How to do a sound test on Android?
Testing sound on an Android device is an important process to ensure that notifications, ringtones, media playback, microphones, speakers, and headphones are all working properly. A sound test checks the functionality of these critical audio components by playing back sounds and recording audio. This allows you to identify any issues like low volume, distortion, echo, or complete lack of sound. Conducting periodic sound tests helps maintain a fully optimized audio experience, allowing you to enjoy music, videos, phone calls and more without disruption. It also aids accessibility, as those who are hard of hearing rely on adjusting audio output and testing for clarity. Overall, sound testing maximizes your device’s capabilities and ensures it meets your listening needs.
Citations:
[1] https://developer.android.com/training/testing/fundamentals
[2] https://www.headspin.io/blog/significance-of-audio-and-video-testing
Prerequisites
To perform sound testing on your Android device, you’ll need the following:
An Android device running Android 5.0 or later. According to the Android documentation on CTS Verifier Pro Audio test, Android 5.0 was the first version to include standardized audio testing in the Compatibility Test Suite. Older versions of Android may not fully support the testing steps covered here.
Make sure your device is charged or plugged in, as running audio tests can drain the battery quickly.
Have headphones available if you want to test headphone audio. Testing with headphones provides more isolation from ambient noise.
Be in a quiet environment without too much background noise, to get accurate test results.
Accessing the Sound Settings
To access the sound settings on your Android device, you first need to open the Settings app. This is usually done by swiping down from the top of the screen and tapping on the gear icon to launch Settings.
Once you are in the Settings menu, you need to scroll down and tap on the “Sound & vibration” or “Sound” option. On some Android skins like Samsung, this may be labeled as “Sounds and vibration” instead.
This will open up the sound settings where you can adjust volume levels, ringtones, notification sounds, and more. The settings may be laid out slightly differently depending on your specific Android device, but the general menu structure is the same.
If you are having trouble locating the sound settings, you can also search for it using the magnifying glass icon in the Settings app. Just search for “sound” and it should pull up the sound menu.
Overall, accessing the sound settings just takes a few taps once you are inside the Settings app. This menu is where you can customize all your audio preferences on Android.
Source: https://support.google.com/android/answer/9082609?hl=en
Testing Notifications and Ringtones
To test notification and ringtone sounds on your Android device:
1. Open the Settings app and tap Sound & vibration (or Sounds on some devices).
2. Under Notifications, tap App notifications sound. This will let you set the default notification sound for all apps.
3. Tap a sound effect to preview it and select one you want to set as the default.
4. You can also tap Advanced > Default notification sound to change the default from this menu.
5. To change the ringtone, tap Phone ringtone and select a new one to set as the default.
6. Tap Calls and tap your default sound to customize ringtones for specific contacts.
7. Return to the main Sound settings page and adjust the notification and ring volumes using the sliders.
8. Tap Vibrate for calls and/or Vibrate for notifications to enable or disable vibration.
9. Send yourself a test notification or call your phone from another device to ensure the new sounds and vibration settings work as expected.
If the notification sounds are not working properly, check that the app has notification access enabled under Settings > Apps & notifications > [App name] > Notifications.
Testing Media Volume
To test the media volume on your Android device, first open a music or video app and begin playing a song or video. While the media is playing, press the volume up or down buttons on the side of your device to adjust the media volume level. You should see the media volume indicator come up on the screen as you adjust the volume.
According to Controlling volume with up / down buttons on the side of the phone, the volume buttons control media volume by default. Make sure the volume is set high enough that you can clearly hear the music or video from your device’s speakers or connected headphones.
If you are having trouble getting media audio from your device’s speakers, try going to Settings > Sound and drag the media volume slider to the maximum level. This will ensure media volume is set to full and can help diagnose issues.
Testing Microphone
The microphone is one of the most important components for audio quality on Android devices. To properly test the microphone:
1. Open the Voice Recorder or any other audio recording app on your device. The default Voice Recorder app comes pre-installed on most Android phones.
2. Tap on the record button and speak into your phone’s microphone. Say a few sentences clearly and at a normal volume as if you were talking to someone on a phone call.
