ringer volume in system settings |
| Do Not Disturb enabled | Disable Do Not Disturb mode |
| Custom WhatsApp settings | Check and adjust sound notifications in WhatsApp |
| Specfic ringtone is quiet | Try different ringtones |
| Speaker hardware issue | Test other audio – may need repair |
| App glitch | Restart phone or update WhatsApp |
| Persistent software issue | Do a factory reset of phone |
FAQs about Quiet WhatsApp Ringtones
Why is my WhatsApp ringtone not loud?
If your WhatsApp ringtone volume is lower than expected, the most common reasons are: low system ringer volume, Do Not Disturb/Silent mode enabled, custom notification settings within WhatsApp, or using a specifically quiet ringtone.
How do I increase the ringtone volume on WhatsApp?
Go to your phone’s Settings > Sounds and turn up the ringer volume. Also check Settings > Notifications > WhatsApp and turn up sound volumes or change to a louder ringtone. Disable any Do Not Disturb or Silent modes.
Why is my WhatsApp ringtone mute?
If there is no ringtone at all for WhatsApp calls or messages, your system volumes could be muted or you may have specifically disabled notification sounds within WhatsApp’s settings. Check Do Not Disturb, ringer volume, and WhatsApp notification settings.
How do I change my WhatsApp ringtone?
On iPhone: Go to WhatsApp Settings > Notifications > Sounds to select a new ringtone.
On Android: Go to WhatsApp Settings > Notifications > Sound to pick a new ringtone.
Can you get custom WhatsApp ringtones?
Yes, you can install custom sound files as ringtones on both iOS and Android. On iPhone you’ll need to use iTunes on a computer to sync the custom ringtone. For Android you can directly load sound files as ringtones with a file manager app.
Why is my WhatsApp ringtone different than other apps?
WhatsApp lets you configure custom notification settings and ringtones just for that app. If tones are different vs other apps, check WhatsApp’s individual sound settings. You can set a unique ringtone for WhatsApp.
Conclusion
WhatsApp ringtones that are too quiet or missing entirely are usually easily fixed by adjusting settings. Increase overall volume levels, ensure Do Not Disturb is off, customize notification settings within WhatsApp, try different ringtones, and update the app. With the right troubleshooting, you can get WhatsApp ringtones sounding loud and clear.