Hi,
I first posted this help request on Nokia Support Discussions on August 13, but amazingly I received no reply to date (I can't insert the link since I have no privileges for that as a new user).
I am experimenting a very weird and annoying problem with my Lumia 900. Some weeks ago, the volume level during the phone call became suddenly very low and barely noticeable. I can hardly hear the other speaker both calling and receiving a phone call. Apparently this behaviour is restricted to the phone call feature in normal mode. If I press the loudspeaker button, for example, I can hear the conversation perfectly as usual. Same using my earpiece: I can hear and talk without any problem. Moreover, the audio output appears to be OK outside the phone call itself: when using apps, music, games or any other feature except the phone call, I can't spot anything abnormal in the volume level, everything appears to work properly.
I would like to point out that:
1) the volume level during the call is set to the max. level as usual (10/10)
2) the master volume of the device, as set though both right-hand buttons, is set as usual to the max. level (30/30).
3) I turned off and on the device, I removed and reinserted the SIM card many times since then, unfortunately the problem persists
4) I did not notice any other problem before this happened, nor the device suffered any "catastrophic" event (such as drop, water or similar).
Basically, I can only hear a speaker during a phone call either keeping the loudspeaker always on or using the earpiece. It's like my call volume were set to 1 or 2, while it is actually set to 10.
Can you help me determine whether this issue may be software or hardware related in first place? Unfortunately bringing it to the Nokia Customer Care is not the first option for me at the moment. I bought my device in Europe, but I am currently in South America. I may consider using the local Nokia Customer Care and paying a fee, but first I would like some clarifications from engineers or advanced users.
Finally, a guy on another forum suggested me a hard reset. I confess I never did that before, is there any step-by-step instruction for this? Or does it make sense to wait for the next software update through Zune (currently I have 8779.12201, a new update however has been already released and should be available for my language within days or weeks).
Thank you very much in advance for any useful information
You can wait for the update or try a hard reset. A reset will restore you phone to factory fresh, so you will lose everything currently stored on the phone; photos, apps, messages, settings, etc. So be sure to sync with Zune to backup photos and videos first, and sync with your Live ID mail account to sync contacts. Restoring email accounts, contacts, apps and media are all easy, but could take a few hours (depending on how many apps you have). If you prepare for the reset (as you can) it makes things easier.
If your other option is to send you phone out for service, that could take weeks. So while painful, rh hard reset is the "quick" fix. If your volume problem persists after the hard reset, then you know its hardware related (be sure to check before and after installing any apps to eliminate any possibilities). If so, and after telling Nokia Care that a hard reset didn't solve the problem, it might just get you a replacement. Quicker than sending it out for an inspection. Hope you get it worked out.
Sent from my Lumia 900 using Board Express Pro
It makes no sense to wait. I assume you are still under your initial warranty, so do the hard reset...after, as jimski says, you save off any pics or music specific to the device. You will lose SMS and SMS history , and any game scores.
Use reinstalled to reinstall apps after the reset, to get or apps installed more quickly.
Hard reset is a harsh way to test this out. However, if you test the phone before reinstalling apps, you cut to the chase real quick. If this is a hardware issue, do NOT wait for a fix. Replace the device and be done with it.
Good luck
First of all, many thanks to you both for your kind reply. It is refreshing to finally have someone listening to you when you really need.
It appears that a hard reset should be the first step to do in any case. While I have no idea when the next update with Zune will be available for my language, I can try to solve the problem alone. Is there any tested step-by step procedure for flashing Lumia 900 or Lumia devices in general? If yes, would you please point me there with a link?
Both your replies convinced me that bringing the phone to the Nokia Customer Care here in South America is definitely not a good idea. Yes, I am still under my initial warranty, I bought my device end of June, the problem is that I bought it in Europe, so my warranty is not supposed to cover me here. If the issue is at hardware level, there is very little they can do here for me without to exburse a lot of money, not to talk about the waste of time. Should the hard reset not work, I guess I'll have to wait for my next travel to Europe or having someone bringing it there for me to have my device replaced.
