How to fix a Samsung Galaxy S9 that has no sound or no audio output (easy steps)

This post tackles an issue affecting audio functions of the new Samsung Galaxy S9, particularly no sound or no audio outputs. Read on to find out what to do if ever you’ll encounter the same issue on the same device.

Most sound issues transpiring on mobile devices are attributed to software errors rather than hardware damage. But there are also other cases in which physical or liquid damage is to blame. Hardware-related audio problems usually occur with previous instances of dropping or liquid exposure on the device. Unfortunately in this case, service would be necessary in order to fix the problem. Software-related sound problems on the other hand are usually triggered by some rogue apps, bad updates, or incorrect audio settings on the phone. But unlike sounds problems that are tied to hardware damage, software-related sound issues can potentially be resolved by end-users at home. Thanks to these workarounds that are made available to public.

Before going further, if you found this post because you were trying to find a solution to your problem, then try to visit our Galaxy S9 troubleshooting page as we’ve already addressed most of the commonly reported issues with the phone. We’ve already provided solutions to some of the problems reported by our readers so try to find issues that are similar with yours and use the solutions we suggested. If they don’t work for you and if you need further assistance, fill up our Android issues questionnaire and hit submit.

What to do with Galaxy S9 that has no sound or audio

Feel free to refer to these walkthroughs to troubleshoot software problems that might have prevented your Samsung Galaxy S9 from making sounds or producing audio outputs as intended.

First solution: Reboot your phone.

Random software glitches can also mess up sound functions on your device so if this is the first time your Samsung S9 is not making any sound, give it a reboot or soft reset. Doing so will clear any minor errors and likewise refreshes your phone system. There are two ways to execute a soft reset on your Samsung S9 handset. You can do the usual procedure or force restart. Here’s how:

  1. Press and hold the Power button.
  2. Tap the option to Power off.
  3. Tap Power off again to confirm.
  4. After about 30 seconds, press and hold the Power button again until your phone boots up.

Alternatively, you can do a soft reset using the hardware keys with these steps:

  1. Press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons simultaneously for up to 45 seconds.
  2. Release both buttons when the Samsung logo appears.

Both methods work the same way when it comes to dealing with minor software issues affecting the phone’s audio functions and caused it to make no sound. No data will be deleted in both methods so there’s no need to create backups.

Second solution: Manage sound settings on your Samsung S9.

If you are not getting notifications, sounds, and vibrations when you receive text and email messages, check and adjust the volume controls on your Samsung S9 with these steps:

  1. Swipe up or down from the center of the Home screen to open the Apps screen.
  2. Go to Settings.
  3. Tap Sounds and vibration.
  4. Tap Volume.
  5. To adjust the volume level, drag the slider left or right.
  6. Also try to adjust the volume level for other options like Ringtone, Media, Notifications, and System.

Alternatively, you can adjust the volume by pressing the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons on the left side of your phone.

Aside from adjusting volume controls, also check and ensure that that hearing options are not set to mute. You can find these settings under Accessibility menu. Here’s how to get there:

  1. Swipe up or down from the center of the Home screen to open the Apps screen.
  2. Tap Settings.
  3. Tap Accessibility.
  4. Navigate to the Categories section.
  5. Then tap Hearing.
  6. Tap the switch next to Mute all sounds option to turn the feature OFF if necessary. With this option is enabled, you won’t hear any sound from your phone so it has to be turned off

Test your device to see modifying those settings fixed the problem. If everything is working as intended or your S9 audio function resumes, then you’re good. Otherwise, move on to the next possible solution(s).

Third solution: Disable Bluetooth on your Samsung S9.

Another possible reason as to why you don’t hear any sound coming from your Samsung S9 speakers is that it might still currently paired or connected to a Bluetooth accessory like a car Bluetooth, other Bluetooth-enabled audio devices. To make sure this is not the root cause, check your Bluetooth settings and disable Bluetooth with these steps:

  1. Swipe up on an empty spot to open the Apps tray.
  2. Tap Settings.
  3. Select Connections.
  4. Tap the Bluetooth switch to turn it off, if necessary.

With Bluetooth enabled, sounds from your Samsung S9 are routed to the other Bluetooth devices it’s paired or connected to. That said, you won’t hear it sound. To rule this out from the probable causes, you’ll need to turn Bluetooth OFF first.

Fourth solution: Reset settings.

Performing a settings reset will allow you to reset your phone settings to their defaults. Any customizations you’ve made will be discarded but personal data and settings of downloaded apps remain intact or not affected. If the problem is caused by improperly configured settings on your device, this method will likely fix it. Here’s how it’s done:

  1. Swipe up on an empty spot from the Home screen to open the Apps tray.
  2. Tap Settings.
  3. Tap General Management.
  4. Tap Reset.
  5. Select the option to Reset settings.
  6. Tap Reset settings to continue.
  7. If prompted, enter your device credentials like PIN or password.
  8. Then tap Reset settings again to confirm reset.

Wait for your phone to finish resetting your settings and when it’s done it will restart. After the restart, test your phone to see if the audio is back.

Fifth solution: Update software to the latest Android version.

Software updates also contain fix patch to address or fix existing device issues inflicted by software bugs. If you haven’t yet updated your Samsung S9 to the latest Android version, then try to check for any software updates for your device available via over the air download and installation. Here’s how it’s done:

  1. Make sure your device is connected to the Internet beforehand for it to be able to complete the over the air (OTA) update.
  2. Open the Apps tray by swiping up on an empty spot from the Home screen.
  3. Tap Settings.
  4. Tap Software update.
  5. Select the option to Download updates manually.
  6. Wait for your device to check for available updates.
  7. If an update is available, tap OK to continue.
  8. Then tap Start to begin downloading the update file and then follow the onscreen instructions to install update on your device.
  9. When the update installation is completed, you will be prompted with the restart message. Tap OK to restart your phone and apply the new changes from the recently installed update.

Test your phone’s audio functions to determine whether or not the update is able to fix the problem. Otherwise, what you’re dealing with could be a more serious system error that requires more advanced solutions like system reset or restore.

Other options

If no update is available or the problem persists after performing all prior workarounds, then you may opt for a master reset or reset your Samsung Galaxy S9 to factory defaults. This will likely fix sound issues inflicted by more intricate system errors. Or you can just take your device to a Samsung service center nearby and have it diagnosed by an authorized technician. There might be some damaged audio components that needs to repair or replacement.

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Harold Hisona

Harold has been in the tech industry since 2008 when he started out as a tech support for companies like Time Warner, Comcast and Tracfone. He’s been troubleshooting phones when the smartphone industry started booming. During his tenure as a tech support, he’s already been writing for various tech blogs and doing some freelance SEO. In 2012, he joined a small team of bloggers to write for The Droid Guy, and he has been with the company ever since. Today, he doesn’t only write tutorials and troubleshooting pieces but also shoots and edits videos for The Droid Guy channel while trading stocks on the side. Contact me at Email

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