Why does my Android keep making a weird noise?

Check Notification Sounds

The first step is to go through your notification settings and check if any apps are making unnecessary sounds. On Android, open the Settings app and go to Apps & Notifications > Notifications. Here you can see a list of apps and the types of notifications they are allowed to send.

Go through this list and mute or turn off notifications for any apps that don’t need to be making sounds. Social media apps, news apps, and email apps are common culprits of making too many notification noises. Disable all sounds and vibrations for notifications that don’t need your immediate attention.

You can also long-press on a specific app and modify its notifications. Choose the sounds and vibrations that are essential, and disable any extras. This should quiet down any annoying or repetitive sounds that are disrupting you.

Checking notification settings is an easy first step to stop unwanted noises on an Android phone. Streamline alerts to only those that need to make a sound or vibration. If the issue persists, it’s likely caused by something else.

Update Apps

Outdated apps may cause audio glitches on Android devices. When app developers release new versions, they often include bug fixes and performance improvements that address issues like strange noises. Failing to keep your apps up-to-date means you’ll miss out on these fixes.

Check if any of your installed apps have pending updates by opening the Play Store app and tapping the profile icon in the top right. Select ‘Manage apps & devices’ and view the ‘Updates available’ section. Update any apps listed here and see if that resolves the weird noise problem.

You can also update all apps at once by tapping ‘Update all’ on this screen. According to a Google support article, updating apps may fix issues with downloads getting stuck.

Users on Reddit have also reported random noises stopping after updating the Goodreads app specifically, so check that app too if you have it installed. Keeping apps completely up-to-date is generally recommended to fix glitches and get the smoothest Android experience.

Restart The Device

Restarting your Android device is one of the easiest fixes to try if you hear weird noises. A reboot will clear any temporary audio issues caused by apps or processes running in the background. Simply turn off your phone by holding down the power button for a few seconds until the power off prompt appears. Wait 30 seconds, then turn your phone back on. This refresh often resolves odd sounds coming from the device.

According to Google support, restarting your device can fix random reboots, crashes, or other instability issues (source). The reboot essentially gives your phone a fresh start, stopping background apps and clearing temporary memory. Any processes causing audio glitches will be terminated. While a restart may only provide temporary relief, it’s a useful first troubleshooting step before diving into more involved fixes.

Clear App Cache

One reason your Android device may be making strange noises is that app caches have built up over time, using device resources and potentially causing glitches. Clearing the cache for apps can free up storage space, memory, and processor usage on your device.

Here are the steps to clear app caches on Android:

1. Open your device’s Settings app.
2. Select “Apps” or “Applications.”
3. Select the app you want to clear the cache for.
4. Look for a button that says “Clear Cache” and tap on it.
5. Repeat for other apps as needed.

Clearing app caches forces the apps to re-load fresh data and files next time you open them. This can eliminate glitches, free up device resources being used unnecessarily in the background, and potentially resolve any strange noises or other issues caused by outdated caches.

Be aware that clearing app caches will log you out of the apps and remove any temporary files they’ve stored locally. Data you’ve created within apps should not be deleted.

After clearing caches for apps most likely to cause conflicts, test if the odd noises persist. If the problem continues, you may need to investigate other potential causes.

Check Accessibility Settings

Certain accessibility features can cause sounds that might seem random or strange if you’re not expecting them. For example, the TalkBack screen reader feature provides spoken feedback to help visually impaired users (Android Audio Accessibility Tools & Features). If TalkBack is enabled, your device will read out screen content, alerts, and other interface sounds.

To check your accessibility settings:

• Open Settings and go to Accessibility
• Review enabled services like TalkBack, Live Transcribe & Caption, and others
• Consider turning off any unfamiliar options

Disabling accessibility services like TalkBack should stop any unintended or repetitive sounds. Just remember to turn them back on if you or another user relies on those features. Refer to Google’s support page for help managing TalkBack.

Factory Reset

As a last resort, resetting the device to factory settings could resolve stubborn audio issues that haven’t been fixed by other troubleshooting methods. A factory reset will erase all data and settings on the device and restore it to the original state it was in when you first purchased it. This wipes any problematic software that could be causing the weird noises.

Before factory resetting, be sure to backup any important data, photos, or files you want to keep. You’ll have to redownload apps and reset preferences after the reset. This is an extreme measure worth considering if you’ve exhausted all other options to stop abnormal sounds. While inconvenient, it may be the nuclear option to eliminate quirky audio problems plaguing your device.

Hardware Issue

One potential cause of strange noises from your Android device is a hardware issue with the speakers or audio components. Over time, the speakers can become damaged or faulty, causing distortion, buzzing, or other odd sounds. Issues with the audio jack, headphone port, or internal wiring can also lead to audio problems. Faulty circuit boards, loose solder joints, or deterioration of audio components like capacitors or amplifiers may result in unwanted noises.

If you notice the strange sounds only occur when using the built-in speakers or headphone jack, it points to a hardware problem. Try testing different headphones or external speakers to isolate the issue. Examine the headphone jack and port for damage, debris, or bent pins. If the problem persists across different apps and software settings, hardware damage is likely the root cause. Inspect inside the device if possible for loose connections or damaged components. Replacing faulty speakers, jacks, or boards may be necessary to resolve a hardware-related audio issue.

For troubleshooting tips, check out this guide on inspecting hardware issues causing audio problems.

Contact Manufacturer

If you continue to experience issues with your Android device making strange noises, even after clearing the app cache, checking your accessibility settings, and restarting the device, it could indicate a hardware issue. In that case, it is recommended to contact your device manufacturer for further troubleshooting and possibly a replacement. As noted by LG, hardware issues often require professional assistance. The manufacturer has knowledgeable support teams available for technical issues that cannot be resolved through standard software fixes. They can run diagnostics to determine if the device has a defect that requires repair or replacement under warranty.

To find your device manufacturer’s contact information, check your device settings or website. For example, the LG website states “Call Us. Customer Support. 800-243-0000 or 850-999-4934. (Mon. to Sun. 8AM – Midnight EST)”. Phone support is typically available for 24 hours a day, or at least during extended business hours, to assist with urgent issues like hardware malfunctions. By involving the manufacturer support team for persistent, unresolvable technical issues, they can work to diagnose and resolve the problem.

Third Party App Conflict

Sometimes noises on an Android phone can be caused by a conflict with a third party app installed recently. Removing recently installed apps can isolate the cause of the issue:

• Go to Settings > Apps and view all the recently installed apps.
• Uninstall any apps installed just before the unwanted noise started happening. Especially remove apps with accessibility or notification features.
• Restart the device after removing apps to clear any caches.
• If uninstalling a recent app stops the noise, that app was interfering. You can reinstall it to confirm.

If noises persist after removing recently added apps, there may be a deeper system issue causing the problem.

Summary

Recap of main troubleshooting steps and most likely causes:

• Check Notification Sounds. The first step is to go into Audio & Notifications and ensure none of the notification or system sounds are corrupted.

• Update Apps. Make sure all apps are fully updated as old versions can sometimes cause issues.

• Restart The Device. A simple restart can clear any temporary sound glitches or bugs.

• Clear App Cache. Clearing the cache and data of recently downloaded apps may resolve sound conflicts.

• Check Accessibility Settings. Any screen readers or sound settings here can interfere with system audio.

If none of these steps work, the issue is likely either a system problem requiring a factory reset, a hardware problem requiring contacting the manufacturer, or a third party app conflict.