iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Mini volume buttons unresponsive

[Takisca]

I just got the phone about a week ago & the volume buttons are unresponsive unless I open my control centre or a few hours after I restart the device. I thought downloading the latest software would fix the problem but to my shock & anger it still isn’t working properly. I’ve attached a video of the process I have to go through in order to increase/decrease the volume on my phone. I understand that this can seem like first world problems but it’s annoying that a brand new device isn’t working properly

 

[ericwn]

Maybe try to set it up again to see if that resolves the issue? A phone without working volume buttons is more than annoying.

 

[Takisca]

Maybe try to set it up again to see if that resolves the issue? A phone without working volume buttons is more than annoying.

I’ve tried everything man, I’ve contacted Apple support. They better let me exchange this crap

 

[kpeex]

Same happening here iOS 14.2.1, blue 64 GB mini. The volume buttons function normally for the phone, but not AirPlay. It brings up the slider on screen next to buttons. Slider goes up and down with volume buttons, but does not control volume in Music or Overcast or YouTube apps. The horizontal volume control in the apps like Music is missing, too.

This phone was also affected by the 'Lock Screen unresponsive' bug that was fixed by the 14.2.1 update.

 

[Takisca]

Same happening here iOS 14.2.1, blue 64 GB mini. The volume buttons function normally for the phone, but not AirPlay. It brings up the slider on screen next to buttons. Slider goes up and down with volume buttons, but does not control volume in Music or Overcast or YouTube apps. The horizontal volume control in the apps like Music is missing, too.

This phone was also affected by the 'Lock Screen unresponsive' bug that was fixed by the 14.2.1 update.

What are you planning on doing?

 

[jfim88]

Hi guys!

I’m having this problem in my 12 Pro, but it’s intermittent.

Not sure if it’s a software or hardware problem.

 

[dcpmark]

I’ve tried everything man, I’ve contacted Apple support. They better let me exchange this crap

Confused.....if it's a hardware issue and not a fixable bug, why wouldn't they?

 

[jfim88]

Hi guys!

I’m having this problem in my 12 Pro, but it’s intermittent.

Not sure if it’s a software or hardware problem.

Here’s a video

I think it’s a software issue because for example if I press Power + Volume Up to restart the phone it works.

 

[Takisca]

Hey guys, I ended up exchanging the phone for a new one. It was most definitely a hardware issue, the Apple support guys were helpful. I think you should definitely try that

 

[jfim88]

Hey guys, I ended up exchanging the phone for a new one. It was most definitely a hardware issue, the Apple support guys were helpful. I think you should definitely try that

Thanks for your response.

For my case it’s strange because when I have the problem volume don’t work but I can power off the phone using Power + Volume Up

 

[Takisca]

Thanks for your response.

For my case it’s strange because when I have the problem volume don’t work but I can power off the phone using Power + Volume Up

My situation was the same, the volume buttons worked properly with things like screenshots etc. it was just the volume that didn’t increase in YouTube apps or Music etc.

 

[jfim88]

I think I found the way to reproduce it.
I have a 12 Pro (iOS 14.2.1) and HomePod Mini (14.2.1).

If I’m in the Home Screen and press volume up or down, normally the volume bar animation appears and I can control the multimedia volume. But sometimes it doesn’t, here’s the way to reproduce.
1. In the Home Screen, adjust volume normally up or down.
2. Now go to control center, press and hold HomePod Mini, and play any song on it. Now volume buttons controls HomePod volume.
3. Go back to Home Screen.
4. Go back to control center, HomePod and pause the song.
5. Go back to Home Screen. Now, if I press volume up or down it do nothing. Even opening an app like YouTube and playing a video, can’t control the volume with the buttons. I need to restart the iPhone.
Please, can you test? Let me know the results. I have reported to Apple in the Feedback web.

 

[ericwn]

I think I found the way to reproduce it.
I have a 12 Pro (iOS 14.2.1) and HomePod Mini (14.2.1).

If I’m in the Home Screen and press volume up or down, normally the volume bar animation appears and I can control the multimedia volume. But sometimes it doesn’t, here’s the way to reproduce.
1. In the Home Screen, adjust volume normally up or down.
2. Now go to control center, press and hold HomePod Mini, and play any song on it. Now volume buttons controls HomePod volume.
3. Go back to Home Screen.
4. Go back to control center, HomePod and pause the song.
5. Go back to Home Screen. Now, if I press volume up or down it do nothing. Even opening an app like YouTube and playing a video, can’t control the volume with the buttons. I need to restart the iPhone.
Please, can you test? Let me know the results. I have reported to Apple in the Feedback web.

If you can reproduce it you should ring them up and escalate the issue so that somebody takes a look at the video. Best success!

 

[Moneymandc]

I have two iPhone minis. One for work one for personal. I used to have iPhone 11 and xr. When I got one mini I had to get two. (Hard to adjust back and forth from xr to small mini screen)
I fell in love. Later to notice my og iPhone mini (blue 128g) volume buttons don’t work like stated above. Confirming my iPhone 12 mini white 64g with cloud space works perfectly fine. Love the phone just need them to swap my blue one when I have my genius appointment.
Don’t let a small issue take away from the phone. New phones have bugs and flaws

 

[ericwn]

Yup this certainly looks like a bug especially if it works on some situations and not in others- not a component defect like a button switch. Hope this gets sorted soon - make sure you let Apple know. Especially if it’s intermittent, film it.

 

[matteiu]

I think I found the way to reproduce it.
I have a 12 Pro (iOS 14.2.1) and HomePod Mini (14.2.1).

