How to clean your iPhone speaker.

Don't poke the speaker holes

It's tempting to dig at the grille with a pin, SIM tool or toothpick, but that's the fastest way to push lint deeper or tear the speaker mesh. Compressed air can force moisture further in. The safe way to clean out iPhone speakers is to vibrate the debris loose — which is exactly what sound does.

How to clean your iPhone speaker, step by step

• Wipe the grille gently with a dry, soft brush or microfibre cloth to lift surface lint.
• Open SpeakerMate (free in your browser or the app) and place the phone face down.
• Pick a mode — Water Eject for moisture, Dust & Lint for muffled sound.
• Tap start and let the calibrated tones run for about 30 seconds.
• Run the Health Check to confirm your speaker is clearer.

When sound isn't enough

If your speaker stays muffled after a few cleans, the cause may be heavier water damage or a hardware fault rather than debris. SpeakerMate is a maintenance aid, not a repair for liquid-damaged devices — in that case, book a professional check.