3. Stop the recording after 10-20 seconds. Make sure you test speaking at different distances from the microphone. Repeat the recording holding the phone to your ear like a normal call.
4. Play back the recordings and listen closely with headphones if available. Check that your voice is clearly audible without too much background noise. Make sure the volume level is adequate.
5. If the microphone quality is poor, try recording in different environments to isolate the issue. Test the microphone with a phone call and other apps.
If the recordings are unclear or too quiet, your phone’s microphone hardware may need repair. Quality recording apps like MicTest can help diagnose microphone issues.
Testing Speakers
To test the built-in speakers on your Android device, first go to your device’s Settings and ensure the media volume is turned up to maximum. Open an app like YouTube and play a video or song. Set the volume in the app to maximum as well. You should hear the audio clearly through the built-in speakers.
If the sound seems low or distorted even at full volume, there may be an issue with the speakers. Try using an app like Speaker Tester & Cleaner fix which can play different tones and frequencies to diagnose speaker issues.
The speaker test app will play various tones like white noise, sine waves, or frequency sweeps. Listen closely to hear if certain tones or frequencies are distorted. This can help pinpoint hardware problems with the speakers. If issues persist across different apps and audio sources, it likely indicates a faulty speaker that may need repair or replacement.
Testing Headphones
To test audio playback through headphones on an Android device, first plug your wired headphones or connect your Bluetooth headphones. Open an audio or video file to play sound. Try increasing and decreasing the media volume to check both loud and soft playback. Listen closely in each ear to ensure balanced stereo sound.
According to Google’s documentation, you should check that audio plays properly when inserting headphones and when adjusting volume controls (source). The app Earphones Test+ also provides advanced testing of frequency response and channel balance for assessing headphone quality and compatibility (source).
After testing, you may need to adjust audio balance settings if one side is louder. Also try cleaning the headphone jack and plug if sound cuts out on one side intermittently. For Bluetooth headphones, make sure they are properly paired and update firmware if available.
Troubleshooting Issues
If you are experiencing sound problems like no sound, low volume, echo, etc., here are some troubleshooting tips:
First, check your device’s volume settings and make sure the media volume is turned up. Go to Settings > Sound and see if any volume sliders are turned down or muted. You can also try using the volume buttons on the side of your phone while playing audio to turn up the volume.
Check for any debris or obstructions in the speakers or headphone jack. Use a toothpick or compressed air to gently clean out any dust or dirt that may be muffling the sound.
Try toggling Bluetooth on and off under Settings > Connected Devices > Bluetooth. If the sound works with Bluetooth disabled, it could indicate an issue with a connected device.
Boot your device into safe mode by pressing and holding the power button and then tapping “Restart in safe mode.” This disables all third-party apps and services and can determine if an app is causing sound problems.
Restart your device by powering it off completely and then turning it back on. This resets the audio drivers and can fix transient sound issues.
Check for any available software updates for your device by going to Settings > System > System Update. Software updates often include fixes for audio bugs.
Try switching between the speaker and headphones. If only one audio output is affected, it likely indicates a hardware issue with that component.
As a last resort, perform a factory reset on your device to eliminate any software corruption. Make sure to backup data first. Go to Settings > System > Reset options.
If none of these troubleshooting tips resolve the problem, you may need to take your device in for service and repairs. Issues like a damaged speaker or headphone jack require physical repair.
Conclusion
Testing the sound settings on your Android device is an important troubleshooting step if you are experiencing any audio issues. Going through the sound menus and checking each audio component ensures that notifications, ringtones, media, microphone, speakers, and headphones are working properly.
The steps covered in this guide, such as accessing the Sound settings menu, adjusting notification and media volumes, recording voice memos, playing music, and testing wired/Bluetooth headphones, allow you to thoroughly test the sound functionality on your device.
If you continue to experience problems after testing, you can try common troubleshooting fixes like clearing app caches, updating your device software, removing debris from headphone ports, or factory resetting your device. With consistent sound testing, you can identify and address any audio problems to keep your Android device working its best.