Anyway, I will let you now about any progress.
Many thanks for your help.
barrel owl said:
First of all, many thanks to you both for your kind reply. It is refreshing to finally have someone listening to you when you really need.
It appears that a hard reset should be the first step to do in any case. While I have no idea when the next update with Zune will be available for my language, I can try to solve the problem alone. Is there any tested step-by step procedure for flashing Lumia 900 or Lumia devices in general? If yes, would you please point me there with a link?
Both your replies convinced me that bringing the phone to the Nokia Customer Care here in South America is definitely not a good idea. Yes, I am still under my initial warranty, I bought my device end of June, the problem is that I bought it in Europe, so my warranty is not supposed to cover me here. If the issue is at hardware level, there is very little they can do here for me without to exburse a lot of money, not to talk about the waste of time. Should the hard reset not work, I guess I'll have to wait for my next travel to Europe or having someone bringing it there for me to have my device replaced.
Anyway, I will let you now about any progress.
Many thanks for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll start by saying, the Hard Reset will not force you to re-flash your phone. It just resets it back to stock settings. This is in fact the easiest and best way to try to resolve problems with your phone. To do so, go into your settings menu. Go to About, and scroll down to 'reset your phone', tap that, and follow instructions. This will delete all your data and messages, so be sure you've backed up first.
If you Absolutely NEED to flash your phone back to OEM Stock, you can use my link here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1605144
One other thing to check (and what I suspect to be the problem) is the speaker itself. It sounds to me like you either have a failing speaker, or something is in the speaker hole. Look closely at it and see if there is dirt/lint/chocolate/peanuts/earwax/etc packed in the speaker grill. It's pretty easy for this to happen. Try blowing it out with canned air and see if that helps. Otherwise, it's probable that the speaker is going out or the connection is failing.
Good Luck, and be sure you decide before your warranty is gone. Send it off ASAP if the above items don't help. PS: Flashing back to stock may void your warranty, so decide if you want to take that chance, rather than wait for repair to return it.
Thank you very much again for your time. And yes, I had found that link in this forum and was already duly reading it. I just did not post this because I still have no privileges to post links.
SuperSport said:
One other thing to check (and what I suspect to be the problem) is the speaker itself. It sounds to me like you either have a failing speaker, or something is in the speaker hole. Look closely at it and see if there is dirt/lint/chocolate/peanuts/earwax/etc packed in the speaker grill. It's pretty easy for this to happen. Try blowing it out with canned air and see if that helps. Otherwise, it's probable that the speaker is going out or the connection is failing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One last question. Would you please clarify whether Lumia 900 has one or more speakers? The speaker grill on the bottom of the device has apparently no noticeable dirt or other foreign material inside it, anyway I will try blow it with air, maybe it will help. One thing I can't explain to me is why everything appears to be OK with the volume level except during phone calls. As I mentioned in my first post, the audio output with music, apps, games etc. is normal. When I use the loudspeaker in phone calls, no problem. So the question: is there any other speaker in Lumia 900 which is used for phone calls, for example on the top of the device? I don't think so, but if yes, this would definitely point to a hardware problem of THAT speaker.
Anyway, I will let you know about any progress.
Kind regards
barrel owl said:
Thank you very much again for your time. And yes, I had found that link in this forum and was already duly reading it. I just did not post this because I still have no privileges to post links.
One last question. Would you please clarify whether Lumia 900 has one or more speakers? The speaker grill on the bottom of the device has apparently no noticeable dirt or other foreign material inside it, anyway I will try blow it with air, maybe it will help. One thing I can't explain to me is why everything appears to be OK with the volume level except during phone calls. As I mentioned in my first post, the audio output with music, apps, games etc. is normal. When I use the loudspeaker in phone calls, no problem. So the question: is there any other speaker in Lumia 900 which is used for phone calls, for example on the top of the device? I don't think so, but if yes, this would definitely point to a hardware problem of THAT speaker.
