How to Clean iPhone Speakers (Bottom & Earpiece) Safely

What you need

• A soft-bristled toothbrush (new, clean and dry) or a soft makeup brush.
• Painter’s tape, masking tape or Blu Tack / Sticky Tack.
• A lint-free microfiber cloth.
• Optional: 70% isopropyl alcohol for greasy earpiece build-up.

How to clean the iPhone bottom speaker

1. Remove the case and turn the iPhone off.
2. Brush the grille: hold the iPhone with the speaker facing down and brush side-to-side across the holes with light pressure. Gravity takes the dust away from the speaker.
3. Lift with tape: roll a piece of painter’s tape around your finger (sticky side out), press lightly onto the grille and peel off. Repeat with fresh tape until no more lint comes off.
4. Shake loose what’s inside: turn the iPhone on, open the iPhone speaker cleaner, select Deep Clean and play it with the speaker facing down.
5. Brush once more to collect anything the vibration brought to the surface.

On iPhone 7 and later, one bottom grille is the speaker and the other covers the microphone. Clean both gently.

How to clean the iPhone earpiece (top speaker)

1. Brush along the earpiece slot with the soft toothbrush, sideways, using very light pressure.
2. For skin oil, makeup or sunscreen, barely dampen the bristles with 70% isopropyl alcohol (tap off the excess) and brush again. Don’t let liquid drip into the slot.
3. Press tape or Blu Tack on the slot and peel away.
4. Check your screen protector isn’t partly covering the slot.

Calls still quiet? See iPhone ear speaker not working.

What not to use

• Toothpicks, pins and SIM tools — easily puncture the water-resistant mesh behind the grille.
• Compressed air — Apple advises against it; it can damage the speaker membrane and push dust deeper.
• Cotton swabs — leave fibres.
• Cleaning sprays, bleach, or soaking the phone.

Wet rather than dirty?

If the sound changed suddenly after rain, a shower or a spill, it’s water, not dust. Use the water eject sound instead (Water Eject mode), point the speaker down and run it 2–3 times. Then follow how to eject water from an iPhone speaker.

Check the result

Play music you know well, or rotate to landscape and use the left/right speaker test to compare the bottom speaker with the earpiece. They should sound similarly bright and clear.

Frequently asked questions

How do I clean my iPhone speaker without damaging it?

Use a soft dry toothbrush and painter’s tape on the grille, then play the Deep Clean sound with the speaker facing down. Avoid pins, compressed air and liquids.

Can I use alcohol to clean my iPhone speaker?

Only a barely-damp toothbrush with 70% isopropyl alcohol on the outside of the earpiece grille for greasy build-up. Never drip liquid into the speaker.

Why does my iPhone speaker sound muffled?

Usually dust, lint or water in the grille. Less often, a software setting or hardware fault. Clean it, run the water eject sound, then test.