If I’m in the Home Screen and press volume up or down, normally the volume bar animation appears and I can control the multimedia volume. But sometimes it doesn’t, here’s the way to reproduce.
1. In the Home Screen, adjust volume normally up or down.
2. Now go to control center, press and hold HomePod Mini, and play any song on it. Now volume buttons controls HomePod volume.
3. Go back to Home Screen.
4. Go back to control center, HomePod and pause the song.
5. Go back to Home Screen. Now, if I press volume up or down it do nothing. Even opening an app like YouTube and playing a video, can’t control the volume with the buttons. I need to restart the iPhone.
Please, can you test? Let me know the results. I have reported to Apple in the Feedback web.

hey jfim88 I had the exact same issue you describe (12 Pro 14.3 and HomePod mini 14.3), but I was not able to reproduce it as you suggested. However, I think it might be related to Airplay/Homepod as I also have a HomePod mini and it seemed that switching from my iPhone speaker to the HomePod would (sometimes) cause the volume button malfunctioning. I spoke with a senior advisor today and I reset the HomePod (from the home app, Reset at the bottom of settings, unplug it, plug it back in and configure it again); it's been working well so far! Plus the Hands-off feature works again (it didn't work before and this was another reason why I called today).

Hope that it works for you - and I hope that I actually fixed the problem, I guess I'll find out in a few days.

 

[jfim88]

hey jfim88 I had the exact same issue you describe (12 Pro 14.3 and HomePod mini 14.3), but I was not able to reproduce it as you suggested. However, I think it might be related to Airplay/Homepod as I also have a HomePod mini and it seemed that switching from my iPhone speaker to the HomePod would (sometimes) cause the volume button malfunctioning. I spoke with a senior advisor today and I reset the HomePod (from the home app, Reset at the bottom of settings, unplug it, plug it back in and configure it again); it's been working well so far! Plus the Hands-off feature works again (it didn't work before and this was another reason why I called today).

Hope that it works for you - and I hope that I actually fixed the problem, I guess I'll find out in a few days.

Thanks you! I’ll try that.

 

[ignatius345]

Just found this thread because my 12 Mini has come up with this intermittent volume button issue as well. I have a HomePod (not mini) and use AirPlay with it pretty frequently. I'll try resetting the HomePod and see if that does anything.

People who have this issue: has it been just when you're around the HomePod and/or on the wifi network it's connected to? The couple times this issue has come up in the past days, it's been away from home, and I've noticed it when I try to use a volume button to trigger the camera shutter.

 

[Takisca]

Just found this thread because my 12 Mini has come up with this intermittent volume button issue as well. I have a HomePod (not mini) and use AirPlay with it pretty frequently. I'll try resetting the HomePod and see if that does anything.

People who have this issue: has it been just when you're around the HomePod and/or on the wifi network it's connected to? The couple times this issue has come up in the past days, it's been away from home, and I've noticed it when I try to use a volume button to trigger the camera shutter.

Hey I also airplay on my original HomePod a lot. I don’t think that’s the issue, it seems like a hardware issue. As the 12 Mini I replaced it with has had no problem for the past few months

 

[ignatius345]

Hey I also airplay on my original HomePod a lot. I don’t think that’s the issue, it seems like a hardware issue. As the 12 Mini I replaced it with has had no problem for the past few months

Huh, ok, I got a little confused because @matteiu's post above seems to be saying it's somehow a software thing triggered by AirPlay.

This also just started happening, once yesterday and once today. In each case, restarting the phone has cleared it up but that's obviously not a great solution...

 

[DeepIn2U]

My situation was the same, the volume buttons worked properly with things like screenshots etc. it was just the volume that didn’t increase in YouTube apps or Music etc.

Interesting have not seen this problem except this thread then again I’m new to 12 mini anybody else with a 12 minute notice when you press the power button the sleep timing is delayed from any other iPhone or is it this iOS?!

 

[matteiu]

Huh, ok, I got a little confused because @matteiu's post above seems to be saying it's somehow a software thing triggered by AirPlay.

This also just started happening, once yesterday and once today. In each case, restarting the phone has cleared it up but that's obviously not a great solution...

Hi @ignatius345. Sadly the problem is still present; as you said, the only way to fix it currently is a restart. I doubt it's a hardware problem as @Takisca suggests, simply because in order to restart you need to use those same volume buttons that are seemingly not functioning, and indeed the restart goes through.

I got my iPhone 12 and HomePod mini at the same time, and I use HomePod with airplay every morning, so it's hard to say if I would get the same malfunctioning without the HomePod. However it seems to me like this new interface for controlling the volume of different devices gets confused: indeed after starting airplay, the volume buttons control the HomePod volume. I haven't followed up with Apple because it only happens sporadically, but it is an annoying bug. Even if some times you can still change the volume from the control center without using the buttons, other times it's fully stuck: I once had to go through a 1-hour call with the volume on my AirPods super high and could not change it because I needed a full restart.

 

[Capeto]

I had this happen to me once, same thing: volume buttons would not change volume but I could press them to toggle the shutdown screen. A reboot fixed it in my case, and it's possible it's related to AirPlay since I do have some Sonos speakers.

 

[joshua1710]

Just want to add that I have the exact same issue on my iPhone 12 mini 128gb running iOS 14.6. It occurs from time to time, the volume buttons won‘t do anything, whether in an app or on homescreen. I do not have a HomePod but do Airplay on my Apple TV 4k 2021. (yet it also occurs when I‘m not currently Airplaying anything). For me a restart solves it for the moment but it keeps coming up so I think Apple needs to fix this bug soon.
Volume buttons also work fine for screenshots and stuff like that on my phone, so as others have already mentioned I don‘t think it‘s a hardware problem.
I hope this will be fixed soon.