Anyway, I will let you know about any progress.
Kind regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are in fact two different speaker outlets. There's the one at the bottom which is speakerphone, games, apps, etc... Then there is the one at the top in that little slot. That's the one I suspect is either clogged, or going bad.
EDIT: Do you have a case installed that might be blocking that speaker?
SuperSport said:
There are in fact two different speaker outlets. There's the one at the bottom which is speakerphone, games, apps, etc... Then there is the one at the top in that little slot. That's the one I suspect is either clogged, or going bad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got it. That makes (unfortunately) perfect sense. Chances are then that the issue is actually at hardware level
SuperSport said:
EDIT: Do you have a case installed that might be blocking that speaker?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No case.
Thanks a lot
Same issue with my lumia asian rom...
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Wow! I thought I was going crazy....'cause I've had the same issues for the past few months. When I got my Lumia 900, I was pleasantly surprised that my in-call volume actually DIDN'T need to be set to max (10/10), and I usually dialed it back to 8/10. Nice...but it began to get quiet so that even on 10/10 it was difficult to hear callers -- especially if I was standing outside. I thought it had to do with a ROM or firmware update, but so few people noted the same problem that I just assumed my phone was faulty.
<sigh>
Anyhow, I found this thread just 30 minutes ago, read through your story, and (for whatever reason) thought it thru more fully. I realized that since I keep my phone in my pocket, maybe the thin ear speaker grill (just above the screen) is full of lint?!? I grabbed a soft, dry toothbrush and took about 30 seconds to brush it out. I could actually see the debris clearing away. Made a test phone call and voila.........my earpiece volume is loud once again! Easy fix. Almost too easy
I hope this helps.
did you ever resolved the problem?
Hi guys love the forum finally joined !
So i recently bought ebay Lumia 900 they are going for cheap =) loving it!
In my case the speaker was working great actually the first week it was way too loud kept it under 7/10 all of a sudden now
i cant hear almost anything below 8/10 and when i go all the way to 10/10 it sounds muffled like a blown speaker already tried cleaning the grill
very carefully it had dust but that didn't help and also erased averything from the about settings
.
Anymore suggestions? Im in the latest update and obviously no warranty .
Thanks :cyclops:
Hi
Are there any updates on this problem,because I am also experiencing this and I think it happened after I did an update with Zune .
Thanks
Hard Reset to Nokia Lumia to address low volume during calls
How do you to a hard reset of the phone. I am ready to try that to solve the low volume problem. I literally took the phone out of the box on Thursday last week. I am getting very frustrated.
Thanks
Hi guys,
i feel pretty unlucky with my H815.
Last thread i opened was about random reboots and stuff.
This Thread is about Airpockets under the display glass.
Today i found out that my phone has little airpockts right below and next to the earpiece speaker, picture attached.
Nothing out of the ordinary happened to the phone today, so i guess this might again be a problem LG is responsible for.
These airpockets are not only disturbing the look of the phone but also make me feel really uncomfortable about using it for a longer period of time.
I am a little afraid that something might happen to my display when using it too much.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this?
My next steps will be to send an email to LG and than send it back in.
I am really really disappointed by the build quality of the Phone, if something else happens, i guess i will switch to another premium smartphone
I will keep you updated,
greetz
Esok
So i send an email to the LG Customer Support.
The answer is not quiete good.
They offered me that i can send in my phone for a warrantycheck.
I feel a little dissapointed by LG's Customer Support, this respond just isn't what i would expect when i pay 700€ for a phone.
Well at least i know i might never buy a LG-Product again, this is just not what i call good service.
Don't get me wrong, i love this phone, its awesome i'm just disappointed by the build quality and the customer support...
Next thing i will do is take it back to the retailer, to maybe get a fast solution.
Will keep you updated.
Greetz Esok