How to clean iPhone 13 speaker

If you want your iPhone to sound as good as possible, you’ll need to learn how to clean iPhone speakers. Much like the charging port, iPhone speakers can easily become blocked by dust and debris over time. This results in a poor quality of sound from your iPhone as well as calls which are hard to hear. So you’ll want to give your speakers a clean when it reaches this point. 

The problem is, your iPhone speakers are surprisingly delicate, and if you’re too aggressive or use the wrong method, you can easily cause damage. Cleaning the speakers is not as straightforward as learning how to clean a clear phone case, but it is entirely possible. Here, we will take you through the best ways to clean your speakers, including what not to do. Here’s how to clean iPhone speakers. 

How to clean iPhone speakers and get rid of gunk  

What you'll need

A soft bristled brush (optional)

Painter’s tape (optional)

Toothpick (optional)

Air blower (optional) 

Flashlight (optional)

There are a couple of methods you can use to clean out your iPhone’s speakers depending on what you have available at home. Here, we will take you through each of them. 

The most important thing to note is not to use any liquids when cleaning these components. Liquids can easily damage the internals of your iPhone, so you won’t be doing yourself any favors — even with rubbing alcohol.  

Method 1 — A soft bristled brush

A soft bristled brush is what Apple (opens in new tab) itself recommends to clean the speakers. 

1. Remove any cases and screen protectors from your iPhone. 

2. Shine a flashlight, such as the Energizer LED Tactical Flashlight ($9.98, Amazon (opens in new tab)) into the speaker openings so you can see what you’re dealing with. 

3. Make sure the brush you’re about to use is soft-bristled, clean and dry, so it won’t cause damage. Paint brushes, or makeup brushes are useful for this. We recommend the 30-piece Round Paint Brush set ($6.99, Amazon (opens in new tab)).

4. Starting with the receiving speaker, gently brush from side to side, angling so dust is brushed out rather than pushed in. 

5. Do this several times, tapping any excess dust out of the brush between strokes. 

6. You can also use a soft bristled brush to remove excess dust from the lower speaker holes near the charging port. Insert the bristles into the holes gently, rotate softly and remove to pull out dust and debris.   

Method 2 — Painter’s tape 

Another popular method is to use painter’s tape or masking tape. This kind of tape isn’t as strong as other sorts and won’t leave any residue behind on your phone. 

1. Remove the case and screen protector so you can easily access the speakers.

2. Use your flashlight for a better view of the debris. 

3. Wrap a small piece of painter’s tape around the tip of your finger, sticky side down. We recommend STIKK Blue Painters Tape ($9.97, Amazon (opens in new tab)).

4. Place your finger over the receiving speaker and roll from side to side to collect dust. You don’t need to apply lots of pressure, just enough for the tape to reach into the speaker. 

5. You will need to roll the tape into more of a point to be effective on the smaller speaker holes at the bottom of your phone. 

Method 3 — Toothpick 

Toothpicks can be used for this job, but you should do so cautiously because they can damage the internals if used incorrectly. Because of this, you should only try this method at your own risk. Toothpicks should only be used on the lower speakers near the charging port if you can visibly see they’re clogged.  

1. Remove your phone case if necessary and have your flashlight ready so you can better see what you’re doing. 

2. Using the sharp end of a wooden or plastic toothpick, insert the toothpick into the speaker holes gently. Don’t use pressure as you do this, and don’t push any further once you feel resistance. 

3. Then slightly tilt the toothpick sideways and up as you pull it out, until it flicks the debris out. Make sure you don’t tilt it down to avoid damage. 

Method 4 — Air blower 

Some sites recommend using compressed air to clean iPhone speakers, but this can easily cause damage. A far safer method is to use an air blower, such as the Soft Tip Silicone Super Air Blower ($7.99, Amazon (opens in new tab)). This can be used to blow out any excess dust once you’ve used one of the above methods. 

1. Hold your air blower a short distance from the speakers and use a few short bursts to remove dust and debris. It won’t be as strong as compressed air, but that’s a good thing.   

2. If necessary, bring your air blower closer for more effect. 

3. Use your flashlight to check on the progress and repeat if necessary.  

If your iPhone’s sound quality still seems distorted, you may have an issue with the software rather than blocked speakers. You can try turning it off and on again to rectify this. If the problem still persists, unfortunately you may have to take it in for repairs.  

Now you know how to clean your Apple phone's speakers, why not check out our other iPhone-related guides, including how to change your iPhone's ringer volume using side buttons, how to set TikTok videos as iPhone wallpapers, how to stop spam texts on iPhone, how to enable Back Tap on iPhone and how to identify plants on iPhone.

Katie looks after everything homes-related, from kitchen appliances to gardening tools. She also covers smart home products too, so is the best point of contact for any household advice! She has tested and reviewed kitchen appliances for over 6 years, so she knows what to look for when finding the best. Her favorite thing to test has to be stand mixers as she loves to bake in her spare time.